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The Martyrdom of Terri Schiavo
Orthodoxy Today ^ | October 26, 2003 | Fr. Johannes L. Jacobse

Posted on 10/26/2003 7:47:30 AM PST by NYer

Martyr is a term derived from the Greek (matyria) that means witness. In Christian antiquity martyrs were those who witnessed of a faith in God even unto death. Martyrs witness to a truth that exists beyond space and time, where meaning, values, and purpose have their source and judgment, and where the touchstone between good and evil resides. Martyrs do not kill. Martyrs are killed.

Terri Schiavo, in her courageous struggle against the ministers of death, is a witness for life. The public battle over whether she should live or die is a titan struggle between those who reference that higher truth, and those whose value of human life is determined by the calculus of temporal expediency. Her mute testimony reveals that the contempt, scorn, even hatred, for human life that her adversaries possess is the soil from which great evil can arise.

“When is that Bitch Gonna Die?”

Wesley Smith, author of Forced Exit: The Slippery Slope from Assisted Suicide to Euthanasia explains the motives behind the efforts to kill Terri by her husband Michael Schiavo. After winning a malpractice suit that would fund care for Terri, Michael banked the money and cut off all rehabilitative therapies. Meanwhile, Michael moved in with another woman and had a child with another one on the way. (What does Michael’s fiancée think might happen to her if she has an accident?)

“When is that bitch gonna die?” Michael asked Carla Sauer, the nurse charged with taking care of Terri. Michael will receive the remaining portion of the malpractice settlement when Terri dies. Some of the money has been used to pay his legal expenses. Michael allows no doctor to examine Terri that he has not selected.

Terry Schiavo is not in a coma, not in a persistent vegetative state (PVS), and not dying. She has suffered brain damage that left her severely disabled but alert to her surroundings. She is not supported by oxygen, a ventilator, or other machines. She is fed food and fluids through a tube. (Christopher Reeves can’t feed himself – should we kill him too?).

Several doctors testified that Terri has the potential for significant improvement if rehabilitative therapies were allowed. Meanwhile her family has promised to care for Terri if Michael relinquishes custody, something Michael refuses to do. Michael could divorce Terri, but then control of the funds for Terri’s rehabilitation move to Terri’s parents.

It got worse. Fighting for Michael was a cadre of professional euthanasia advocates including lawyer and Dr. Peter Bambikidas (two fallen sons of the Greek Orthodox Church). Michael appointed Dr. Ronald Cranford, who publicly labels himself “Dr. Humane Death,” as a consultant in the case. So far Cranford spent only 45 minutes examining Terri. The deck was stacked against her.

Fighting Against the Killers

Terri Schiavo is in a stand-off with those who want her dead. Michael’s motive is greed and his hired guns are driven by an ideology that offers them power to decide who lives and who dies. Life is cheap is their view. People are reduced to commodities, their value determined by the benefit they give to the stronger around them.

This dark work hides in language that ostensibly values life. Pundits arguing for Terri’s death for example, react to the courage displayed by Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida legislature by arguing that Terri’s life has become a “political football.” It’s a dishonest characterization. Her life isn’t the football. Her death is. The death advocates want to kick her into the end zone, not her defenders.

Manipulating language is the death advocate’s stock in trade. Feminists lionize abortion pioneer Margaret Sanger as a champion of women rights when in fact she favored the death of those whom feminists claim are helped by abortion. Partial birth abortion advocates defend the barbaric practice by arguing that it is necessary for the health of the mother, when in fact the procedure is more dangerous to the mother than delivering her child alive. Euthanasia advocates argue that doctor induced death is necessary to relieve pain and suffering, when in fact research has shown that most requests to die arise because of depression, and advances in pain medication makes virtually all suffering manageable.

Against this offensive Terri lies mute and helpless, but nevertheless an eloquent witness for the inherent sacredness and dignity of life. Terri does not deserve to die. She recognizes and responds to life in ways entirely appropriate to her injuries. She awakens the conscience of those who ponder her circumstances with any measure of honesty, and clarifies the motives and intent of those who seek her death.

When Men Abandon God, They Will Believe Anything

Fyodor Dostoevsky, writing against the materialist captivity overtaking the thinking of the Russian intelligentsia in pre-revolutionary Russia, remarked that the abandonment of faith in God would render man susceptible to all forms of ideology, most of it dangerous and destructive. Solzhenitsyn sounded the same warning in “A World Split Apart” when he said that the abandonment of any reference to God in the Judeo/Christian West would favor man as the touchstone of all truth and value. This development (actually a spiritual regression) would open the door to barbarism.

The advocates fighting for Terri’s death are the apostles of this new barbarism. Abandoning all reference to a touchstone higher than themselves, they value Terri’s life solely in terms of cost-benefit analysis. Michael Schiavo wants “that bitch to die” because of the financial payoff. His cadre of hired guns wants Terri dead because it helps them rid the world of sickness and other human maladies by eliminating those who suffer from them.

Meanwhile, Terri Schiavo lies on her sickbed, recovering from four days of forced starvation. The battle for her life is not over. Death advocates are tenacious. They believe in their cause with a cool and deliberate fanaticism. The fight to keep Terri alive is one battle in the titan struggle to determine whether we bequeath future generations a culture of life or a culture of death.

Copyright © 2003. Rev. Johannes L. Jacobse. Reprinting allowed. Please click copyright notice for details.

Rev. Johannes L. Jacobse is a priest in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Visit the Terry Schiavo website.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: catholiclist; euthanasia; felos; murder; prochoice; schiavo; schindler; terrischiavo; tslist
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Fyodor Dostoevsky, writing against the materialist captivity overtaking the thinking of the Russian intelligentsia in pre-revolutionary Russia, remarked that the abandonment of faith in God would render man susceptible to all forms of ideology, most of it dangerous and destructive.
1 posted on 10/26/2003 7:47:31 AM PST by NYer
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To: NYer; GatorGirl; maryz; *Catholic_list; afraidfortherepublic; Antoninus; Aquinasfan; Askel5; ...
Great post, thanks!
2 posted on 10/26/2003 7:48:42 AM PST by narses ("The do-it-yourself Mass is ended. Go in peace" Francis Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria)
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To: Cindy; luv2lurkhere; Budge; floriduh voter; summer; Coleus; amom; ruoflaw; submarine; ...
TERRI SCHIAVO PING! – let me know if you want on/off this ping list

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

3 posted on 10/26/2003 7:49:35 AM PST by NYer ("Close your ears to the whisperings of hell and bravely oppose its onslaughts." ---St Clare Assisi)
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To: NYer; narses
My wife and I deeply appreciate the great effort you are making on behalf of Terri Schiavo.

Warm thanks.
4 posted on 10/26/2003 7:51:55 AM PST by 8mmMauser
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To: NYer; katnip; FormerLib; OldCorps; TexConfederate1861; newberger
Dostoevsky is my favorite theologian of all time.
5 posted on 10/26/2003 8:02:31 AM PST by MarMema (KILLING ISN'T MEDICINE)
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To: sweetliberty
Ping the troops...
6 posted on 10/26/2003 8:04:21 AM PST by Ladysmith (Low-carbing works!! (223.0 (-37.6)))
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To: Ladysmith; Budge; Pegita; cyn; Calpernia; Babalu; floriduh voter; dandelion; PleaseNoMore; ...
"The public battle over whether she should live or die is a titan struggle between those who reference that higher truth, and those whose value of human life is determined by the calculus of temporal expediency."

Very well put.

Terri's Army ping! If you want on or off of this list, please let me know.

7 posted on 10/26/2003 8:09:50 AM PST by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: sweetliberty
the abandonment of faith in God would render man susceptible to all forms of ideology, most of it dangerous and destructive.

We have witnessed this in a mere generation in our country. What a sad state of affairs it is in which we now live. Thanks for the ping sweetliberty.

8 posted on 10/26/2003 8:16:51 AM PST by nicmarlo
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To: nicmarlo
I just had a hunch you were lurking about this morning nic. Had your coffee yet?

.


9 posted on 10/26/2003 8:20:25 AM PST by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: sweetliberty
Indeed ... the battle is about good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, the sanctity of live vs. the "quality" of life, and moral relativism.

It reminds me of this passage in my favorite book (the same one that defines good, evil, right and wrong):

21. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23. But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24. Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
25. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
26. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
Luke 20:21-26

10 posted on 10/26/2003 8:21:31 AM PST by Babalu ("Tracer rounds work both ways ...")
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To: sweetliberty
Wasn't lurking...... : ) Just was able to finally get my turn on the computer.......now daughter called....have to go pick her up (sheesh). I'll be back. Save that cuppa joe for me! : )
11 posted on 10/26/2003 8:22:40 AM PST by nicmarlo
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To: nicmarlo
Will do.
12 posted on 10/26/2003 8:24:41 AM PST by sweetliberty ("Having the right to do a thing is not at all the same thing as being right in doing it.")
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To: All
My favorite line in this writing is -

"People are reduced to commodities, their value determined by the benefit they give to the stronger around them."

This enables me to see the vast movement as one, in which both Terri and other useless eaters are worthy only of elimination, and also brings into play the work of eyeing sick and brain damaged children for organ harvesting.

13 posted on 10/26/2003 8:25:21 AM PST by MarMema (KILLING ISN'T MEDICINE)
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To: NYer; sweetliberty; cpforlife.org; kimmie7; floriduh voter; Robert Drobot; pc93; lakey; ...
NYer, please add me to your ping list. We have so many wonderful Freepers with Terri ping lists. Since I already pester people with pings throughout the day w/ war news, I'm retiring my Terri ping list and asking anyone on my list to please add your name to another Terri ping list.

This is the best piece I've seen on Terri's case. Thank you so much.

Tomorrow Judge Demers is choosing a Guardian for Terri.

Forwarding this essay to people involved in Terri's case:

Please keep up the contacts, all. Let those in charge of Terri's care know we're paying attention.
 
cpforlife.org's friend is looking for case files re. Greer, Lazarra (sp) to share with the FBI. For details please ping cp.

 
You can be sure that ACLU activists are contacting the FSC.
 
 
Craig Waters, (850) 414-7641, s/c 994-7641, watersc@flcourts.org

~~~

The ACLJ (American Center for Law and Justice) has been following Terri's case, with updates at their website: http://www.aclj.org

Now that the ACLU has joined the enemy, perhaps we can recruit Jay Sekulow for Terri and for life:

ACLJ.org:  Legal Helpline: 1-800-296-4529

~~~

Hospice contact info. 
 
ProofG@aol.com ~ George Felos
 
ggreer@co.pinellas.fl.us ~ Judge George Greer
 
ddemers@co.pinellas.fl.us ~ Judge David Demers, 6th Judicial Court, the Judge who will appoint Terri's guardian tomorrow -  potential GAL Jay Wolfson.
~~~~~

Contact these most helpful people:

Bob Marshall:           bob.marshall@trincomm.org

Speaker Johnny Byrd:     speakerbyrd@myfloridahouse.com

Sen. Jim Sebesta:             sebesta.jim.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Daniel Webster:  drawdy.ann.so9@flsenate.gov  (Senator Webster’s email is to his aide)

 
Senator Tom Lee:             lee.tom.web@flsenate.gov
~~~
 
~~~~
 
~~ Prayers going out.
 
Thank you!

14 posted on 10/26/2003 8:27:55 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl ("2 years: tyrannies defeated,nations rescued,millions of people liberated" Rummy,10/10-AP:"FAILURE!")
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To: katnip
Martyr is exactly the correct term for use here.
15 posted on 10/26/2003 8:27:55 AM PST by MarMema (KILLING ISN'T MEDICINE)
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To: NYer
“When is that bitch gonna die?” Michael asked Carla Sauer...

Quite an indictment, is there a link for that one?

16 posted on 10/26/2003 8:28:32 AM PST by StACase
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To: NYer
My wife and I have been watching this tragedy unfold for quite sometime now.

The one lesson we both learned from Terri's plight, is the need for a detailed and iron-clad living will.

As far as I an concerned, when it comes to artificially sustaining life (not Terri's case, I know), I want nothing to do with that.

"Thy will be done."
17 posted on 10/26/2003 8:28:43 AM PST by Luis Gonzalez (Those who think they know, really piss off those of us who truly do.)
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To: NYer
Good to hear the Catholic Church weighing in on this. I'd like to hear from the Roman Catholic church. Perhaps they're busy dealing with other things.
18 posted on 10/26/2003 8:31:10 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: NYer; Piltdown_Woman; cpforlife.org; Robert Drobot; spunkets
Musings From My Quiet Porch

On Saturday, I sat in a recliner and watched a very long but exciting televised football game, Alabama versus Tennessee. As I watched from the chair, was my quality of life good or diminished? After all, the images and sounds were fully artificial stimulation to my brain. ... Since no one has yet proven Terri is not still 'in there', to my thinking, if she spent her remaining years in a recliner, watching what she preferred on the tele, her quality of life would at least be her choice determined by which channels she wanted to watch, not something defined by others with stock in getting rid of the 'non-productive'.

Quality of life is a penumbra--to borrow the fiating court's favorite term when engineering society as opposed to interpreting constitutionality. It is raised to defend killing alive prenatal children ... it's the quality of life of the one hiring the serial killer that is at the heart of most of those 'choices', though the ghouls defending the indefensible will prattle on about child abuse and neglect, as if possible future abuse or neglect is more heinous than the extreme abuse with malice aforethought being actively planned and methodically carried out in abortuaries; society must protect its quality of life, by executing those children who will require our collective care to prevent the abuse and neglect! In Terri's case, it is Michael Schiavo's 'quality of life' that drives the mission to execute Terri. To be sure, ghouls like Felos will assert that Terri's quality of life is so low as to be extinguishable as a humane thing toward her. But the truth is not so easily hidden when one looks even casually at the features-advantages-benefits of executing those dependent on life support. Mark this well: if this trend of ghoulish executions via dehydration become accpetable in America, crib-bound infants will be the next class of alive human beings lined up for 'putting down'. It is already accpetable to cite a cleft palate as the approved reason to reach into the womb and kill an alive baby. The slope leads directly to the life supporter having the court approved right to withhold life support when the child is difficult to care for thus improving the quality of life for those giving life support, though it will be couched as freeing the little one from a life of difficulty, possible pain, and mental suffering.

Particularly assinine are the assertions by some that Terri Schiavo is brain dead, and that because she is in such misery still 'trapped in her body', it would be more humane to put her down and release her. Astonishing, that deadly duplicitous thinking ... if she's brain dead, she hasn't the consciousness to be in misery, so it is the projection of the braying ass that is better characterized as 'misery'. But what if she isn't brain dead?... Well, no one has tried to give her sufficient rehabilitation therapy to then ask her what she wants done with her! This entire horror is one perpetrated in the name of humanity, by demonspawn who have their selfish quality of life at issue, not the lives of those they advocate putting down.

19 posted on 10/26/2003 8:33:04 AM PST by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: MarMema
This is a powerful article and the idea that we are being "reduced to commodities" resounds in our culture where profits overrule ethics at every turn.
20 posted on 10/26/2003 8:34:00 AM PST by LibertyAndJusticeForAll
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