Anti-abortion protesters arrested at Tiller’s church

In case you missed it over the weekend, two anti-abortion protesters were arrested at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, where abortion provider George Tiller is a member. Operation Rescue, a Wichita-based anti-abortion group, gave this account of what happened on its Web site:_Ordained minister Henry “Bud” Shaver was arrested with another man after reading from Isaiah 1 during a church service at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, where late-term abortionist George R. Tiller is a member.__During the communion service Rev. Shaver stood at a microphone and read a portion of Isaiah’s warning to believers from a scrap of paper. Members of the church tried unsuccessfully to shut off the microphone and grab the Scripture from his hand. Men then forcibly carried Rev. Shaver from the church.__Pastor Thomas Halstrom gave Rev. Shaver’s associate, Joey Cox the communion bread saying, “Receive the body of Christ.” Cox gave the bread back to Halstrom saying that this was not the body of Christ but it represented the bodies of babies killed by abortionist George Tiller.__Cox was removed from the church by four men who repeatedly tried to cover his mouth with their hands even though Cox was not resisting and was trying to voluntarily leave the building.__Rev. Shaver and Cox left the church area and were later stopped at a gas station where they were surrounded by police and arrested at the personal request of Halstrom, whose church is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches In America (ELCA) synod.__The two Christians spent seven hours in jail on the charge of “rude and indecent behavior in a place of worship.”__”It’s a sad thing when a church considers the reading of God’s Word ‘rude and indecent behavior,’ while embracing abortionist George Tiller, someone who violates that word every day by shedding the innocent blood of babies created in the image of the God they profess to serve. By doing so, they dishonor the name of Christ,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “Rev. Shaver’s bold proclamation is to be applauded.”_Church officials declined to comment for a story in the Wichita Eagle.Cox, one of those arrested, recorded this video about the incident that was posted on YouTube._ – Faith Files, which examines issues of faith, spirituality, morals and ethics, is updated by features/faith reporter Terry Rombeck. Have an idea for the blog? Contact Terry at trombeck@ljworld.com, or 832-7145._