Zenit.org
Vatican Appeals for Terri Schiavo's Life
Mon Mar 14, 2005 20:53
64.140.159.131
Code: ZE05031306
Date: 2005-03-13
Vatican Appeals for Terri Schiavo's Life
Bishop Sgreccia Warns of "Serious Consequences"
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 13, 2005 ( http://www.Zenit.org ).- Sidestepping its general rule to not intervene in specific cases, the Pontifical Academy for Life has appealed for American Terri Schiavo's life.
The brain-damaged Florida woman has been at the center of a long and bitter court battle between her parents, who want to keep her alive, and her husband, who wants to remove her feeding tube so she can die.
A court order requires removal of her feeding tube next Friday, which would deny the 41-year-old the basic nourishment she needs to live.
Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Academy for Life, in explaining why the Holy See is speaking out in favor of Schiavo, said Saturday on Vatican Radio that her "case goes beyond the individual situation because of its exemplary character and the importance that the media have rightly attributed to it."
"Silence in this case might be interpreted as approval, with consequences that would go well beyond the specific case," he said.
The bishop explained that Schiavo is not in a genuine vegetative state, but rather she "seems to be in a sort of subliminal vegetative state, at the limit of consciousness, which might be described as 'minimum consciousness state.'"
"Unfortunately, official medical examinations and expert assessments were not carried out on the patient to clarify her precise neurological state," he said.
"No decision on the life of a person should be made legally without these assessments and, whenever necessary, one should also proceed to carry out cross-examinations by several experts," the prelate added.
"From all worthy accounts, Schiavo may be considered a living human person, deprived of full consciousness, whose juridical rights must be recognized, respected, and defended," the president of the pontifical academy said.
"The removal of the gastric feeding tube from this person, in these conditions, may be considered direct euthanasia," said the bishop.
Making the distinction between "ordinary" and "extraordinary" means to keep someone alive, Bishop Sgreccia said, "The gastric feeding tube cannot be regarded as an 'extraordinary' or as a therapeutic 'means.' It is an integral part of the modality in which Schiavo can be fed and hydrated."
"To prevent someone access to food and water, represents a way of killing that person," he said.
Regardless of secondary aspects of the case, Bishop Sgreccia says that he feels it to be the duty of his academy "to affirm that such a decision goes against Schiavo's rights as a person and, therefore, constitutes an abuse of the juridical authority."
"If such a decision was confirmed and leads to Terri Schiavo's death," he warned, "it would create a juridical precedent and would present euthanasia in reality as a right before the courts of the United States, with the serious consequences that can be easily imagined for the lives of many other more or less autonomous persons, in this country and elsewhere.
"For these reasons we regard as illicit the decision to remove the gastric feeding tube from Mrs. Terri Schiavo."
http://www.terrisfight.org/
Americans for Traditional Values
http://www.geocities.com/AFTV2005/
"If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
Samuel Adams
============================
From: Fight4Terri@aol.com
Message-ID: <59.23510c24.2f6707fb@aol.com >
Rose Rally For Terri
By, Cheryl Ford RN
Tallahassee, Florida
March 13, 2005
The Rose Rally began at 3:00 PM at the old capitol courtyard in Tallahassee, Florida. The windy day event brought forth a few thousand people in support of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Terri, a 41 year old disabled woman awaits her death penalty on March 18, 2005 at 1:00 PM; a death penalty imposed upon her by estranged husband Michael Schiavo. Shiavo who was only married to Terri for 5 years before her unexplained tragic accident has petitioned the court for an order to remove her feeding tube and kill her by starvation and dehydration.
Looking out at the captive audience which filled the capitol courtyard, I could recall the days when Terri had only a few local supporters sitting around a dining room table fighting for her life. Today, in Tallahassee, there were a few thousand new faces from all over the country in support of Terri. Sara Lewis, a long time friend and supporter of Terri, looked over at m e and commented, "How different it is Cheryl to be at an event for Terri with so many new faces we don't know." Even the guest speakers were new to Terri's fight, Tom Gallagher, Gary Cass, Kate Adamson and others.
Terri's plight began 14 years ago Robert Schindler commented upon his turn at the podium. "Two years ago, we had only 5 supporters in the court room, today the court room is filled. Our family is very grateful to have so many people fighting for our daughters life." Mr. Schindler then paused, regaining composure while wiping tears from his eyes when he talked about how they were again reliving a time from the past when their daughters feeding tube was removed in October 2003.
The Schindlers' determination to fight for their daughters life has been relentless. However, it was obvious to those of us who are so close to them to see how tired they are. The fear, pain and torture associated with fighting for their daughters life has definitely taken its toll on their physical presence. As the days rapidly pass by before Terri is scheduled to be executed by the Florida courts by her estranged spouse Michael Schiavo, the Schindlers speak out louder in support of their disabled daughter. Once again, they plead for the help of President Bush, Governor Bush and other government officials to help save their innocent disabled daughters life.
The Rose Rally speakers each delivered their powerful messages about how important it was for all to come forward and fight for Terri. Though each speaker presented a loving and caring message for Terri, Sara and I knew how each of their new faces would not have had their chance at the podium without the tireless efforts of Terri's former attorney, Ms. Patricia Anderson. Due to illness, Ms. Anderson was not able to attend the rose rally to deliver her message for Terri. Though missed in her absence, her presence was still felt throughout the rally.
On Monday morning, as each legislator arrives for work, they will be presented with one long stem red rose with a message attached. The message reads, "By Court Order, do not feed or water. However, keep this rose in a dry vase until all signs of life are gone." A rose will serve as a simple reminder of the urgency of Terri's fate that lies in their hands.
Date: 2005-03-13
Vatican Appeals for Terri Schiavo's Life
Bishop Sgreccia Warns of "Serious Consequences"
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 13, 2005 ( http://www.Zenit.org ).- Sidestepping its general rule to not intervene in specific cases, the Pontifical Academy for Life has appealed for American Terri Schiavo's life.
The brain-damaged Florida woman has been at the center of a long and bitter court battle between her parents, who want to keep her alive, and her husband, who wants to remove her feeding tube so she can die.
A court order requires removal of her feeding tube next Friday, which would deny the 41-year-old the basic nourishment she needs to live.
Bishop Elio Sgreccia, president of the Academy for Life, in explaining why the Holy See is speaking out in favor of Schiavo, said Saturday on Vatican Radio that her "case goes beyond the individual situation because of its exemplary character and the importance that the media have rightly attributed to it."
"Silence in this case might be interpreted as approval, with consequences that would go well beyond the specific case," he said.
The bishop explained that Schiavo is not in a genuine vegetative state, but rather she "seems to be in a sort of subliminal vegetative state, at the limit of consciousness, which might be described as 'minimum consciousness state.'"
"Unfortunately, official medical examinations and expert assessments were not carried out on the patient to clarify her precise neurological state," he said.
"No decision on the life of a person should be made legally without these assessments and, whenever necessary, one should also proceed to carry out cross-examinations by several experts," the prelate added.
"From all worthy accounts, Schiavo may be considered a living human person, deprived of full consciousness, whose juridical rights must be recognized, respected, and defended," the president of the pontifical academy said.
"The removal of the gastric feeding tube from this person, in these conditions, may be considered direct euthanasia," said the bishop.
Making the distinction between "ordinary" and "extraordinary" means to keep someone alive, Bishop Sgreccia said, "The gastric feeding tube cannot be regarded as an 'extraordinary' or as a therapeutic 'means.' It is an integral part of the modality in which Schiavo can be fed and hydrated."
"To prevent someone access to food and water, represents a way of killing that person," he said.
Regardless of secondary aspects of the case, Bishop Sgreccia says that he feels it to be the duty of his academy "to affirm that such a decision goes against Schiavo's rights as a person and, therefore, constitutes an abuse of the juridical authority."
"If such a decision was confirmed and leads to Terri Schiavo's death," he warned, "it would create a juridical precedent and would present euthanasia in reality as a right before the courts of the United States, with the serious consequences that can be easily imagined for the lives of many other more or less autonomous persons, in this country and elsewhere.
"For these reasons we regard as illicit the decision to remove the gastric feeding tube from Mrs. Terri Schiavo."
http://www.terrisfight.org/
Americans for Traditional Values
http://www.geocities.com/AFTV2005/
"If you love wealth better than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."
Samuel Adams
============================
From: Fight4Terri@aol.com
Message-ID: <59.23510c24.2f6707fb@aol.com >
Rose Rally For Terri
By, Cheryl Ford RN
Tallahassee, Florida
March 13, 2005
The Rose Rally began at 3:00 PM at the old capitol courtyard in Tallahassee, Florida. The windy day event brought forth a few thousand people in support of Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Terri, a 41 year old disabled woman awaits her death penalty on March 18, 2005 at 1:00 PM; a death penalty imposed upon her by estranged husband Michael Schiavo. Shiavo who was only married to Terri for 5 years before her unexplained tragic accident has petitioned the court for an order to remove her feeding tube and kill her by starvation and dehydration.
Looking out at the captive audience which filled the capitol courtyard, I could recall the days when Terri had only a few local supporters sitting around a dining room table fighting for her life. Today, in Tallahassee, there were a few thousand new faces from all over the country in support of Terri. Sara Lewis, a long time friend and supporter of Terri, looked over at m e and commented, "How different it is Cheryl to be at an event for Terri with so many new faces we don't know." Even the guest speakers were new to Terri's fight, Tom Gallagher, Gary Cass, Kate Adamson and others.
Terri's plight began 14 years ago Robert Schindler commented upon his turn at the podium. "Two years ago, we had only 5 supporters in the court room, today the court room is filled. Our family is very grateful to have so many people fighting for our daughters life." Mr. Schindler then paused, regaining composure while wiping tears from his eyes when he talked about how they were again reliving a time from the past when their daughters feeding tube was removed in October 2003.
The Schindlers' determination to fight for their daughters life has been relentless. However, it was obvious to those of us who are so close to them to see how tired they are. The fear, pain and torture associated with fighting for their daughters life has definitely taken its toll on their physical presence. As the days rapidly pass by before Terri is scheduled to be executed by the Florida courts by her estranged spouse Michael Schiavo, the Schindlers speak out louder in support of their disabled daughter. Once again, they plead for the help of President Bush, Governor Bush and other government officials to help save their innocent disabled daughters life.
The Rose Rally speakers each delivered their powerful messages about how important it was for all to come forward and fight for Terri. Though each speaker presented a loving and caring message for Terri, Sara and I knew how each of their new faces would not have had their chance at the podium without the tireless efforts of Terri's former attorney, Ms. Patricia Anderson. Due to illness, Ms. Anderson was not able to attend the rose rally to deliver her message for Terri. Though missed in her absence, her presence was still felt throughout the rally.
On Monday morning, as each legislator arrives for work, they will be presented with one long stem red rose with a message attached. The message reads, "By Court Order, do not feed or water. However, keep this rose in a dry vase until all signs of life are gone." A rose will serve as a simple reminder of the urgency of Terri's fate that lies in their hands.
Message Board by American Patriot Friends Network [APFN]
