Moral question: Stopping murder

[OuterWater]

If you see a man pull a knife on a stranger and attempt to murder him with that knife, is it morally acceptable to kill the attacker to save the victim's life?

If an abortionist goes into work in the morning to perform 3 abortions that day, is it morally acceptable to kill him on the way to work to save the victims' lives?

Discuss.

 

[BAFRIEND]

If you see a man pull a knife on a stranger and attempt to murder him with that knife, is it morally acceptable to kill the attacker to save the victim's life?

If an abortionist goes into work in the morning to perform 3 abortions that day, is it morally acceptable to kill him on the way to work to save the victims' lives?

Discuss.

I would not kill an abortion doctor myself, but yes it is in the defense of children to kill an abortion doctor and no I do not view the less than a dozen killers of abortion doctors (who have murdered more than 50,000,000 children) as the deranged lunatics the media and pro-choicers make them out to be.

 

[Davidnic]

If you see a man pull a knife on a stranger and attempt to murder him with that knife, is it morally acceptable to kill the attacker to save the victim's life?

If an abortionist goes into work in the morning to perform 3 abortions that day, is it morally acceptable to kill him on the way to work to save the victims' lives?

Discuss.

This involves the principle of legitimate defense. In case #1 it may be permissible to use deadly force if there is no other option given what is at hand and the time involved.

In case #2 it is not permissible under legitimate defense to use any force because there are other means available.

The Catholic Church has officially denounced violence like case #2 as not under the principles of legitimate defense. Cardinal O'Connor did that in 1990's. The Church also ceases any funding of groups that do that or use violence in any way. Case #2 is willful murder and wrong in both Church and civil law.

 

[SolomonVII]

The Christian faith has always taught us to respect the secular authorities. Bad laws are no excuse for violence.

 

[Romans 13:3]

What David said. However the objective should be to stop the action, not kill the subject, even though the death of the subject may be an eventuality.

 

[BAFRIEND]

I do not hold an opinion of someone who kills an abortion doctor to have commited a mortal sin.

In the words of an abortion doctor:

“I have never known a woman who, after her baby was born, was not overjoyed that I had not killed it.”
– Abortionist Aleck Bourne in "A Doctor Speaks," London Express, Jan 25

Killing abortion doctors is very rare, about 1.5 a decade. But the way they make it sound you would think abortion doctors were getting killed faster than they can abort babies.

 

[Lady Bug]

for me:

yes to the first question - the second question leaves me blank

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

If you see a man pull a knife on a stranger and attempt to murder him with that knife, is it morally acceptable to kill the attacker to save the victim's life?

If an abortionist goes into work in the morning to perform 3 abortions that day, is it morally acceptable to kill him on the way to work to save the victims' lives?

Discuss.

No.

The abortionist is merely providing a service. Shot him and the women will simply find some else to do the abortion.

It makes more sense to shot the women, dig the baby out of her and save it.

(and that seems to me to make no sense at all)

 

[JacktheCatholic]

If you see a man pull a knife on a stranger and attempt to murder him with that knife, is it morally acceptable to kill the attacker to save the victim's life?

If an abortionist goes into work in the morning to perform 3 abortions that day, is it morally acceptable to kill him on the way to work to save the victims' lives?

Discuss.

God's law out weighs man law. Jesus told us that we must follow God's law even at the breaking of man's laws. Personally if the murder of the abortionist saved even one babies life then I would see justification. The problem here is that the mothers of these unborn children may go down the street to another abortionist and then no life (or lives) would be saved. So, it is logical that one does not kill the abortionist in my opinion.

 

[Fantine]

One reason why I have never reported some people on this board whom I feel deserve to be reported (not naming any names) is that I sense a lot of anger. Sometimes I feel as if people posting need a place to deposit all their anger and hostility, and that if they don't have this outlet to rant they might resort to violence.

I find this thread topic very disturbing.

I am without a doubt the most anti-gun person on this board, possibly in all of CF (unless there are Mennonites around...) No pro-life pistol packing for me.

Violence is never the answer.

Our world is in need of reconciliation, not frontier justice.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

One reason why I have never reported some people on this board whom I feel deserve to be reported (not naming any names) is that I sense a lot of anger. Sometimes I feel as if people posting need a place to deposit all their anger and hostility, and that if they don't have this outlet to rant they might resort to violence.

I find this thread topic very disturbing.

I am without a doubt the most anti-gun person on this board, possibly in all of CF (unless there are Mennonites around...) No pro-life pistol packing for me.

Violence is never the answer.

Our world is in need of reconciliation, not frontier justice.

You never know... there may be a need for the Pope to start something the Knights Templar again.

 

[Lady Bug]

Yeah but I'd have a hard time acquiescing to a scene of a stranger pulling a knife on someone and killing him and just watching him and not doing a thing about it - I don't know maybe it's me - I'd be very afraid of being the referee but you see what I'm saying?

I mean if you saw a stranger trying to kill your child, you'd do nothing to stop that stranger?

(this is not the abortion issue by the way - I'm trying to answer the first question)

 

[Krus]

You never know... there may be a need for the Pope to start something the Knights Templar again.

Fhy do you think so?

 

[MrStain]

Q: If you see a man pull a knife on a stranger and attempt to murder him with that knife, is it morally acceptable to kill the attacker to save the victim's life?
A: Yes. If killing the assailant is the only thing that can save the innocent person.

Q: If an abortionist goes into work in the morning to perform 3 abortions that day, is it morally acceptable to kill him on the way to work to save the victims' lives?
A: Yes. If killing the assailant is the only thing that can save the innocent person.