Army of God
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Army of God (AOG) is a radical anti-abortion organization that allows for the use of force to combat abortion in the United States.[1] In 2001, at the height of the United States anthrax scare, more than 170 abortion clinics and doctors offices in 14 states received letters containing white powder and the message "You have been exposed to anthrax. We are going to kill all of you. Army of God, Virginia DARE Chapter."[2] HBO produced a documentary on the Army Of God entitled Soldiers In The Army Of God.[3]
AOG supports the Second Defensive Action Statement, as produced by the Defenders of the Defenders of Life, which reads:[4]
- We the undersigned, declare the justice of taking all Godly action necessary, including the use of force, to defend innocent human life (born and unborn). 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 declare and affirm that if in fact Paul Hill did kill or wound abortionist John Britton, and accomplices James Barrett and Mrs. Barrett, his actions are morally justified if they were necessary for the purpose of defending innocent human life. Under these conditions, Paul Hill should be acquitted of all charges against him.
Hill was head of a precursor organization called Defensive Action, which issued signed statements to members of Congress in the early 1990s expressing similar sentiments about "killing the killers". In 2000, The Army of God has promoted an annual White Rose Banquet in Washington D.C. from 1991 through at least 2003, for supporters of the Defensive Action Statement.[5]
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[edit] Associated individuals
The Army of God practices leaderless resistance, but several individuals have publicly associated themselves with the group:
- Clayton Waagner
- Rev. Michael Bray, is considered the "chaplain of the Army of God".
- Rev. Donald Spitz (head of Pro-Life Virginia and keeper of the AOG web site).
- Shelly Shannon Shot Dr. George Tiller
Others loosely affiliated with, or in some support of, the "AOG" include:
- Stephen Jordi, convicted of plotting clinic attacks.
- John Brockhoeft
- Father David Trosch
- Dan Holman, Missionaries to the Preborn - Iowa
- Barry Kilbane
- Bob Lokey
- Gary McCullough, founder of "Prisoners of Christ"
- Matthew Trewhella (Missionaries to the Preborn - Wisconsin)
- Chuck Spingola of Unashamed & Associates, Newark OH
- Drew Heiss
- Troy Newman, current head of Operation Rescue
- Stephen Wetzel (Missionaries to the Unborn)
- Bill Whatcott, Canadian anti-abortion crusader
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base
- ^ "'Army Of God' Anthrax Threats", CBS News, 2001-11-09.
- ^ Soldiers In The Army Of God. Retrieved on 2007-05-14.
- ^ The Second Defensive Action Statement. Retrieved on 2007-05-14.
- ^ The Order of the White Rose. Retrieved on 2007-05-14.
[edit] External links
- Army of God official website (Warning: Graphic images)
- History of the Army of God
