Christian Reconstructionism,

The Common Thread in Anti-Abortion Violence.

Should we be worried?

Larissa Lindsay, MLS ‘09

Rice University
December 2005
Larissa.Lindsay@gmail.com
 Christian Reconstructionism,
The Common Thread in Anti-Abortion Violence.
Should we be worried?

Why worry about leading the United States towards becoming a theocratic

nation? Christian Reconstructionism has just that goal. It is a prescribed set of

beliefs that more and more individuals are incorporating into their religious

doctrine. Its roots are in Presbyterianism, but it takes huge steps outside of that

religion in its narrow beliefs about Old Testament law, and how that law should

influence society. The influence of Reconstructionism on the most violent of

anti-abortion protesters is the common thread between those who have committed

violent acts against abortion providers. To be clear, the majority of those who

want to end abortion do not believe in the use of violence to achieve their goals.

Those who believe violence is appropriate do so with a passion and drive that is

difficult to match.

Christian Reconstructionism’s strongest roots are in the United States, but

a Dutch American named Cornelius Van Til who taught at Westminster

Theological Seminary in Philadelphia laid the philosophical blueprint behind this

belief. His writings inspired a generation of Reconstructionist and Dominionist

(Dominionism is a close-related theory) authors: Rousas John Rushdoony, Jay

Grimstead, Gary DeMar, Gary North, and Pat Robertson, to name a few.

Estimates of the number of subscribers during the 1990’s of The Chalcedon

Report, the magazine distributed by Rushdoony’s Chalcedon Foundation, vary

from 20,000 to 40,000. The actual number of people is unknown, as is the number

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of people who believe in the philosophy itself. Rushdoony died in February of

2001, and while his Chalcedon Foundation still exists, it does not have the

strength it once did – while other groups jockey for his place. Of those who

publicly touted their beliefs, Rushdoony was the most visible leader of the

Reconstructionist movement. Of those who simply incorporated it into their

agenda, Rev. Pat Robertson of the Christian Coalition and 700 Club has a long

history. Robertson and Bob Slosser wrote a popular book in 1982 called The

Secret Kingdom which was number three on Time magazine's national nonfiction

list. It was updated and reissued in 1992, the year Robertson was running for

President. The following quote is from Robertson in The Secret Kingdom:

“It is clear that God is saying, ‘I gave man dominion over the

earth, but he lost it. Now I desire mature sons and daughters who

will in My name exercise dominion over the earth and will subdue

Satan, the unruly, and the rebellious. Take back My world from

those who would loot it and abuse it. Rule as I would rule.’” 1

Clearly, Robertson is encouraging his followers to take action, to be motivated, to get

involved.

So what do Reconstructionists believe? In 1973, Rushdoony published an 800+

page book called Institutes of Biblical Law,2 where he described his belief of how the

Bible should be interpreted and how the laws of our nation should be both enforced and

viewed. He believes that Biblical Old Testament law is the law of the land, and should be

enforced to “Reconstruct” society by creating a theocracy within our government. They

want to create a world that Jesus would want to return to. This belief kept them somewhat

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separated from those who believed the world was ending with the millennium – to most

Reconstructionists, the world is not yet ready for Christ’s return. A term often used to

describe them is “Post-Millennial.”

Topping most Reconstructionists list of things to be criminalized are

homosexuality and abortion. Before Roe v. Wade was decided in January of 1973,

Rushdoony was calling abortion a capital offense. Taking it a step further was promoting

the thought that disobedience of civil laws was clearly acceptable to end abortion, citing

Acts 5:29 stating that we should obey God and not the state.3 There are numerous bible

versus that anti-abortion organizations use as why the use of violence against abortion

providers is acceptable, most every one is from the Old Testament. Ancient historical

documents are also cited to justify their beliefs.

In the Chalcedon Report No. 59, published July 1, 1970, Rushdoony cites

documents stating abortion as being among the earliest battles between Christians and the

Roman Empire, and that Christians believed it was murder. “Because the law of the

Roman Empire did not regard abortion as a crime, the early church imposed a life

sentence as a substitute: penance for life, to indicate that it was a capital offense”

Rushdoony wrote. He goes on to write that in later years, causing an abortion was

punishable by death, and that the debate soon centered on establishment of a soul. He

disagrees with that discussion saying “The Biblical law does not raise such questions: at

any point, abortion requires the death penalty.” To Rushdoony, all abortion is murder. In

1971, he apparently distributed a pamphlet called “Abortion is Murder.” It has been

referenced in earlier writings about Rushdoony, but I could find no one who had a copy

or had ever seen it – only heard about it. I contacted via e-mail correspondence4 Gary

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North, Rushdoony’s son-in-law, who would not answer my question about the

pamphlet’s existence but did refer me to read Roots of Reconstructionism. In that book of

Rushdoony’s writing, he talks extensively about abortion, euthanasia, humanism, and the

medical profession on pages 710 -714, and reprints his Chalcedon Report Number 59.

Rushdoony portrays abortion as man playing God, but seems to believe it is okay if man

should enforce biblical law by taking justice into his own hands.

What is Biblical or Old Testament Law? It is belief that our law, based on the

Constitution, should be replaced by laws directly from the Bible, creating a theocracy. It

is specifically the crimes outlines in the Old Testament that are considered capital

offenses – heresy, adultery, sodomy, and abortion, among others. Obviously, they do not

believe there should be a separation of church and state.

A second document that is a mantra for Christian Reconstructionists is “A

Manifesto for the Christian Church” edited by Jay Grimstead, who headed up the

Coalition on Revival. This July 4, 1986, manifesto and call to action is self-described as a

“Declaration and Covenant” and had as a goal to change our government to a Christian-

based theocracy. This document came from a Coalition on Revival (COR) Congress on

the Christian Worldview meeting with 60 of COR’s National Steering Committee

members. It was signed by a Who’s Who of conservative political leaders – Gary DeMar

of American Vision, Dr. Tim LaHaye of the “Left Behind” series of books and American

Coalition for Traditional Values, Donald Wildmon of the American Family Association,

Rushdoony, North, and Houston-area political leader and allergist Dr. Steven Hotze. The

manifesto section, “A Statement of Essential Truths and a Call to Action” states that we

should follow the exact written text of the Bible and it is the “…clearest verbal picture of

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reality that has ever come into the hands of mankind.” (Section A, number 2). They say

(Section A, number 2) that “Those people or nations that live in opposition to biblical law

will, sooner or later, be cursed and destroyed.” They close out the manifesto with a

section (D, number 19) called Storming the Gates of Hell and a final list of Social Evils

to Oppose. At the top of the list is abortion, and the list is not alphabetical. It is a rather

impressive document, and covers rather completely everything they consider a social ill.

They believe these so-called ills can be solved through implementation of Old Testament

or biblical law in every aspect of our life – government, judicial system, education,

medicine, and religion.

Inspired by Rushdoony, Howard Phillips of the U.S. Taxpayers Party, also known

as The Constitution Party, is leading a political party based on Rushdoony’s philosophy.

The preamble of the 1996 platform states “Our Republic is a nation governed by a

Constitution, which is rooted in Biblical Law, administered by representatives who are

constitutionally elected by the citizens, and, moreover, in a Republic governed by

constitutional law rooted in Biblical Law, all life, liberty, and property are protected

because of law rules.” In the section titled “Abortion”, the platform states “The pre-born

child, whose life begins at conception, is a human being created in God’s image. The first

duty of the law is to prevent the shedding of innocent blood. It is, therefore the duty of all

civil government to secure and safeguard the lives of the pre-born.”5 The Constitution

Party (formerly U. S. Taxpayers Party, U. S. Taxpayers Association) had candidates on

ballots across the nation, including for President in the majority of states in 1996.6 They

are the most important political party for anti-abortion extremists. They believe that the

only way to get biblical law into U. S. Policy is through politics. Ousted Federal Judge

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Roy Moore of Alabama plans a run for governor of Alabama on the Constitution Party

ticket. As of mid-November, the Constitution Party Website (ConstitutionParty.com) had

a link to help Moore get on the ballot. In Texas, Larry Kilgore7 is running for governor in

2006. His Website states: “My first priority as governor will be to submit to Biblical law

given to us by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. My job, according to

1st Peter 2:14, will be to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do

right.” While I don’t think he has any chance of being elected, he is getting attention for

his bold statement. He appears on the surface to be simply outrageous, yet the Texas

Legislature passed a bill into law during the 2005 session that has the death penalty for

physicians who perform an abortion on a minor without parental consent, according to

the Texas District and County Attorneys Association.

Texas doctors who perform abortions without parental approval or after the third
trimester could face capital murder charges because of a new law that takes effect
this week, a prosecutors group says.

The Texas District and County Attorneys Association has outlined that
scenario in its new book updating the Texas penal code and in public
presentations around the state. The group says such charges could occur under
the new law because of the 2003 fetal protection law.

Key legislators said Monday that wasn't their intent.8

Although it may have not been the Legislators intent, death to physicians who

provide abortion care is what many anti-abortion leaders have been calling for –

either through action taken by themselves or by a judicial branch of government.

In 1993, a document was created by anti-abortion leaders who considered the

killing of abortion providers to be justifiable. The statement they signed is below 9:

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 We, the undersigned, declare the justice of taking all godly action necessary to
defend innocent human life including the use of force. We proclaim that whatever
force is legitimate to defend the life of a born child is legitimate to defend the life
of an unborn child.

We assert that if Michael Griffin did in fact kill David Gunn, his use of lethal force
was justifiable provided it was carried out for the purpose of defending the lives of
unborn children. Therefore, he ought to be acquitted of the charges against him.

A few of the signers include Michael Bray, David Crane, Paul J. Hill, Donald

Spitz, Matt Trewhella, and David Trosch. Many believe that Trosch conceived the idea.10

The Reverend David Trosch is a Roman Catholic priest from Mobile, Alabama.

I’ll get to a few of the document signers, but first, an early influence. Operation

Rescue National (ORN) put civil disobedience at women’s clinics on the radar. None of

the ORN leaders signed the Justifiable Homicide Petition, yet they were quite happy to

advocate violence. The original ORN (it has since divided into various groups) used the

slogan “If You Think Abortion is Murder, Then Act Like It” on their donation return

envelopes leading up to the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston.11 Randall

Terry continues to use inflammatory language when talking about abortion. Killing,

slaughtering, sacrificing children, a holocaust, murder, children ripped apart, burned,

agonizing, screams are all terms used to appeal to readers’ emotions.12 Randall Terry goes

into detail about how to block clinic doors, frighten patients and staff, and temporarily

close down clinics – and telling followers they have a moral justification to do so. He

titles a section “Saying No To Murder,” but it is about saying no to allowing abortion, to

“put yourself between the killer and his intended victim.” Randall Terry (as well as later

Operation Rescue leaders) encourages those in the anti-abortion movement to be

aggressive, to be challenging, and to be creative in their “rescues.” Gary North was very

supportive of this direction of the movement, and wrote a 42 page booklet called

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“Trespassing for Dear Life: What is Operation Rescue Up To?” 13 praising ORN for its

tactics. North spends almost a page to say it is non-violent, but I think it is significant that

he even had to address the question. Obviously he was hearing from people who thought

ORN had a violent aspect to its activities, and they were right. According to the book

Wrath of Angels: The American Abortion War, Randall Terry was personally coached by

Gary North, who encouraged anti-abortion groups to confront secular humanism. Terry

embraced Reconstructionism, and liked having “action verbs” as part of his interpretation

of the Bible.14

These people have always been about action. Here is a look at who has taken the

most violent action, or at the very least have been a party to it.

PAUL HILL: The most notable of the Justifiable Homicide Petition signers was

Paul Hill. Hill committed the July 29, 1994, murders of volunteer escort James Barrett

and Dr. John Britton in Pensacola, Florida. Barrett’s wife June was injured in the attack.

Paul Hill often communicated publicly about his Reconstructionist beliefs through his

organization “Defensive Action.” In Paul Hill’s July 12, 1994 newsletter, two weeks

before he committed the murders, he quoted II Corinthians: “Not that we are adequate in

ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

who also made us adequate as servant of a new covenant.” He believed he could play

God over civil law. Hill never gave up his beliefs, and as a result he had a very public

falling-out with Gary North through an exchange of letters on numerous anti-choice

Websites in the year leading up to Hill’s execution in 2003.

North’s responses to Hill’s action make up the core of the correspondence, as

North backpedals a bit from his previous teachings that leaned heavily toward aggressive

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behavior to create a theocratic society based on Old Testament law. Another person who

has somewhat backpedaled is Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council in

Washington, DC. He was a deputy officer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and failed to report

violent activities planned at a clinic during an Operation Rescue “Summer of Purpose” in

1992. His employment was eventually terminated by the city. Within a few years he was

elected to political office in Louisiana, a stepping-stone to Perkins’ going on to lead other

equally conservative movements.15

MICHAEL GRIFFIN: The first individual to come into national notice for an

abortion-related homicide was Michael Griffin, for his murder of physician David Gunn

on March 11, 1993. This was the first murder in the United States of an abortion

provider. Not much has been known about Griffin, who is serving a life sentence in a

Florida prison, other than he was very heavily influenced by John Burt, Ed Martin, and

Don Treschman. All three of these men have Houston ties through the group Rescue

America.

SHELLY SHANNON: Shelly Shannon shot and wounded Dr. George Tiller in

Wichita, Kansas, on August 30, 1993. During the cross-examination during her trial, she

often quoted Bible verses to justify her shooting Dr. Tiller. Specific verses she was fond

of from Joshua 10 say “And Joshua said to them, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.

Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you’re going

to fight. Then Joshua struck and killed the kings, and hung them on five trees, and they

were left hanging.” Shannon stated in court that she sought guidance in making a

decision about wounding or killing Dr. Tiller.16 Shelly was a longtime member of

Operation Rescue, and is known in the Army of God (AOG) Manual as “Shaggy West.”17

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Buried in her back yard was a copy of the AOG Manual, which gives step-by-step

instructions on how to accomplish acts of violence against an abortion provider.

To be clear - overwhelmingly, people do not agree with the Defensive

Action/Justifiable Homicide Petition signers and other proponents of violence. Secondly,

I also want to reiterate that I don’t characterize the entire anti-choice movement as

violent. The following quote, made without any violent rhetoric, is how I think the

majority of anti-choice American’s believe:

"It could be said the first incident with David Gunn was an apparition," said Bill
Price, a Dallas-based anti-abortion leader who openly criticizes the aggressive
tactics of Rescue America and Operation Rescue as creating "a climate for
killing." 18

I am afraid many are moving to a belief that abortion should be stopped by any

means, and we should be a Christian nation based on strict biblical teachings.

JOHN SALVI: Most anti-abortion activists believing in biblical law are

Protestant. There is a small faction within the Catholic faith that thrives on conspiracies,

publishing materials such as the “Fatima Crusader” and beliefs that there is a conspiracy

against Catholics from Freemasons. John Salvi murdered Lee Ann Nichols and Shannon

Lowney at two different abortion providers in Brookline, Massachusetts, on December

30, 1994. He was known to associate with those believing in various conspiracies against

Catholics, and was involved in groups such as Human Life International, who have

dreams of a theocracy in the United States.19 John Salvi also had ties to at least one

signer of the Justifiable Homicide Petition, Don Spitz. His name and unlisted phone

number were in Salvi’s pocket when he was arrested while shooting at the Hillcrest

Clinic in Virginia the day after murders in Boston. Hillcrest is a clinic often picketed by

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Spitz and David Crane.20 Salvi was a martyr in the anti-abortion movement, but is no

longer - Salvi died in jail, his death was ruled a suicide.

JAMES KOPP: James Kopp murdered Dr. Barnett Slepian on October 23, 1998

while Dr. Slepian was in the kitchen of his home. Kopp had a long arrest record

(including a clinic blockade in Houston) from around the United States and Canada, and

was a known member of the AOG (he was “Atomic Dog” in the manual). He fled to

France and was helped by (among others) Dennis Malvasi – who had already served

prison time for blowing up four New York abortion clinics using dynamite. Both men are

Catholics, but believed they were being called by a higher power to supercede that of

man’s law.21 Kopp was a leader in Father Norman Weslin’s group “Lambs of Christ,” a

Catholic group that held blockades at events across the United States. During the

Republican National Convention in Houston in August of 1992, the Lambs held the

largest successful blockade of a clinic. The AOG Manual suggests numerous violent

methods to stop abortion, believing that our national defenses have done nothing to stop

abortion and therefore God’s Army must enforce biblical law. Kopp was caught, pled

guilty, and is in jail in the United States.

JOSHUA GRAFF: Graff was convicted of arson for a fire set in Houston at the

West Loop Clinic in 1993. He was caught because he left his wallet on the roof of the

clinic, and it had both his name in it and a membership card for Rescue America. Graff

came to Houston during the Republican Convention in 1992, and stayed. He was coached

by Don Treshman of Rescue America, and Michael Bray.22 In fact, Michael Bray gave

Graff the nickname “skeezix” from the comic strip Gasoline Alley, the story of the

Wallet family. Graff uses this name on the Internet, and he was identified through the

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content of his postings. As soon as Graff was out of jail, he was held up as a hero at the

1999 White Rose Banquet23 – a formal dinner organized by the American Coalition of

Life Activists to sing the praises of those committing violence against abortion providers

and is a Who’s Who of proponents of violence in the name of both creating a theocracy

and following prescribed biblical law.24 Graff is living in the Washington, DC area and is

still involved in the anti-abortion movement.

FRANK BIRD: Arrests for blocking the entrance of Planned Parenthood in

Houston, Frank Bird was convicted of throwing a bottle on December 13, 1994, through

the windshield of a car driven by a physician at the West Loop Clinic, and was sent to

prison. Almost a decade later, on March 7, 2003, Bird drove a van through front doors of

Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas. Bird has long had ties to Rescue

America and Don Treshman, as well as to Houston area anti-abortion groups. His first

trial for the “van in the lobby” incident was thrown out because the federal judge did not

believe it met the requirements of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE)

legislation. It was later re-filed, appealed to the Supreme Court, and sent back to the

lower courts, and he was convicted by a different Federal Judge. He is currently free on

bond while waiting sentencing for the van incident.

DON TRESHMAN: Rescue America, Don Treshman’s anti-abortion group

based in Houston was very similar to Operation Rescue, but differed in that it very

publicly vocalized its militancy. He was a charismatic yet intimidating leader with a

“Good Old Boy” attitude. His organization distributed “Wanted” style posters with

pictures of abortion providers and trained its followers in how to expose, harass, and

intimidate abortion providers and their staff.25 Treshman’s Pensacola branch was led by

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John Burt, a former Ku Klux Klan member who was proficient at using the media to get

attention for his cause, and was not afraid to call for bombing or blockading clinics.26

Burt (who is currently in jail while his conviction for sexual assault of a child is under

appeal) was thought to be Michael Griffin’s strongest manipulator. Treshman quoted few

Bible verses as opposed to his fellow leaders who quoted many. He did quote “rescuer”

Joan Andrews Bell after she was told by a judge she could not protest at a clinic for five

years, saying “The judge told her ‘I am the authority here, and I’m ordering you to sign

this agreement.’ Mustering courage from her deeply held faith, Joan replied ‘Your Honor,

I have to follow a much Higher Authority.’ “27 Treshman was a defendant in the “Planned

Parenthood versus Operation Rescue, Rescue America, et al” case during the Republican

National Convention in 1992. In a deposition during that trial, Treshman said “I don’t

feel any compulsion to obey any individual laws that are not supported by what God

teaches us.”28 Treshman routinely called the court proceedings a “Kangaroo Court” and

fully expected jury nullification of the case, believing that the laws on the books were

false and that the courts had no jurisdiction. He lost the case and within a few years

moved to Baltimore.

MICHAEL BRAY: In 1990, Bray called for “revolution under ‘lesser

magistrates’ — a doctrine under which biblical rebels need only enlist lower-level

government officials in order to win divine sanction for political insurrection against

government,” according to Frederick Clarkson. Reverend Bray considers the

assassination of Dr. Gunn to be the “rational way of following the Operation Rescue

dictum ‘If you believe abortion is murder then act like it.’ ”29 Bray has been a long-time

activist, spent time in prison for clinic arson, and is thought to be the author of the AOG

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Manual. He is a tremendous influence within the movement. He is clever, can be very

humorous, and has a charismatic appeal – if you put aside his call for the murder of

abortion providers and staff. He and his family live in Ohio.

DANIEL WARE: The FBI had a warrant from Pensacola, Florida out for Daniel

Ware after a confidential informant (Jerry Reider) told them he thought Ware was going

to open fire at an upcoming abortion provider convention in Pensacola.30 Daniel Ware

was traveling often between Houston and Florida, keeping in contact with Rescue

America members in both cities. In Houston, he drove a car he called “The Pro-Life

Silver Bullet” with Bible verses relating to justifiable killing painted on the outside. In

Florida, Ware, Paul Hill, and Donna Bray met with Reider, who was an anti-abortion

activist in Houston - in addition to his job as a reporter at KTRH radio! The FBI was

concerned about Ware’s upcoming actions. Using the fact that Ware was a felon in

possession of weapons, he was taken into custody in Houston and sent to jail. He got out

of jail and immediately began surrounding himself with the same crew - the concern had

not been if, but when Ware would act. No longer a concern, Ware died in 2004 in

Wichita, Kansas.

BRUCE MURCH: There are some leaders in the anti-choice movement who did

not sign Paul Hill’s Defensive Action/Justifiable Homicide Petition, but do support it.

Bruce Evan Murch talks about his philosophy on his Website. I find his choice of

language to be a clear example of the use of Old Testament doctrine.

“I have been accused of ‘name-calling’ when I preach. I will sometimes

call people fornicators, sodomites, etc. This is not name-calling in the
sense of being hateful or derogatory. It is an effective and Biblical way
of making the sinner understand that they are being identified by the
sins they commit. I preach on the street. I'm called a street preacher. If I
were boastful, some would call me a braggart or an egomaniac. We are

15
 identified by our attributes. When I preach at the sodomite marches, I refer
to those I'm preaching to as sodomites. That's what the Bible calls them I
have no problem with that.” 31

Bruce is the father of nine children, ages 7-22, all of who participate in their parents

protests. Between 1989 and 1995, Murch was arrested numerous times for blocking clinic

doors, trespassing, and various violent acts against abortion providers, clinics, staff, and

clients – he was arrested an estimated 50 times. Bruce also runs a bulletin board with

around 250 members on FullQuiverMission.com, where the most violent of anti-abortion

protesters regularly communicate and offer support to each other, along with your

average anti-choice supporter. The board is vetted to keep law enforcement and pro-

choice individuals at bay. Bruce was a supporter of Paul Hill’s, and Paul attempted to get

Bruce to sign the “Defensive Action” statement, which Murch did not do, but says he

“Agrees with the Statement.” Murch gives the reason he won’t sign as not wanting the

Federal government breathing down his or Project Rescue’s back, as stated in his eulogy

to Paul Hill after Hill’s execution.32 Bruce and his wife Beverly are raising their children

to believe biblical law doctrine, and the kids are regulars on the abortion protest circuit.

Some are even going out on their own as they have reached adulthood. We have a second

generation of believers leading new people to a “violence is acceptable” belief.

OTHER INCIDENTS: There have been more incidents than those noted above.

1) Eric Rudolph, the so-called “Olympic Park Bomber,” had early but limited ties to the

Christian Identity movement through his involvement with Nord Davis and Dan Gayman,

and had some odd religious and anti-government beliefs, but he was not a

Reconstructionist. Rudolph was fearful that Whites’ having abortions would diminish the

White race, and therefore he didn’t really care about abortion for Black or Hispanic

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women.33 He targeted abortion clinics beginning January 16, 1997, with Northside

Family Planning Clinic in Atlanta, and then a lesbian bar – in addition to the Olympics.

He later killed a nurse and police officer at a clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. 2) During

the 1990s, Canada had “Remembrance Day” shootings of abortion providers that are

unsolved, although they are thought by many to have been committed by Kopp – partially

because they stopped once Kopp was on the run from law enforcement. 3) A Houston-

Area abortion provider was shot during the 1980’s, but it was chalked up to robbery as he

was known to carry large amounts of cash.

There are many who have called for the murder of anyone associated with

providing abortion, and no one knows if they are the influence and support behind those

willing to light the match or pull the trigger – or if they may one day be the perpetrator.

Troy Newman (Operation Rescue West) still stalks a local abortion provider and his

family. And the quote below from Dan Holman is very telling.

“Does acknowledging the justifiable use of force oblige us to kill an

abortionist? Most of us are not as courageous as Paul Hill. There are no
Christian suicide bombers blowing up abortion clinics. We need to confess
and acknowledge our lack of love toward God and the pre-born.”34

Chuck Spingola of Street Preach and Dan Holman of Missionaries to the Preborn

in Iowa believe the Bible calls men to commit justifiable homicide, but don’t have the

“courage” of Paul Hill. The fear is that one day they might do more than roar like a lion,

and find that courage. Reconstructionists believe democracy is opposed to Christianity,

and if you act on your beliefs you don’t have to wait for heaven (and 72 virgins as in

other beliefs), but can get earthly rewards. It is the road to success.35 This belief may not

be acted upon by the individual spreading the message, but it can influence someone who

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has a difficult time thinking and reasoning on their own. Reconstructionists are post-

millennial, they are preparing for their version of the Kingdom of God, and they have

plenty of time to implement their plans. The message of their plans is spreading. Most

significantly, the Internet has allowed this message to reach farther and faster than in

decades past, and is influencing a new, young audience.

At one point, I thought Christian Reconstructionism was losing its influence.

There was a marked decrease in violence at women’s clinics, and visible frustration by

the mainstream public over the takeover by religious fundamentalists of our political

parties. Funding of Religious Right issues seemed to be fading, and less attention was

being paid by the media. I have revisited that complacency over the last four years. Dr.

William Martin’s book “With God On Our Side, The Rise of the Religious Right in

America” was published in 1996, yet many of the players are still the same. I contacted

him via email and asked his thoughts since his book “With God…” was published – as

well as if he thought interest was waning. The following comments by Martin are what

specifically peaked my follow up question:

It is difficult to assess the influence of Reconstructionist thought with any

accuracy. Because it is so genuinely radical, most leaders of the Religious Right
are careful to distance themselves from it. At the same time, it clearly holds some
appeal for many of them. One undoubtedly spoke for others when he confessed,
‘Though we hide their books under the bed, we read them just the same.’

Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and D. James Kennedy all use Reconstructionist language

in their books and in their sermons. They just don’t identify it as their core idea – yet they

still want an America based on Biblical principals.36 Martin responded to my e-mail

saying he at one time thought worries over Reconstructionism were overdone but is now

not too sure. He pointed to Kennedy and Robertson as those who would probably like to

18
see a “Christian Nation,” but they are probably not completely sure how to pull it off with

success. There are often news stories about mixing religion and politics – such as the

appointment by President Bush of Reconstructionist Robert Brame III in 2001 to serve on

the Nation Labor Relations Board even though his beliefs were widely know through his

activities with the group American Vision (a strong proponent of

Dominionist/Reconstructionist beliefs). There is much discussion now about the roles of

religion and our government, especially as the make-up of the Supreme Court changes.

The influence is growing unnoticed by most, as a recent Mother Jones article

reveals:

Reconstruction is the spark plug behind much of the battle over religion in politics
today...

George W. Bush has called Reconstruction-influenced theoretician Marvin

Olasky “compassionate conservatism’s leading thinker,” and Olasky
served as one of the president’s key advisers on the creation of the Office
of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Bush also invited
Reconstructionist Jack Hayford, a key figure in the Promise Keepers
men’s group, to give the benediction at his first inaugural. Deposed House
Majority Leader Tom DeLay, though his office won’t comment on his
religious views, governs with what he calls a “biblical worldview”—one
of Reconstruction’s signature phrases. And, for conspiracy buffs, two
heavy contributors to the Chalcedon Foundation—Reconstruction’s main
think tank—are Howard Ahmanson and Nelson Bunker Hunt, both of
whose families played key roles in financing electronic voting machine
manufacturer Election Systems & Software. Ahmanson is also a major
sponsor of ultraconservative politicians, including California state
legislator and 2003 gubernatorial candidate Tom McClintock. 37

Political apathy has helped these extremist religious beliefs merge into politics. The acts

we saw a few “crazies” carry out concerning abortion will no doubt feed into other areas

of society. I believe social issues they are opposed to – and most would not affect them

personally - will be targeted. Gay rights battles are already occurring, cuts to Medicaid

and Medicare are in their cross-hairs, school vouchers for religious education are

19
promoted, and displays of the Ten Commandments are being fought in the courts. Anti-

abortion violence began through this little known belief over thirty years ago, yet the

belief is spreading in our political system like a virus. We should be worried.

We are aware that many of our Constitutional rights are under attack, but the

Reconstructionists paint the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as the “Evil

Empire.” Why? Because the ACLU values the Constitution, which religious extremists

want to replace with biblical law. Far too many individuals do not question what they are

being told, and accept the often scary message given – no matter who the messenger is.

Politically related violence is often a reaction to fear, but those who should be

fearful are America’s mainstream who, for the most part, have little to no awareness of a

theocracy creeping into our lives. I don’t expect Americans to take up arms and there to

be a sudden increase in homicide in the nation. On the other hand, I do expect a slow

societal swing towards the acceptance of aggressive behavior in how we punish and

discipline people. Those who acted based on their beliefs took it to the extreme, but they

do have hundreds of followers who support their violent activities. And if you look at

arrest records and donor/membership numbers, there are tens of thousands more who

support violence just short of murder. The Vice President of the United States has voiced

his support for torturing individuals. Should we be worried? Yes! We must pay attention,

and get our friends, family, and neighbors to take notice. This culture shift is happening

much like the frog in a pot of water. The heat is turned up very, very slowly and the frog

does not know his days are numbered until it is too late, and he is cooked.

20
 Addendum - June 2010.

Over four years after this was written, George Tiller, MD was murdered by Scott

Roeder. Tiller was murdered on May 31, 2009 while greeting members and passing out

bulletins at his church, located in Wichita, Kansas. His wife was singing in the choir.

Roeder has since been convicted, and is in jail. Roeder has a long history of subscribing

to Reconstruction/Domininist Christian beliefs, previously stating some of them through

Dave Leach’s publication, Prayer and Action. Clearly, he falls into this same pattern as

others in this document. Many of the people listed earlier in this document praised his

efforts, proving their continued support of justifiable homicide.

21
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A Time to Kill 1994
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