Posted on 03/22/2005 7:22:25 PM PST by xzins
Vatican fights to keep Schiavo alive 07:46 AEDT Wed Mar 23 2005
AP - The Vatican pressed its campaign to keep Terri Schiavo alive, saying removing the brain-damaged American woman's feeding tube amounted to capital punishment for someone who has committed no crimes.
In a front-page editorial, the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano criticised a United States federal judge's refusal to order the reinsertion of Schiavo's feeding tube.
"She has no possibility of being 'restored' to a 'normal' life. Therefore Terri Schiavo must die," the editorial began. "This is ... the absurd and terrifying reason" for the judge's decision, it added.
The decision by US District Judge James Whittemore came after feverish action by US President George W Bush and Congress on legislation allowing the brain-damaged woman's contentious case to be reviewed by federal courts.
The tube was disconnected Friday on the orders of a state judge, prompting an extraordinary weekend effort by congressional Republicans to push through unprecedented emergency legislation aimed at keeping her alive.
A top Vatican official, Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, also criticised the ruling, saying it legitimised a "cruel" death by hunger and thirst for Schiavo. Sgreccia, who heads the Pontifical Academy for Life, told Vatican Radio he hoped the ruling wouldn't be repeated in other cases.
"It's not euthanasia in the literal sense of the word," Sgreccia said. "It's not a good death, it's a death provoked by a cruel act. It's not a medical act," Sgreccia said.
"I confirm the moral judgment doesn't change, because it remains an illicit and serious act - even more serious since it appears the decision over who lives and who dies has become a question for a court," Sgreccia said.
In its editorial, L'Osservatore Romano said Whittemore had condemned Schiavo to an "atrocious death: death from hunger and thirst."
"After all, Terri's destiny appears not unlike that of many men and women who in the United States get capital punishment for their crimes," said the paper.
"But Terri has committed no crimes, if not that of being 'useless' to the eyes of a society incapable of appreciating and defending the gift of life. Of any life," said the paper.
The Holy See is opposed to the death penalty.
Schiavo suffered severe brain damage 15 years ago. Her husband says Schiavo told him she wouldn't want to be kept alive in a vegetative state. Her parents say she needs treatment and another opportunity for life.
The Vatican paper's remarks reflected earlier comments from several Vatican prelates over the case. For the Catholic Church, euthanasia can never be allowed as only God has the power to decide over the life and death of a human being.
Pope John Paul II has strongly condemned euthanasia throughout his 26-year pontificate.
©AAP 2005
That's good.
I want Michael shammed. He is a Catholic and from what I heard it is his girl friend that wants a big wedding in a Catholic church. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
I want BOTH of them shunned.
They're getting away with murder, legally.
Are you serious that he plans a catholic wedding after living with a woman and fathering children by her while his own wife is still alive!!??
Surely no priest would find that acceptable.
The Catholic Church teaches that euthanasia can never be allowed because only God has the power to decide over the life and death of a human being.Allesandra Rizzo is misstating the Church's position for the purpose of using capital punishment as a wedge issue between Catholics and Evangelicals.
Here are the facts: The Catholic Church teaches that the state does have the power to exercise capital punishment for certain crimes. OTOH, euthanasia is never permitted because the intentional killing of an innocent person is always and everywhere intrinsically unjust.
Many posts have said she can swallow liquids.
Can't the Pope offer an annulment. The swimmer got one. That would certainly throw a monkey wrench into this death march.
They cannot feed her because her husband (or the judge) has posted police to specifically prevent it.
In other words, they are not really interested in a natural death for her. Otherwise, once they removed the feeding tube, they would begin giving her food and water by mouth.
If she swallows and lives,that upsets their real intent.
Anyone know where the OTHER religions are on this? The silence is deafening.
This Michael Schiavo is a real monster. A normal person wouldn't even want to have to make this decision, let alone so adamently go against the will of the family like this. What kind of cruel POS can have such a hard heart? Amazing.
There's one more motivation for you. If he divorces her, he can't get remarried in a Catholic church.
There are threads here about the Jewish religion being against depriving someone of food and water.
I fall more under the Baptist label and I am appalled at what is happening to Terri and her family. I am praying for all of them. This sickens me. It would also sicken me if he was Baptist as Greer was.
I'm sure they'll find a gay priest who will acccommodate them.
hino is not a Catholic but a Lutheran, does he intend to convert? From what I understand of the RCC style, hino would have to do a staggering penance for what he is doing to Terri and has done with Jodi, before they'd even think of letting him in.
I have been a capital punishment supporter for my entire life. I have also vehemently opposed abortion. I am now reconciled to the logical inconsistency of my beliefs.
In this matter, I now believe as you, and many others, and as you have described the position of the Catholic Church.
Not easy for an evangelical of a marginally legalistic background.
hino is Lutheran (and all true Lutherans should be ashamed of him).
Exactly. They both should be shamed. Wish the church could say that if he succeeds in killing his wife that the church will not recognize any of his future marriages.
I posted this yesterday at another thread:
"Here's from Rabbi Aryeh Spero:
"Long ago Jewish law made a distinction between withholding medication and special treatments from a patient as opposed to withholding food and water. Whereas there comes a time when we are no longer required to proactively employ “heroic” medicines and treatments to keep a non-functioning body operating, it is always necessary to continue feeding a patient."
You can find that at Human Events Online, today's version."
I wish the Vatican would display this amount of energy when it comes to abortion.
I thought he already took the classes with Jodi.
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