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

[Pegita]

+ To God be the Glory ... Our God is an Awesome God ...

[Askel5]

======Second, I pray that if I was ever in that condition, my wife would do everything she could to pull the plug. I can't speak for Terri, but as for me, I would want to go and be with my God rather than living a hell on earth.


I think that we as a whole have been so unduly influenced by the "freedom" of behavioral psychology to only see what can be directly observed that we forget there is more to life than meets the eye.

The only thing we know for certain is that we can choose to either provide comfort or inflict pain on a person whose mind we have no hope of reading.

It's always been my thought that at the heart of the modern fight for abortion is the tacit recognition that pro-aborts would Themselves rather be dead than infirm, deformed or unwanted. In this respect, they have much in common with those who cannot bring themselves to support Terri 100% due to lingering doubts they'd be immune to suicide or reject the Good Death were they in her position.

Very self-centered when you think about it.

Years ago, long before my thoughts were anything like consistent, I promised to help certain of my friends off themselves when their suffering grew too great. We had the ability. If that's what they wished, I'd be happy to oblige them anyway I could.

But not one of those men died at their own hands. I ended up witnessing some horrific deaths ... throats constricted with thrush such they couldn't eat, open sores, nausea, inability to sleep prone, legs swollen like Sequoia trees and panic so palpable some days it was more than an hour in the room before I had them speaking calmly of other things.

I learned a lot in those years. Granted, healthcare is not a Business for me and it's not my job to nurse folks unto their deaths so I'm not as jaded or impatient or Practical as others.

[Askel5]

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

Not really. It has improved.

Even as we decry the slow starvation of Terri Schiavo by the courts, we know full well that euthanasia's coming at us like a runaway train and will be DEMANDED by the populace in that same name of "Choice" by which they off the unborn, prevent human life and insist the "Right to Die" is theirs also.

[Canadian Outrage]

I know Libby. The innocent blood is the unborn babies and now apparently innocent adults. God is patient, but he promises to avenge these deaths when the innocent blood cries out from the ground to Him. The Nation, has become more and more evil with God's patience, not repentant.

[sweetliberty]

And the scriptures say that God will not strive with man forever.

[sweetliberty]

This item was posted on a thread last night from another board. Take it for what it's worth. I don't know if it is true or not.

BUSH'S DON'T WANT NAT'L MEDIA COVERING TERRI SCHIAVO DEATH WATCH!!!

@@@@@@@@@@@

A VERY "HIGH UP" NATIONAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE STATED QT ON THE TELEPHONE 30 MINUTES AGO THAT AIDES FOR THE "BUSH BOYS", FROM BOTH THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, HAD BEEN CONTACTING THE VARIOUS NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS TO "LOW KEY" THE COVERAGE OF THE CURRENT TERRI SCHIAVO CRISIS AND DEATH WATCH. AIDES BASICALLY STATED THAT THE "BUSH BOYS" DON'T WANT TO FAN ANOTHER POTENTIAL POLITICAL FIRESTORM IN FLORIDA OVER THIS ISSUE! THE EXEC SAID ONE IDENTIFIED POLITICAL AIDE MADE AN EXTREMELY INFLAMMATORY STATEMENT ON THIS SITUATION TO A CBS EXEC!!

NOW YOU KNOW WHY MANY PEOPLE AROUND THE U.S. DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS GROSS AND TOTALLY INHUMANE MISCARRIAGE OF JUDICIAL PROCESS.

[sfRummygirl]

ping 127

[sweetliberty]

"Another poster on another thread told me that she had seen threads regarding Terri on DU and the people there were pretty much on the same side we are on the matter"

That is what I heard as well, from a FReeper at our meeting yesterday I believe.

[sfRummygirl]

Oh, God. Why is this happening?
I want conservatives to care, so badly. I didn't want to be independent forever. I want the GOP to care. Why is this so difficult?

[BlessedBeGod]

Seeing as how most of those media outlets are liberal, I'd think they'd ignore any discouragement coming from the president and governor. I find it hard to believe.

[sfRummygirl]

What's DU? Is that another site?

[EggsAckley]

I don't know, sweet. That sounds like a lot of Bush-bashing to me. I think the media has chosen to distort the facts, all on their own.
JMHO.

~</;o)

[sfRummygirl]

You're right, maybe it's not true. I'm praying it's not true. This would just break my heart.

[sweetliberty]

There are conflicting medical reports, but it seems that Judge Greer picks and chooses which ones he will pay attention to. Then there are the video clips. Terri is clearly NOT in a vegetative state and I believe that any who say that she is are serving an agenda, and it is not the best interest of Terri.

Besides, even if she were in a vegetative state, does that justify starving her to death?

[Coral Snake]

DU, You have got to be KIDDING!!!! There has been a SLEW of "pro choice" pro death messages from their "October newbies" since this case became center stage here at FR. They probably think they are safe from the ZOT and the kitties by merely posting comments and not articles. The only thing worse are the Ayn Rand "Objectivist Libertarian" veteran FReepers that are also posting this garbage because of their own "pro choice" position in these matters.

[sweetliberty]

"What's DU? Is that another site?"

Oh, dear one, consider yourself blessed that you have never yet stumbled into the RAT palace. Yes, it is another website....the DemocRATic Underground, a cesspool of cognitive banality if I ever saw one, a place where the only thing more evil than a FReeper is a Bush.

If you venture over there, don't say you weren't warned.

[sfRummygirl]

Oh...that does sound scary.

[Coral Snake]

There is a search engine at DU but you have to be a DONOR to use it. Typical DemocRATS, TAX THE SEARCHERS.

[sweetliberty]

Yeah, you also can't view the profile of one of the DUmmies unless you're a member either...not sure if you have to be a paying member to use that feature. Probably just as well. I've seen pictures of some of them. It's not a pretty sight.

[LadyPilgrim]

This is to all who are in need today. As I sat in Church today, God gave me this chapter to send to all.

Psalm 63 New American Standard Bible

O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly;
My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.

2 Thus I have beheld Thee in the santuary.
To see Thy power and Thy glory.

3 Because Thy loving kindness is better than life,
My lips will praise Thee.

4 So I will bless Thee as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Thy name.

5 My soul is satisfied with marrow and fatness.
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

6 When I remember Thee on my bed,
I meditate on Thee in the night watches,

7 For Thou hast been my help,And in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy.

8 My soul clings to Thee;
The right hand upholds me.

9 But those that seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.

10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.

11 But the King will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those that speak lies will be stopped.

---

I wanted to share this because I believe the Scriptures of our Father, Jehovah God is the only thing that can give us hope at this time! He wants us to be comforted.

My heart is breaking for those that know not the power of His love, and forgivness. I want all whose eyes fall upon these Scriptures to know,

GOD IS WITH TERRI. For HE IS THE, I AM.

I want to scream this from the mountaintop!!!

I would have liked to have typed this all in BOLD CAPS!
For this is a dark day, that only the Light of the risen Savior can reveal the sorrow and hurt put on this family, and bring them peace.

HE IS ABLE! He sends us His Love through His WORD. Just get a hold of this Truth!

May the God of mercy comfort all who can't be comforted.
In Him and Him only is peace!