Posted on 02/24/2005 8:38:06 PM PST by Deo volente
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 24, 2005 (Zenit.org).- A Vatican official launched an appeal to save Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman whose husband wants her off life-support care.
On Wednesday a Florida judge ordered the tube delivering food and water to Schiavo kept in place another 48 hours.
Pinellas County Circuit Judge George Greer said he needed time to consider legal challenges raised by the woman's parents, including the possibility that her husband, Michael Schiavo, was unfit to act as her guardian.
In statements on Vatican Radio, Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said: "If Mr. Schiavo succeeds legally in causing the death of his wife, this not only would be tragic in itself, but would be a grave step toward the legal approval of euthanasia in the United States."
He added: "I would like to remind everyone in this connection, about all that the Holy Father has said in past days to the Pontifical Academy for Life, confirming that the quality of life is not interpreted as economic success, beauty and physical pleasure, but consists in the supreme dignity of the creature made in the image and likeness of God.
"No one can be the arbiter of life except God himself."
So glad they made these comments.
Terri ping! If anyone would like to be added to or removed from my Terri ping list, please let me know by FReepmail!
That judge needs to see this!
As per your request.
Thank you, Deo!!!
Cardinal Martino isn't a favorite of mine, but a stopped clock can be right twice a day.
Is this a hopeful sign, that the judge is willing to consider the fitness of the "husband" to be this woman's "guardian"?
Wouldn't he have given a cold shoulder to this argument a few months ago?
Is public pressure getting through to him?
amdgmary, how might this -- finally? -- affect all those in the hierarchy who have not been at all supportive of Terri or her family, eg, when Terri was not allowed to take last rites?
Do we need to mail this to someone there?
ping
Thanks and good night.
Michael Schiavo and Felos seem to squirm when the church speaks up for Terri but it doesn't bother Greer
Amen. Outstanding that the Vatican would step in like this. Good news, info, visibility and petition here. Should give the Shiavo's more ammo on their religious claims before the court on behalf of Terri.
"If Mr. Schiavo succeeds legally in causing the death of his wife, this not only would be tragic in itself, but would be a grave step toward the legal approval of euthanasia in the United States."
THE LEGAL APPROVAL OF EUTHANASIA IN THE UNITED STATES.
The real motive behind this case.
Congratulations to the Cardinal for telling it like it is.
The real deal here, imo, is if they lose and are unable to kill Terri. That's what they're sweating.
=================================================================================== ... You've heard about this already, thru the ministry of EWTN, you've heard about presumably in one way or another on the news, there is a woman in Florida by the name of Terri Schiavo, who since 1990 has been suffering from a brain injury, but who otherwise, brothers and sisters, IS LIVING and HEALTHY. She is NOT dying. She does not have any kind of a terminal illness. She is not connected to any kind of life support. The problem that has arisin, for years now, is that her husband wants her to be starved. She is fed by a simple normal feeding tube at mealtime. Aside from that, there are no tubes or machines connected to her body. She is living on her own. But she has been kept in a hospice. Her parents, and her siblings WANT to take care of her for the rest of her life. She is not able to communicate easily, but she IS aware, and she IS alert. I've been to see her two times, I'll tell you more about that in a moment. But her parents, and her-- She has a loving family, committed and ready to take care of her for the rest of her life. And meanwhile, this estranged husband, I'm going to have some words addressed directly to him before I'm finished with this homily, is off with another woman, with whom he has two children, and WANTS Terri dead. Brothers and sisters, one would think that this is enough information, to resolve this situation, and to say, well then, let him go his way, and let her be in the care of her family. But because of legal technicalities... but because in the eyes of the law... the husband is her quote 'legal guardian', the law has not been able to intervene here to say, well, legal guardian or not, you don't have the right to starve another individual. You don't have the right to kill an innocent person. Our legal system is broken. The court system is broken, and it is time to fix it. And when the laws, and the courts, and the system in place in this country, or in any other country, that has as its primary purpose the protection of life, the protection of its citizens, NO LONGER achieves that goal, then it is the duty of you, the people, to rise up and change this situation. And that's why I say to you today, as I said back in the beginning of November, you have a task to do and I know that you will do it. It has to be done. What else can be done? Brothers and sisters, this situation is reaching a climax. It changes hour to hour. There are so legal maneuverings, there are so many questions still on the table, there are so many angles to this, that by the time you see this broadcast later in the day, the situation may have changed from what it is now. The point is, first of all, those of you who live in Florida, I want to make a special appeal to you, and those of you who KNOW people in Florida... It is the people of Florida, at this point in time, who have the biggest opportunity to help Terri and her family, by contacting the governor and the STATE legislators of Florida, and ask them to intervene. Because Terri's feeding tube was removed once already, and thanks be to God, the legislature of the state of Florida, and the Governor DID intervene, and were able to protect her from starvation. That needs to happen again. The legislature and the governor need to intervene yet again, to find any and every way that they can... any and every way that the law provides for them... And you the people, need to let them know that you want to see that happen. If you don't live in Florida, and you don't know anybody in Florida, then by all means, let your own representatives on the federal level, at least KNOW your concern. So that perhaps in some way, some things can be discovered, tha can be done on a federal level. But let your lawmakers know that you are deeply troubled and concerned about this problem. And then there's another angle, there's another dimension to this. I told you that I SAW Terri. I was in to see her twice. I saw her once in September and I saw her once just a couple weeks ago. And she communicated. She's alert. We prayed. She follows everything thats happening in the room with her eyes, turning her head, smiling. When I was in there with her parents, her dad leaned over to kiss her, and she made the motion to kiss him back... She's not able as I said, to articulate her words, but she attempts to speak. And if she HAD the benefit of some physical therapy and some speech therapy, she would be in a lot BETTER condition, but guess what? She has been DENIED that treatment, she has been denied that simple physical and speech therapy, by the same person who wants her to be starved. I told her, when I visited with her, and laid hands on her and prayed with her, that she has a lot of friends around the country. That she has a lot of people who know about her, and love her, thats you. And she KNOWS that. Brothers and sisters, there is another dimension, besides entreating and emploring our lawmakers to do something about this problem. And that is what the holy father speaks about in evangelium vitae(sp?), the gospel of life. Which by the way this year is the 10th anniversary of this marvelous document, the gospel of life. It was issued on march 25th of 1995. And he mentions among other things, the duty of conscientious objection. When laws, or court decrees, such as a decree to starve someone to death by not feeding them. When such decrees and decisions are issued, the Pope points out, as saint Thomas Aquinas pointed out, as scripture points out, as has been the teachings of even before Christ, that we can read about it in the OLD testiment, we see the SAME theme, right along, that nobody has to obey an UNJUST law because an unjust law is not a law at all. So a court decree that says don't feed this woman, has NO AUTHORITY!. Now a lawyer will tell you, well, you know, it has authority, because, well, thats the way that the system is setup, and this judge has this particular authority to pass this decree, and this particular guardian has this authority to decide this and decide that... NONSENSE! I dont CARE what the SYSTEM says. There is a law HIGHER than ANY court. There is a law HIGHER than ANY decree. And a decree to let a person be STARVED - HAS - NO - authority. Now we're at a crossroads here. Because either the people of God are going to say... well, we can ONLY pray about this, we can't do anything about it, because THAT is the law... OR, we're going to take matters into our own hands, in an appropriate way, and exercise what the Pope calls, conscientious objection. Because this can't happen by itself. You see, when a judge issues somebody a decree like this, somebody has to photocopy it, somebody has to transmit it, somebody has to carry it from point A to point B. And the people who are entrusted with that task MUST REFUSE to do it. There are people who have to actually have to transfer it. Terri or anybody else who might be subject to this kind of a decree, [] and reconnected, you've got to refuse. [....] to the place where they are going to be starved. [] []disconnect her feeding tube, take her to another room... [] Don't bring her. Don't DO IT! You've got to refuse. How much longer are we going to go on, making belive, that's what's right, and what's wrong is just a matter of the abstract, or somewhere in the recesses of our minds or hearts and it doesn't get translated into concrete reality? NO brothers and sisters. Let me read from the holy father's words, he says "When a law is contrary to reason, it is called an unjust law" here he is quoting Thomas Aquinas, "but in this case it ceases to be a law. It becomes instead, an act of violence." A court decree, with all the respectability that that SHOULD have... is IN FACT, an act of violence... if in fact it is authorizing the killing of an innocent person. And then he goes on to say... these laws and decrees quote "are completely lacking in authentic juridic validity. Consequently, a civil law of that kind, ceases to be a truly morally binding civil law."=============================================================== ...sorry, but I HAVE TO RUN, I will repost as a separate thread when I have cleaned this up and finished it.... anyone with a ping list, spread the word, and wathc for updates here or separate thread. ...FLE
It's about time! Yes, that's what I'm hoping. It has been reported on other threads that the Diocese of St. Pete area has been unhelpful and in some ways downright harmful towards the Schindlers.
did you do that? he sure lays it out simply and clearly for the world to see.
Just who are "the least of these"?
Renato Martino begins, ever so slightly, to redeem himself.
I do not believe the governor would order them arrested, particularly if every street and alley leading to the place for miles around were cram packed with other individuals to take their places.
"That judge needs to see this!"
Judge George Greer
Rm. 484, 315 Court Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
Primary Phone: (727) 464-3933
E-Mail:courts@jud6.org , Judge George Greer
:)
ping to this thread with its implications (I hope) for more vocal local support for Terri's family, and to FL engineer's post #18 of Fr. Frank Pavone's homily on Terri.
incomplete ping to those I can think of.
Some might say "'bout damn time" - isn't this the first time they've said a peep about her?
And they're not 'stepping in' - they're only making noises. Stepping-in would equate with filing motions, petitioning, attending vigils, doing actual physical work, etc. that others have been doing all along.
I'm just glad they did something definitive and positive regarding the situation.
Gee, ya think? Just because he wants to starve her to death?
The woman is disabled. If she were to die a natural death, that'd be what I call a "sad relief." But what her husband wants to do is murder her, and the liberals are in favor because that's one more step in the direction they want this country to go: Euthanasia, pure and simple.
Yes!!!! That the vatican spoke on Terri's behalf is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!
Prayers for Terri and thank you for posting this excellent news!
"I dont CARE what the SYSTEM says. There is a law HIGHER than ANY court. There is a law HIGHER than ANY decree. And a decree to let a person be STARVED - HAS - NO - authority."
"You see, when a judge issues somebody a decree like this, somebody has to photocopy it, somebody has to transmit it, somebody has to carry it from point A to point B. And the people who are entrusted with that task MUST REFUSE to do it. There are people who have to actually have to transfer it. Terri or anybody else who might be subject to this kind of a decree,"
"and reconnected, you've got to refuse. [....] to the place where they are going to be starved. disconnect her feeding tube, take her to another room... Don't bring her. Don't DO IT! You've got to refuse."
Judge Greer's decree to starve Terri has NO AUTHORITY. People must REFUSE to starve her!!!!!!!
I stongly agree with father. He is absolutely RIGHT!
Thank you for the ping, cyn. This is good news for Terri, her family and her lawyers!
Well worth repeating in bold and large letters.
I dont know what you mean, those 4 words don't seem to be anywhere in the text I typed. Now if you mean what is the section with square brackets, I tried to say
---my satellite signal is breaking up---
but I put those words in angle brackets by mistake and F.R. stripped that part out.
Watch for updates, I recorded it twice, so between the two, I should be able to make an accurate transcript.
Bump!
Had the pro-euthenasia people conceded that a man who fathered twho children by another woman and pledged to marry her was not a suitable guardian for his wife, they would have lost very little. After all, I don't think very many people would think such a man should be a guardian.
But I have faith that much more will be exposed. Just as the Egyptions could have let the Israelites flee, so could the pro-euthenasia people have let Terri go. But the Egyptions received the reward for their over-eager pursuits. May it be likewise today.
I truly hope the Governor of Florida agrees with this. It reminds me of the story of Antigone, who sought to uphold the higher law, against the decree of Creon the King, who believed "Disobedience is the worst of evils." It is understandable that a state governor desires to respect the civil law---but I pray that he is aware, that obedience to a bad law is not always a single act of wrongdoing. You start by the error of making the civil law supreme, you wind up having to send law enforcement after people who are doing what is right, locking them up, destroying them.
In other words, upholding a bad law is not, in the hands of a governor, merely an act of omission. As soon as he declares that the civil law, whether moral or immoral, is paramount, he becomes an enemy of the good, for he is committing himself to become party to the prosecution of good people doing the right thing.
"My hands are tied," is about as valid as "My hands are washed."
Jeb Bush did the right thing in 2003, and it was courageous of him. He is definitely not a typical politician. We have to have some faith in his discernment now; that he knows he has no duty to uphold a perversion of law, but a duty to oppose it with every power at his command.
Which tells you this is about bigger fish. Euthanasia advocacy.
post often, ok?
Which I understand has been used in the past to deliver meds to stave off the seizures of sodium imbalance. IE, some feeding tubes were never pulled but left in place to deliver anti-convulsants.
There's an even more official statement. The Holy Father's comments, on PVS and the withholding of food and water, can be found at this site:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2004/march/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20040320_congress-fiamc_en.html
Very well put! The law has been perverted inorder to move the social acceptance to euthanasia. The same tactics here as the effort to move the social acceptace to gay marriage.
Conflict of interest---Schiavo has a legal wife and a de facto wife. Two wives; it doesn't get any more conflicted!
He should not have the powers and privileges of a husband to Terri, when he has another woman in the role of wife, and mother of his children besides. There are some murky factors in this case (for some people), but this much is crystal clear. The marriage bond that made him Terri's next-of-kin, he severed when he took another woman as a wife.
I have been considering some painting work, making gifs to post here. Death with Dignity showing exactly the opposite in a picture, for instance.
BTTT!
I'll ping in the morning!
It was feeding tubes, left in place to deliver the anticonvulsants while the patient was dehydrated to death from not using it for food or water.
"The Court said Mr. Brophy's G-tube could be removed or clamped, yet neither was done. The tube remained in place, but food was withheld. When he began having seizures, anticonvulsant medication was administered via the tube, as were antacids to prevent hemorrhaging and laxatives to make him more "comfortable" as he died."
Some one get me a ride and I'll join in.
They dehydrate him and his stomach lining dries out, so to prevent hemorrhaging they send antacids in via the feeding tube. A true circus. Prevent hemorrhage while you are killing someone.
This is not only perversion it is sadistic perversion. I think the judge who ordered that should be made to crawl on the ground while a dominatrix in leathers whips him around the room and orders him to bark like a dog and lick her boots.
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