Pa. College Professor Arrested at Schiavo Hospice

NEPA News and AP ^ | March 29, 2005 | AP

[Palladin]

A professor at a Bible college near Scranton, Pa., was arrested Tuesday as he tried to storm into the hospice caring for Terri Schiavo.

Dow Pursley, 56, was zapped with a Taser stun gun and tackled to the ground by officers before he reached the door, Pinellas Park police said. He became the 47th protester arrested.

Pursley, who is on the faculty of the Baptist Bible College & Seminary in Clarks Summit, Pa., had two bottles of water with him, police said. He was charged with attempted burglary and resisting arrest.

Baptist Bible College officials said in a written statement that Pursley was not acting on the school's behalf and had traveled to Florida on his personal time.

"He is a dedicated man with strong beliefs and God-given convictions," the statement said.

Pursley is the clinical director of counseling programs for the theological college's graduate school. He also helps oversee a campus clinic that offers psychological counseling based on biblical teaching.

Baptist Bible College spokesman Mark Robbins said that while the college "believes in the sanctity of life," it has not taken an official position on the Schiavo case.

Doctors said that Schiavo, 41, would probably die within a week or two after the tube was removed on March 18. She suffered catastrophic brain damage in 1990 when her heart stopped for several minutes because of a chemical imbalance.

[northernlightsII]

Good thing you were not in charge of the civil rights movement in the 60's. Do you really think that the black folks sitting at the luncheon counters thought they were going to get served?

[sinkspur]

Yep Deacon he did. He tried to give a thirsty woman water and armed thugs stopped him.

No. Police officers, acting within the law, stopped him.

Or do you advocate lawlessness?

[mjtobias]

I think this is the man. God bless him.

"While the news conference was occurring and the majority of the crowd was listening to Jackson, a man rushed through security lines and towards the entrance to the hospice. Witnesses said he made it to within about 10 feet of the front door before police officers tackled him and stunned him with a Taser gun."

Pinellas Park police officers and a Pinellas County Sheriff Deputy escort a man who ran toward the door of the Woodside Hospice, where Terri Schiavo is a patient, Tuesday morning, March 29, 2005 in Pinellas Park, Fla. The unidentified man was shot by officers with tasers at the front door while the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Schindler family were having a news conference. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

[Nachum]

The problem is that 5,000 more people should have walked with him at the same time.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

You know, there's a school of thought that a terrible injustice can blight the fate of nations. I wonder if it's true?

Yes. You are about to see it happen.

[Palladin]

He's a courageous guy, willing to put his money where his mouth is.

The charges will probably be reduced, but still, he'll have to take time off from work to fly down to FL for his trial. If found gulty, he'll most likely be fined and released. He'll have to pay a lawyer (if one does not volunteer, pro bono) etc.

He has gone out of his way to do the Christian thing: to bring drink to the thirsty.

He is certainly a man to be admired.

[sitetest]

Dear Jorge,

"He knew SHE would NEVER get the water BEFORE he did it."

He knew that if the police kept acting like thugs and barbarians, that she likely would not get the water he had with him. However, the three cardinal virtues are faith, hope, and charity.

His charity compelled him to try to give water to a woman dying of thirst.

His hope was in the basic decency of the police officers who stood in his way.

His faith is in God, Who recognizes the faith, hope, and charity in his heart.

Sorry you seem to be unable to see any of that. Things that are clear to others with faith, hope, and charity.


sitetest

[sinkspur]

At 56 he may be less agile than when I knew him, but the way I remember him, if he had been trying to hurt those officers, he would have.

At 56, he wouldn't have.

[mississippi red-neck]

If it goes to trial I like to be on the jury.

[Lovergirl]

It isn't all about Terri. It's about all of us. I could have a stroke tomorrow and have a Living Will but all the doctors will say is I am a vegetable and I can't feel anything. I don't matter. My kids BETTER KNOW I DO. God bless Terri.

[Windsong]

Cept' Terri wasn't Christian. She was a "non-practicing" Catholic (or so the news outlets would have us believe). One might as well be Jewish, Muslim, or Jehovah's Witness and have that verse apply. By making everyone special, no one is special.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Yes, he broke the law.

The Nazi's had laws. The Soviets had laws. The Chinese communists have laws. Under all those laws, horrible murder and atrocities were authorized and conducted.

It's too bad so few stood against these tyrants. How many might have been spared the sword or the gas chamber?

[F.J. Mitchell]

The man tried.

What would have done if you were when the man risked life and limd trying to deliver water to this abused and thirsty woman, Jorge? You would have tackled him.

[cookcounty]

"He was charged with attempted burglary and resisting arrest. "

Burglary? For stealing water? For stealing the limelight?

Is it just me, or is the whole Florida judicial/police complex made up of morons?

[marredbydust]

only 47 arrested so far... that seems kind of sad.
I would have thought there would be more. Well, at least there are 47 people who are going to be able to look themselves in the mirror when they wake up the morning after Terri dies. Thank you Professor.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"He was charged with attempted burglary and resisting arrest."

That's ridiculous. "Burglary"???!!! Public life in this country is becoming a farce. The arresting officers should be arrested for aiding a murder in progress.

Where is JEB??? He should be excommunicated if he doesn't act soon.

[Tax Government]

He broke the law.

Law exists to codify and help ensure moral action. His action was moral.

[Tax Government]

Jeb, and the "republicans" who support his non-action, are jokes of the first order. They are usurpers of conservatism; conservatives in name only. The GOP does itself no favors by encouraging such people to run for office.

[TheCrusader]

"The man knew it would not help Terri."

The man is a professor at a Bible College, this tells me why he tried to help Terri, even knowing her death squad would arrest him. As Jesus said, his reward for his deed will be in Heaven.

"And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." (Mathew 10:42)

But the man helped Terri in another way, by bringing even more media attention to her case, and he becomes a leader by example and sparks the courage in others to protest Terri Schiavo's COLD BLOODED MURDER.

Forget your rude attacks on me and others who can't sit with our government sponsoring the cold, cruel murder of a disabled woman. The boneheads and heartless punks out there who think this murder is "legal" have absolutly ZERO effect on me, other to cement my feelings even more.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

...and I'll tell you who else is breaking the law. There are at least ten million illegal aliens in this country breaking the law by their very presence.

When will those laws be enforced?

Every citizen of the United States is probably breaking some law once a week, if not more often.