[BykrBayb]

Still reading the brief, but had to pause and share this part. Remember the priest who testified that the removal of Terri's feeding tube was consistent with church teachings? Part of his testimony (as dragged out of him by Felos) deals with following the Pope's pronouncements. This is golden.

Fr. Murphy explained the Church’s complex and nuanced moral teaching as it existed in January 2000.

[Mr. Felos:] Father, in the Catholic [C]hurch, do papal teachings or pronouncements hold primacy as compared to the teachings and pronouncements of bishops or cardinals?

[Fr. Murphy:] Yes. The Pope sets the tone.

[Mr. Felos:] Are there any papal pronouncements or teachings in the area on use or removal of artificial life support?

[Fr. Murphy:] In 1953 Pope Pius the IV met with a group of physicians who considered those questions in conference. Pius was almost prophetic in foreseeing what would happen fifty – forty years later. The teaching that he taught was that Catholics are mortally bound to respect life and to care for life, but not at all costs. He introduced the concept of extraordinary versus ordinary means. A Catholic is mortally bound to take advantage of the ordinary, proportionate or disproportionate. (App. at 364-65) (emphasis added).

[Ohioan from Florida]

Yes, and why Greer can't see that what JPII has to say about it isn't substantially different than what Father Murphy said is beyond me. The Pope gave it great clarity. IMHO Greer's either incompetent or evil or both. He should not be sitting in that chair.

[FR_addict]

Terri outlived Father Murphy.

"Former pastor of St. Anne Parish dies after accident"

http://www.thefloridacatholic.org/articles/040513/040513-stp-fathermurphy.htm