By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

Operation Rescue, the militant anti-abortion group that has hounded slain physician George Tiller for years, has issued a statement decrying his murder.

Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning. We pray for Mr. Tiller's family that they will find comfort and healing that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Operation Rescue denounces vigilantism? Since when? Since today, obviously.

The "Tiller Watch" page is no longer available on Operation Rescue's website. But this is a group that made it its business to learn the identities of Tiller's family and employees. It publicized their home addresses and it publicized where Tiller went to church. It made the fight personal.

Operation Rescue is by no means the only group. Unable to shut down abortion through political or legal means, these groups resort to, yes, vigilante tactics.

They made the fight personal and up close. They should not be surprised, or pretend to be appalled, upon learning the news that Sunday, in a house of worship, a murderer got too close.