Posted on 03/09/2005 6:51:24 AM PST by NYer
In an unusual foray into American politics and law, a highly placed Vatican cardinal issued a second statement in two weeks in defense of the life of Terri Schiavo, saying "How can anyone who claims to speak of the promotion and protection of human rights–of human life–remain silent?"
In reaction, a prominent Catholic pro-life figure said that Cardinal Renato Martino’s second statement should prod the U.S. bishops to do more to try to save the life of the disabled Florida woman who faces a March 18th date to have her feeding tube removed.
Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome, said in a March 7th statement distributed via Virginia-based Human Life International:
"Without the tube, which is providing life-giving hydration and nutrition, Terri Schiavo will die. But it is not that simple. She will die a horrible and cruel death. She will not simply die; she will have death inflicted upon her over a number of terrible days, even weeks. How can anyone who claims to speak of the promotion and protection of human rights--of human life--remain silent? Is this not a question of the right to life? I believe that I must speak out about this in the same way that I would speak of the protection of the unborn and just as I would concerning any injustice."
Cardinal Martino first spoke out in February, saying, "If Mr. Schiavo succeeds in legally causing the death of his wife, this not only would be tragic in itself, but it would be a grave step toward the legal approval of euthanasia in the United States."
In this March 7th statement, Cardinal Martino speaks with great passion in defense of the life of Terri Schiavo, saying even animals receive more protection under the law than Ms. Schiavo is receiving.
Terri Schiavo collapsed in 1990 at age 26 and suffered brain damage but her parents say she continues to interact with them. A Florida judge set a March 18th date to remove her feeding tube, at the request of her husband and legal guardian Michael Schiavo who has been trying to get the tube removed for seven years. Terri Schiavo’s parents and siblings have continued to fight for her life and to have Michael Schiavo, who is living with another woman with whom he has two children, removed as guardian. A number of legislative and legal actions are underway at the state and federal level and the eight-member Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops last week issued a statement in support of Terri Schiavo’s life.
The U.S. bishops have so far remained silent.
However, Terri Schiavo’s own bishop, Tampa-St. Petersburg Bishop Robert Lynch has garnered criticism for his approach, saying in a statement issued Feb. 28th, "At the end of the day (the judicial, legislative days) the decision to remove Terri’s artificial feeding tube will be that of her husband, Michael," even as the Schindlers continue to fight to remove him as guardian. Lynch called for mediation at the "end of life" when Terri Schiavo’s parents Bob and Mary Schindler and medical opinion is clear that Schiavo is disabled not terminal. In addition, Lynch describes the Schindlers’ fight for their daughter’s life as something within a family and describes the struggle as "the seeming intractablity of both sides."
Austin Ruse, president of the Culture of Life Foundation sent an e-mail from Rome March 8th to IgnatiusInsight.com, saying: "Of sourse, Cardinal Martino is correct and his strong statement in defense of Terri Schiavo's life stands as a rallying cry for Catholics everywhere. We look for this kind of statement from the American Bishops."
Pope John Paul II declared in March 2004 that removing a feeding tube is "euthanasia by omission" even in the case of patients judged to be in a "persistent vegetative state."
The March 7th statement by Cardinal Martino was sent via e-mail from Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro Carámbula, director of the office of Human Life International in Rome and confirmed in an e-mail from Msgr. James M. Reinert of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace to Ignatius Press President Mark Brumley.
Msgr. Barreiro writes in his March 7th e-mail to Human Life International in Virginia: "In our unflagging struggle to defend the life of Terry Schiavo this an important and very encouraging document that should receive the most ample possible distribution.
Today as we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas (1962 calendar) I am imploring the Angelical Doctor to came to our assistance and protect the life of Terri Schiavo."
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Statement of Cardinal Renato Martino,
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Vatican City
7 March 2005
The courts have ruled again and again. Unfortunately, the deadline for the removal of the tube delivering food and water to Terri Schiavo is quickly approaching. I am sorry to have to use the word "deadline" but this is the most accurate way to describe what will happen. Without the tube, which is providing life-giving hydration and nutrition, Terri Schiavo will die. But it is not that simple. She will die a horrible and cruel death. She will not simply die; she will have death inflicted upon her over a number of terrible days, even weeks. How can anyone who claims to speak of the promotion and protection of human rights--of human life--remain silent? Is this not a question of the right to life? I believe that I must speak out about this in the same way that I would speak of the protection of the unborn and just as I would concerning any injustice.
Has due process in this case been truly served? Have all options been employed? Where is love? Where is human compassion? No one would ever wish to witness the suffering of another, especially a loved one. And I am sure that no one could ever choose to witness suffering or a cruel death being inflicted upon another, especially one who is loved. How then have we come to this point?
If it is true that the process has been fair, and that all legal avenues have been exhausted, how is it that this woman, who has done nothing wrong, will suffer a fate which society would never tolerate in the case of a convicted murderer, or anyone else convicted of the most horrendous crimes? Again, it is an issue of human rights. It is an issue of the right to life, and as I stated earlier, no one can be the arbiter of life except God himself!
The State of Florida has many laws on its books which protect animals, whether they be household pets, domesticated farm animals or animals destined for slaughter. (And please pardon me as I make this analogy. I am not comparing Terri to an animal. I only want to show the protection that the courts afford to animals in the State of Florida.) These laws "prohibit[s] anyone from intentionally committing an act to any animal which results in cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering" (828.12). It is also unlawful to keep an animal in a place while failing to supply "a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water"(828.13).
Are these laws not enforced by the same courts, are these not the same laws established by lawmakers in order to protect other creatures of God?
However, in just a few days, (if her husband and the courts have their way), this is exactly what will happen to Terri. She will be completely deprived of water and food. She will have excessive suffering and pain inflicted upon her, which will lead to her cruel death. Yet we have come to the point of asking whether due process been fully carried out and all options exhausted on behalf of Terri? This is unbelievable! Is it not sufficient enough to say that there are still questions that must be answered? We plead; we make the urgent appeal for the life of a helpless human being...a person with whom we all share our God given human dignity. How can anyone say that her best interests have been taken into consideration?
In his Message for the Eleventh World Day of the Sick (11 February 2003) His Holiness Pope John Paul II stated: "And while palliative treatment in the final stage of life can be encouraged, avoiding a "treatment at all costs" mentality, it will never be permissible to resort to actions or omissions which by their nature or in the intention of the person acting are designed to bring about death."
Palliative care, by its definition is the alleviation of suffering and relieving pain. In the last stage of life, it is this care for which we all must hope because, if the feeding tube is removed and Terri is forced to die this slow, terrible, painful death, we must ask ourselves, "And who will be next?" Will this open the door for a state to decide whether this or that incapacitated person should die...not be allowed to die a dignified death but that they should have death inflicted upon them?
It must stop here and now. The courts, the judges and everyone involved with this must understand that all of the questions involved in the case of Terri Schiavo have not yet been answered. Society must realize that we can never inflict this sort of death on a human being, on any other creature, without each and every one of us and society as a whole suffering a terrible fate.
Save Terri Schiavo's Life says Fédération Internationale des Associations Médicales Catholiques
To: National and International Desks
Contact: François Blin, MD, Secretary General of Fédération Internationale des Associations Médicales Catholiques, 33 1 34685576, frblin@club-internet.fr; or Cristine More, Catholic Medical Association (USA), 781-455-0259
ROME, March 9 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Press Released Statement on Terri Schindler-Schiavo from Fédération Internationale des Associations Médicales Catholiques -- World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations:
Save Terri's Life
Terri Schindler-Schiavo is condemned to die of starvation and dehydration unless a new court decision intervenes.
She is not guilty of any crime, except to be a burden for her husband and for a selfish society. She is not even clinically in a permanent vegetative state, but she has been refused a re-examination of her clinical condition.
The legal basis for this inhuman decision is that she allegedly had once expressed the wish not to be fed "artificially". However, her parents and siblings contend that this is not her will and that she, in fact, would follow the clear teaching of the Catholic Church about assisted nutrition and hydration. They raise the possibility that her husband and legal guardian has manifestedly abused her.
However, the real core of the problem is the attempt to decide about the right to life of a human being, not on the basis of her/his personal dignity, but on an external evaluation of the quality of life.
The World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations is deeply concerned for the possible consequences of such a precedent setting decision in the United States system of law. In fact, if Terri, an innocent person, can be condemmed to death, every person whose life will be considered of insufficient "quality" by a guardian or the court will be in danger of euthanasia performed by withdrawal of basic and ordinary care.
The importance of this case goes beyond this deplorable circumstance. It will open the floodgates to euthanasia in the United States, at all ages, without even a legislative decision.
The World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, aware of the risks of this decision for both society and the future of the medical profession, strongly appeals to the United States authorities to react immediately and effectively to save Terri's life and to avoid the inevitable consequences.
The World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations appeals to the Bishops of the United States to mobilize every resource and influence of the Catholic Church to counteract this impending tragedy.
Following the teaching of Pope John Paul II and the evidence of medical sciences, we believe that no human being, including those in the permanent vegetative state, can be denied the respect due to a human person by provision of food and water, without which any person, regardless of his/her state of health, would be condemned to death.
Such a perversion of medicine will be the source of discrimination against other human beings, with enormous risks for human rights and democracy.
Gian Luigi Gigli, M.D. Rome, 6 March, 2005
President of FIAMC
Why is that so hard to believe that in fact this [being dehydrated and starved to death?] was her wish?
This is a Keller "Devotional"? This moron cannot see the self-evident truth. Why is is so hard for him to believe that if HE would not want to be killed in such a barbaric manner, that he should therefore treat his neighbor as he himself would like to be treated?
Why is it so hard for him to believe that the only "evidence" that it was Terri's wish to be killed at all, much less this way, came from the self-serving hearsay testimony of her abusive, adulterous husband/guardian who has a pecuniary interest only in her death? Does Keller think that such inadmissible evidence should be dispositive in a case involving a person's very life?
Minister/part-time forensic accountant Keller says,
"Over the years, her husband Michael has become a lightning rod figure. Years ago he made the ungodly choice to start living with a woman even though he was still legally married to Terri, and they have had 2 children together. Whatever settlement money that existed has been long gone, so Michael gains nothing from Terri's death."
Why then did Michael Shiavo, referring to his wife upon whom he was and is cheating, ask, "when is this bitch going to die"?
I also wonder what Keller's "Christian" explanation would be for why he thinks it's ok in the law for a guardian to abuse an incapacitated ward, or to commit Medicaid, Medicare fraud in the hospice certification, and on and on.
Minister/part-time neurologist Keller assures us that Terri has "no brain activity". I submit that Keller evinces very little brain activity himself.
Cordially,
Bumping it for a later read. Positive comments from the Vatican...keeping Terri in our prayers.
Libertarian, all they are conservative about is money. Yuck, all greed no moral counterbalance.
Yes, while there are exceptions, most liberatarians are pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, which is pro-death.
Beautiful!!
People have a right to travel. It's the USA.
People have a right to travel. It's the USA. And if it was against someone's guardiansjip interest, Shiavo's, perhaps, whoever does it will, I'm certain, be regarded as a hero, rescuer, lifesaver and there will be two state's court systems, involved, then the Federal systems of one or two districts, in the meanwhile, decent medical treatment could be obtained, maybe Terri could speak and indicate her own wishes, the guardianship could be terminated, criminal charges filed against Michael, the possibilities are intriguing.
Please ping the pingees to post #23.
The link in that post should be required reading.
Terri ping to this thread and post 23 in particular! If anyone would like to be added to or removed from my Terri ping list, please let me know by FReepmail!
GREAT LINK!
bttt
>Whatever settlement money that existed has been long gone, so Michael gains nothing from Terri's death.<
Schiavo has testified, under oath, that he's doing this ultimately to get back at Terri's parents. This man is a control freak and he is tossing his wife's life (and ultimately his soul) away in the attempt to remain in control until the end.
Schiavo is a pathetic, ill man.
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