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To: jobim
I have some questions for the Catholics on this forum or anybody else who knows a lot about Catholic theology.

1. I know Terri is Catholic. Is Michael Schiavo also Catholic?

2. I understand that a Catholic is normally free to remarry if his or her spouse dies. Is there an exception when the survivor has a hand in the death of his or her spouse?

3. Is Michael's conduct in this case grounds for him to be denied the sacraments or be excommunicated from the Church (if he is Catholic)? If so, what is the likelihood that this will actually happen?

Thanks in advance for the information.

5 posted on 03/24/2005 8:18:34 AM PST by Huntress (Possession really is nine tenths of the law.)
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To: Huntress
Perhaps someone with expertise will give your questions a more informed response than I can muster.

1)I don't know what Michael's religious affiliation is. Another post mentioned that Terri is deprived of all religious articles in the room. And of course we know she has been deprived of Viaticum (Holy Communion for the sick). What kind of Catholic would enforce this?

2)Normally, and everything about this case is paranormal, a spouse dying frees the other. If he has an illicit hand in the death, I don't see how he is free to marry in the Catholic Church, since he is unrepenetant of mortal sin. Like the child who murders his parents and throws himself upon the mercy of the court as an orphan.

3)Again, sacraments cannot be received in the state of mortal sin. Is he guilty of mortal sin? One of the requisites is full knowledge of the gravity of one's actions. Who can speak with certainty to this?

Will the Church act against him? A Boston College bioethicist, a Jesuit priest, today calls Michael a loving husband and the move to save Terri a conspiracy of rightwing power seekers. Liberal Catholics, of which there are legion, (Biblical pun intended) are liberals first and foremost, and many are in positions of power. Would they deny Michael? Did they find anything wrong with F'ing Kerry, who supported every conceivable abortion proposition?

An interesting question were he to come up against an orthodox bishop, however.
6 posted on 03/24/2005 9:51:02 AM PST by jobim
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To: Huntress
Terri is Catholic. Schiavo is not, so the other questions you had would be irrelevant in his case. However, if he were Catholic: He would most likely face excommunication for the decision to slowly starve his wife to death. Well, I don't really know about likely...afaic, my CINO governor Granholm should be excommunicated, or at the very least denied the sacrament of the Eucharist for her staunchly pro-abortion politics. The Bishops here in Michigan pretty much give her a free pass. Sad. I don't know about the Bishops in Florida. I think, ultimately, they would be in the position to begin an excommunication process, if Schiavo had been Catholic.

I read recently, btw, that the woman Schiavo is currently shacked up with IS a Catholic. She ought to face excommunication for having an openly adulterous relationship.

11 posted on 03/24/2005 10:22:15 AM PST by grellis (You gotta problem with Wayne Newton?)
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