Burden of Proof: The Killing of Terri Schiavo

Washington Dispatch ^ | October 24, 2003 | Judie Brown

[NYer]

The burden of proof in Terri’s case must ultimately be placed squarely on the shoulders of those who, for whatever reason, have chosen to cautiously stand aside and allow the courts to wield their power, even if the result will be the death of an innocent human being who never had the opportunity to defend herself.

[NYer]

As one attorney recently wrote, if a judge or a state governor were to order the execution of a serial killer on death row by means of withholding food and water, a variety of courts would intervene at once to block that order, which would amount to constitutionally-prohibited cruel and unusual punishment.

TERRI SCHIAVO PING! – let me know if you want on/off this ping list

[isthisnickcool]

If Terri Schiavo was a dog or a cat and the "owner" tried to withhold food and water they would soon find themselves in jail.........

[NYer]

Florida’s Catholic bishops have been virtually silent. These bishops joined together in a public statement begging Gov. Jeb Bush to spare the life of convicted killer Paul Hill, a man who murdered two people. The prosecution in the Hill case did its job. Yet the bishops publicly pleaded that his life be spared. But two days after defending Hill’s life, these same bishops said the Church could not make a decision regarding whether Terri Schiavo should be starved to death. These bishops urged that more time be given prior to Terri’s imposed death by starvation so that “greater certainty as to her true condition” could be reached.

Catholic Ping List - let me know if you want on/off this list

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Well, we have arrived. In America today, we have good murder and bad murder. Good murder is murder for your own good...or...wait...murder of the unborn...because that new life is an inconvenience. Then, there is bad murder which is....oh...I'm getting confused.

Terri Schiavo is not the one who should be denied all food and water until death by starvation but there is a long list of heartless SOB's who should be.

[jonno]

Please add me to Terri's Ping list.

Thanks and God bless you.

[Agnes Heep]

Catholicism has gotten into bed with leftism and is ready to have its baby.

[Tax-chick]

But two days after defending Hill’s life, these same bishops said the Church could not make a decision regarding whether Terri Schiavo should be starved to death. These bishops urged that more time be given prior to Terri’s imposed death by starvation so that “greater certainty as to her true condition” could be reached.

If this is an accurate summary of the Bishops' position (we all know paraphrases can mislead) then they are way out of line with correct teaching.

Even if, with every effort to help her, Terri were to remain in precisely the same condition for the next 50 years, it would be totally contrary to the Church's teaching to deprive her of food and water. THOU SHALT NOT KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE, PERIOD.

The LORD, in His mysterious providence, permits the Church to suffer under "shepherds" such as these. How long, O LORD?

[wita]

Good points all. The "world" seems confused by a lot of things these days. That confusion can be exploited by a whole pot load of basically evil folks with agendas on their mind.

[sirchtruth]

Did the dirtbag husband just say that Terri did not want to go on if she was left in a vegatative state, or is there a living will because if there is not these bastard judges made a serious error in granting him the mandate to murder his former wife...

Thank God Bush had the presence to step in and stop the B.S.

These heathen backward evil egalitarian ruminators are going to get a war they never dreamed of if this keeps up.

[NYer]

Catholicism has gotten into bed with leftism and is ready to have its baby.

Nonsense! That's like saying that because NOW supports abortion, all women are "pro choice" feminists.

[Tax-chick]

No living will; just his years-after-the-fact statement, "confirmed" by a couple of HIS relatives, that "she wouldn't want to be kept alive artificially" or something to that effect.

Of course, if these were her expressed wishes, you would expect her husband to have made sure she was given the most skilled rehabilitation treatment, so that she could live without the feeding tube, but, you'd be wrong ...

[EternalVigilance]

LIFE and LIBERTY ping...

[NYer]

Did the dirtbag husband just say that Terri did not want to go on if she was left in a vegatative state, or is there a living will because if there is not these bastard judges made a serious error in granting him the mandate to murder his former wife

She is not in a PVS, nor is she on life support. A gastronomy tube is just that - a feeding device for those who can't swallow.

Christopher Reeve is on life support. Pull the plastic tube from his gullet and he would be dead in 5 minutes. Terri breathes on her own. Here is a summary of the facts.

Man "finds" Wife unconscious.

Man keeps Wife unconscious.

Man gets malpractice money for Wife.

Man wants Wife's money.

Man wants Wife dead so Man can have money.

Man gets Lawyer.

Lawyer is/was Hospice Board Member.

Lawyer promises Man that Wife will die at the Hospice...

[livius]

The inaction and silence of the Catholic bishops has been one of the ugliest things about this.

Particularly revolting was the action of the bishop of Terri Schiavo's diocese, Bp. Lynch, who forbade his clergy to visit her or have anything to do with the case. But then, he's probably too busy drooling over his latest triathelete "Adonis" to have any time for the flock.

[EODGUY]

If everything quoted in the article is correct, it appears Florida's Catholic hierarchy has a unique definition of what constitutes "life". Physical or mental perfection was never a requirement for the sanctity or preservation of life in the eyes of our Lord, based on my reading of scripture.

I hope all elderly Catholics who flock to Florida to live the remaining years God has given them on earth heed the quandry facing the bishops in that state.....it may someday affect them or a member of their family.


God bless,

EODGUY

[EODGUY]

Excellent point about Reeve. One can only imagine the condition Terri would be in if she had been the recipient of $750,000 worth of rehab therapy!!!!!

She could be feeding herself and possibly able to communicate in a rudimentary manner.

[NYer]

*The inaction and silence of the Catholic bishops has been one of the ugliest things about this. *

There are many other bishops across the US who have spoken up. You will find their support at this link.

CURRENT NEWS

Note too, that Fr. Rob, who runs the THROWN BACK blog, has been granted permission by his bishop to drive down to FL from MI. He arrived the same day that Terri's feeding tube was re-inserted.

Has anyone checked the USCCB web site for a possible statement?

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

"If Terri Schiavo was a dog or a cat and the "owner" tried to withhold food and water they would soon find themselves in jail........."

True, especially in the very liberal counties that are so keen to see people with Terri's disabilities die.