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More Christian terrorism? Texas Planned Parenthood fire bombed

Michael Stone's photo
Humanist Examiner

 Only days after the despicable act of a Christian terrorist in Norway, the fire bombing of a Texas Planned Parenthood clinic leaves many wondering if the attack is not yet another case of Christian terrorism.

Late Tuesday night a Planned Parenthood clinic in McKinney, Texas, was fire bombed when an unknown assailant tossed a Molotov cocktail (an incendiary device) at the front of the building. This particular Molotov cocktail consisted of diesel fuel in a glass bottle with a lit rag.

The clinic itself suffered only minor damage, and no one was hurt. The front door was broken, and the area around the entry was scorched by the flames. Local firefighters arrived promptly and quickly neutralized the fire.
 

The irony is that this particular Planned Parenthood clinic does not provide the legal, safe abortions some other Planned Parenthood clinics provide. Instead, it is an all-preventive care location, featuring well-woman visits, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and birth control. 
 
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At the time of publication Texas authorities had no suspect in custody.
The following is a sample of relevant tweets concerning the attack on the Texas Planned Parenthood from Thursday morning's Twitter stream:

Arson Suspected At #PlannedParenthood Clinic In North Texas Oh, you Christian prolifers - WWJD?

Wow. Texas planned parenthood attacked at a clinic where abortions aren't even performed.

That Texas Planned Parenthood clinic that someone tried to burn down Tuesday? It doesn't provide abortions

Arsonist fails to take out Planned Parenthood clinic

Planned Parenthood in Texas hit w/ Molotov. THIS IS TERRORISM.

A Totally-Not-Terrorism attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Texas

Attempted Bombing of North Texas Planned Parenthood Office- more right-wing violence

STOP trying to hurt women anti-choice crazies! Texas Planned Parenthood clinic attacked with Molotov cocktail
 

It should come as no surprise that many suspect the act is one of Christian terrorism. The fire bombing of the Texas Planned Parenthood is a sad reminder that women's reproductive health services are constantly under attack. A small but vocal minority of fundamentalist Christians and Catholics have been waging war on women's reproductive freedom for decades. And sometimes that war turns violent.
 
Eric Rudolph, responsible for bombing several abortion clinics; and Scott Roeder, guilty of the assassination of American hero and martyr Dr. George Tiller; are but two of the most notorious and infamous of Christian terrorists associated with the so called "pro-life" movement. Yet there are many more.
 
Indeed, there is in the pro-life movement a faction that openly advocates and promotes terrorism. Their goal is to terrorize and
intimidate health care providers and the women they serve. These Christian terrorists have used murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, arson, bombing, property crimes and other threats to promote their campaign of terror against women and the noble health care professionals brave enough to serve them.
 
To be fair, it remains to be seen if the fire bombing of the Texas Planned Parenthood clinic is indeed an act of Christian terrorism or not. Nevertheless, there is good reason and ample precedent to suspect Christian terrorism is at the bottom of this most recent assault on a woman's right to reproductive freedom.  
Planned Parenthood fire bombed
Planned Parenthood fire bombed
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commons.wikimedia

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, Humanist Examiner

Michael Stone is a progressive freethinker and freelance writer residing in Portland, Oregon. Informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion, Michael’s task is to question the world in pursuit of the good. You can reach Michael at stonemichael@hotmail.com.

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