Open Letter to Gov Jeb Bush + Pix from Terri Schiavo's Vigil

Envoy Magazine Blog ^ | October 19, 2003 | Pete Vere

[NYer]

Dear Governor Bush:

As members of the Catholic media, we beg you, in the name of our Lord Jesus, to intervene in the case of Terry Schiavo, and, by extension, in the lives of the millions of persons with special needs in Florida and throughout our country whose lives will be greatly endangered if Ms. Schiavo is left to die, or, more accurately, murdered through the present withdrawal of food and water.

The judge in this case is acting on a remarkable doctrine: That food and water are medicines which may be granted or withheld based on a judicial order. What legal or moral authority gives anyone the right to withhold food and water from an innocent person? Starvation is a most painful and difficult death. If one were to propose it as a method of execution for death row prisoners, it would be instantly opposed by society under the Constitution's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. If starvation is cruel and unusual punishment, it should not have the imprimatur of the State of Florida for any innocent citizen.

We admire your seeking the assistance of the St. Thomas More Society concerning what is legally just. And we are strengthened in our hearts by their response that, at the very least, you have the authority and the duty to protect her life and to conduct a proper and thorough investigation. We appreciate the difficulty of this matter and that the right course of action before God may not be the popular one in today's culture.

The moral and just path, however, is clear to us who believe that human life is God's to give and His alone to take. History has shown the truth of the statement,  The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.  We would go a step further in saying that those who have the power to do good, and yet do nothing, participate in the triumph of evil, whether or not their withholding of the good seeks or intends such evil.

It may be that our Lord has put you into office, like Queen Esther of old,  for such a time as this . The God who saved Esther, and through her, the people of God, will not abandon you, dear Governor. He is faithful. May our Lord Jesus Christ be your comfort and guide in this urgent hour, and may you be His instrument to save the life of one of His  little ones , and through her, the dignity of every soul made in His image.

With gratitude and prayer,

Rosalind Moss,
Catholic Author and Speaker
 
Father Richard John Neuhaus
Editor in Chief, FIRST THINGS
The Institute on Religion and Public Life

Pete Vere, Editor
The Alhambran Magazine

Mark Shea
Catholic Author and Speaker

Philip F. Lawler
Editor, Catholic World Report and Catholic World News

Carl Olson
Editor, Envoy Magazine

John Pacheco
Catholic Author and Speaker

Domenico Bettinelli, Jr
Managing Editor, Catholic World Report magazine

Amy Welborn
Columnist, Our Sunday Visitor

Martin K. Barrack
Catholic Author and Speaker

David Pearson
Features Editor, National Catholic Register

Mike Mohr
Chairman, St. Bernadette Soubirous Chapter of Catholics United for Faith

Dave Armstrong
Catholic Author and Speaker

Gerald Korson
Editor, Our Sunday Visitor

Steve Ray
Catholic Author and Television Host

Rod Bennett 
Editor, WONDER Magazine

Matt C. Abbott
Columnist, the Wanderer

Tim Drake
Staff Writer, National Catholic Register

Dr. Paul Thigpen
Executive Director, The Stella Maris Center for Faith and Culture

Mary Kochan,
Contributing Editor, Catholic Exchange

Sandra Miesel
Catholic Journalist

David Moss
President, Association of Hebrew Catholics

Maureen and Robert Wittmann
Catholic authors and speakers

Steve Kellmeyer
Bridegroom Press

Mike Aquilina
Vice President, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology

Mark Brumley
Catholic Author

Greg Popcak
Catholic Author and Radio Host

Patty Bonds
Catholic Author and Speaker

Jeff Cavins
Catholic Radio and Television Host

Fr. Joseph F. Wilson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn

[NRA2BFree]

Are we witnessing, or have become a "New & Improved U.S.S.R.?"

I don't see any improvement Budge. It's the old same thing.

Dispose of the handicapped, the elderly, the infirm, those considered by THE STATE to be a burden to others!

Yep, that would be just like the U.S.S.R. We haven't arrived yet, but when we allow things like this to happen, we're on the way.

Do ANY "Republicans" remember the phrase, "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?"

Yes, I can still remember. Thank God, because what I'm seeing doesn't look like it.

[Humidston]

>>the only humane way to do it is to introduce a IV drip with potassium chloride or other quick acting poison and make it equivalent to the execution of a condemned murderer.<<

Why not flip this one around: Why not start STARVING convicts just like they're doing to Terry, instead of a relatively painless drip??

I wonder how many tears would be shed for convicts if THEY were treated as shabbily as the state is treating Terri!

[sweetliberty]

Would your car be up to the trip?

[sweetliberty]

And more importantly, would YOU be up to the trip, physically. I could certainly help with the driving.

[verity]

Gotcha!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The most serious is that Monsignor attempted to give Terri Holy Communion today, but was stopped by the police and the nursing staff. Although Monsignor was willing to be arrested, he was stopped by all present. This is a serious violation of Terri's First Ammendment rights. The civil attorney for Terri's parents was on the phone with Chris Ferrara almost as soon as it happened, and I can now confirm that Chris is working away on this as hard as he can. Chris and I shared a few candid words about the situation, and we're pretty much in agreement about a lot of things here, although he obviously is better versed in the civil legalities of what's going on. It goes without saying that he's very concerned for Terri. He refuses to give up the fight, however, but he needs everyone's prayers right now.

Done. Thank you! Yet another case where a mass-murderer on the eve of execution in a state prison has more rights than Terri, an innocent, disabled woman in a Florida hospice.

[Thorondir]

A (partial) song for Governor Jeb Bush.
(Sung to the tune of "Blowing in the Wind")

How many thugs does it take to kill a girl,
Whose only crime was marrying a pig?
Is there a man with courage in his heart,
Or is he just a crummy RINO prig?

Jeb Bush's empty sack,
Is blowin' in the wind,
His empty sack is flappin' in the wind...

[Ferret Fawcet]

Thank you for posting this thread. Continuing to send up prayers for Terri and those trying to help her.

...the media hasn't been all over the story so most of the public is unaware of it. I've normally have FNC on all day and haven't heard a word about Terri. I've become frustrated and have been switching to CNN and other stations but again have seen no reports.

I'm really irked about this too. I've not heard anything about it while listening to AM radio over the weekend, not even a blurb in the top-of-the-hour headlines. Especially disappointing is FOX, I thought they were different. Why is nobody talking about this? Terri's story seems to have all the drama and sensationalism the media loves... so why are they not covering this???

[Mo1]

"Mol, Are you serious about the local news in Philly? "


Yes I am serious .. It was on ABCnews6

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/10192003_nw_schiavo.html

Priest Blocked from Final Communion
PINELLAS PARK, FL-October 19, 2003 — The Catholic priest of a brain-damaged woman, joined by her family, tried to give her a final communion Saturday but was refused entry by police officers guarding the entrance to the hospice.
Bob and Mary Schindler, the parents of Terri Schiavo, who was raised in the Philadelphia suburb of Huntingdon Valley, were joined by Monsignor Thaddeus Malinowski when they told officers they wanted to administer the Catholic rite of Viaticum, the last communion for a Catholic before death.

Pinellas Park police officers at the hospice told the family if they administered the rite it would violate a doctor's order that nothing be placed in her mouth to prevent choking and aspiration.

Malinowski, a retired priest, told the officers that he would use "a small piece of the wafer and dilute it with water before giving it to her. It's a very important part of her faith."

George Felos, an attorney Michael Schiavo, Terri Schiavo's husband, said in a statement that Malinowski administered "spiritual communion" commonly given to patients who are unable to receive the host by mouth.

Relatives and supporters who oppose orders by Terri Schiavo's husband to cut off her nourishment held a vigil outside the hospice where the tube was disconnected Wednesday.

"We still have a glimmer of hope. I'm OK, a little punchy, but I'm hanging in there," said Schiavo's brother Bob Schindler Jr.

Her sister Suzanne Carr renewed a call for help from Gov. Jeb Bush, saying, "You have the power to intervene on Terri's behalf. This is more important and beyond politics and bad press."

Feedings have been keeping Terri Schiavo alive since 1990, when she suffered brain damage following a heart attack. Doctors say she is in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of recovery, but her parents believe she has mental abilities and can be rehabilitated.

Schiavo family members say they are no longer visiting because of the emotional toll.

"I don't know how she's doing. It's too much to have to go in and see her any more," said her father, Bob Schindler Sr.

Diane Coleman, founder of Not Dead Yet, joined the vigil and said the disabilities rights group was organizing a White House protest Sunday to call upon President Bush to ask his brother to take Schiavo into state custody.

Two state courts rejected attempts by the parents Friday to have the feeding tube reinserted.

Terri Schiavo is expected to live one to two weeks without food. She was 26 years old when a potassium imbalance stopped her heart. She went for 10 minutes without oxygen and was left severely brain-damaged.

Her husband Michael Schiavo collected more than $1 million in medical malpractice claims against doctors who failed to diagnose the chemical imbalance. The Schindlers allege their son-in-law said nothing about his wife's wishes not to be kept alive artificially until he stood to inherit her medical trust fund.

[Mo1]

As a catholic, Terri Schiavo has the right to receive the Sacrament called Annointing of the Sick. As one draws closer to death, viaticum (from the Latin, meaning food for the journey) is recommended by the church. As described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church ...

As I have stated many times .. Terry has been denied her basic rights on so many levels

It's one thing to have POS husband .. But Judge Geer should have step in and stopped this madness and he choose not to.

He is the one I hold responsible for what is going on with Terry

[honeygrl]

" But Judge Geer should have step in and stopped this madness and he choose not to."

You are right. That is his job. I certainly hope that it won't be long before Judge Greer has no job. I'd love to see him actually held accountable for his decisions, but we all know that won't happen.

[Mo1]

I'd love to see him actually held accountable for his decisions, but we all know that won't happen.

Maybe not in this life time .. but there will come a time that he is held accountable for his decisions

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Prayers and e-mailing, ping! Thank you, FV. Tell your Bush critics that letting Dems control the culture got us where we are and letting Dems. win is no solution.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

ProofG@aol.com ~ George Felos

ggreer@co.pinellas.fl.us ~ Judge George Greer

lendmar@gte.net ~ Judge John Lenderman.

ddemers@co.pinellas.fl.us ~ Judge David Demers, 6th Judicial Court

strzalkar@flcourts.org ~ Florida Second District Court of Appeal

 

ag@oag.state.fl.us

 

supremecourt@flcourts.org

            Craig Waters for the Supreme Court, (850) 414-7641, watersc@flcourts.org

Brenda Johnson, for the Office of the State Courts Administrator, (850) 922-5081, johnsonb@flcourts.org 

 

 jeb.bush@myflorida.com

 

Executive Office of Governor, Legal Team to Jeb:

Robert H. Fernandez (Deputy General Counsel to Governor) -> fernanr@eog.state.fl.us
Raquel A. Rodriguez (General Counsel to Governor) -> raquel.rodriguez@myflorida.com
Christa Calamas (Assistant General Counsel to Governor) -> calamac@eog.state.fl.us

 

 AskDOJ@usdoj.gov

 

Hospice contact info. ~ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1001443/posts?page=76#76

 

editor.letters@heraldtribune.com (sarasota herald tribune)
dklement@bradentonherald.com (bradenton herald)

letters@sptimes.com (st. pete times)
tribletters@tampatrib.com (tampa tribune)

 

[NYer]

Yet another case where a mass-murderer on the eve of execution in a state prison has more rights than Terri, an innocent, disabled woman in a Florida hospice.

Did you know that Timothy McVeigh was given the Last Rites before his execution!

If I were Michael Schiavo's girlfriend, I would be having 2nd thoughts about continuing any relationship with him. If he can do this to his first wife, what's in store for #2.

[NYer]

font color="red> 2ND EMAIL FROM PETE VERE AT THE VIGIL SITE

Thanks for everything you are doing for Terri and for informing all the freepers. t is much appreciated by their family. In fact they say so in a video I took, but I haven't figured out how to upload it to the net yet.

I spoke with Sonya (who is nine months pregnant) and we're hoping to get backup today if possible. Probably later this afternoon or early evening.

Please pray for me as I'm trying to do some quick canonical research on the issue of administering Viaticum to one who is allegedly in a vegetative state. (Which was not the case earlier, but could be true now that she has gone five days without food, water or Holy Communion)

Pax Christi,
Pete Vere

Please ping your lists! NYer

[sfRummygirl]

I was in church at these times, praying for Terri. I wish I lved on the east coast for this....

[Pegita]

Prayer support is crucial ... thanks sfRummygirl ..

[Theodore R.]

If he can do this to his first wife, what's in store for #2.

That's an easy one, NYer. Schiavo hated Terri. Not this Jodi, she is SO "special" that they will live happily ever after. At least Jodi and her sick mother think so! Schiavo could later change his mind, couldn't he? If a third choice comes around....

[Theodore R.]

I certainly hope that it won't be long before Judge Greer has no job

Actually, he may replace Satan as the judge of hell so that Satan can have a little "rest and relaxation."