[antiRepublicrat]

. Jeb Bush is also a Catholic. The Catholic Church has historically emphasized the importance and sanctity of human life. The Pope, through his spokesmen, has indicated that Terri Schiavo should not be starved and dehydrated. The governor should be duty bound by his conscience to deal with this matter.

Interestingly, that the Executive would take orders from the Catholic Church was the main paranoia surrounding John F. Kennedy's election. People rage over the Supreme Court using European precedent in their decisions, yet think that the President or Governor should be influenced by the decisions of the head of a European nation.

[Wallace T.]

FWIW, I am a Calvinistic Baptist, and do not regard myself as bound by the ecclesiastical authority of the Catholic Church. One of the mottoes of the Reformation was that God alone is the lord of conscience, and not the officials of a temporal church. The Reformers also believed that Scripture alone was the only reliable and infallible guide to the conscience.

However, the teachings of the Catholic Church in this matter agree with Scripture. Any Christian, Catholic or not, who is confronted with the problem Jeb Bush faces should deal effectively to save Terri Schiavo's life. Furthermore, since the importance of preserving life is just a matter of common decency, any man who believes he is moral, of whatever faith, should be as compelled to do the same as a Christian.

This is not following the dictates of a religious leader living in Italy. This is following the dictates of one's conscience guided by Scripture or the rules of decency and compassion for others.