Three years ago today, it sounded like good news...
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As Congress and President George W. Bush rushed into place a law granting federal court jurisdiction in the case of severely brain-damaged Terri Schindler Schiavo, Catholic leaders emphasized that she must continue to be given nutrition.
The law signed by Bush in the early morning hours of March 21 allowed Schiavo's parents to ask a federal judge to order reinserted a feeding tube removed March 18 by order of a Florida state judge.
Richard Doerflinger, deputy director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, praised Bush and members of Congress for the new law.
"Terri Schiavo is not terminally ill; she is a woman with cognitive disabilities," he said March 21. "This law ensures that the decision to discontinue her assisted feeding will be reviewed with full attention to her legal rights."...............
Church leaders praise new law in Schiavo case
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And the baton passed from the blind to the halt. So much for Justice....
We charged across the bridge to Tampa. I rode with Pat Mahoney and Brandi Swindell and we expected good news to come of this because how could even a liberal judge fly in the face of the heart of our government? Nope, the judge got out his violin and sawed away for hours, hours, and hours, twiddling his thumbs as Terri slipped deeper into dehydration. Meanwhile, this James Whittemore District Judge played Terri with the same casual amusement of a cat juggling a helpless mouse until the game got boring. Then the next day he released his thumbs-down and shortly afterwards whined how we meanies were all against him.
Nope, the cowboys of brokeback justice had circled the wagons and the entire Justice system stood ready to show the rest of government and us poor saps who was boss.
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As Congress and President George W. Bush rushed into place a law granting federal court jurisdiction in the case of severely brain-damaged Terri Schindler Schiavo, Catholic leaders emphasized that she must continue to be given nutrition.
But the law signed by Bush in the early morning hours of March 21 allowing Schiavo's parents to ask a federal judge to order the reinsertion of her feeding tube failed to achieve its goal when U.S. District Judge James Whittemore in Tampa, Fla., ruled against the parents' request March 22.
Whittemore said Schiavo's "life and liberty interests" had been protected by the state courts and that her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, had not established a "substantial likelihood of success" in the federal court process.............
Judge denies parents' bid to reinsert Schiavo's feeding tube
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May Greer, Felos, and hino receive the same treatment.