Posted on 03/25/2005 4:25:07 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
(CNSNews.com) - Gov. Jeb Bush is being compared to Pontius Pilate as he comes under intensive pressure from religious and pro-life groups to do whatever it takes to save Terri Schiavo's life.
The groups that are pressuring Gov. Bush commend him for all he has done so far on Terri's behalf. But it hasn't worked -- and they say there is more that he can do.
Dr. D. James Kennedy, the president of Coral Ridge Ministries, said that as governor, Jeb Bush is the only legal authority who can stop Terri from starving.
"He must act and he must act immediately on her behalf. He must disregard the order of Judge Greer. He has both the authority and the duty to do so under the state constitution," Kennedy said in a press release.
Kennedy noted that Article I, Section 2 of the Florida Constitution says, "All natural persons, female and male alike, are equal before the law, and have inalienable rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life..."
It also says "no person shall be deprived of any right because of ... physical disability." That includes the right to enjoy life, Kennedy said.
As governor, Jeb Bush has the "'supreme executive power' and the constitutional duty as stated in Article IV, Section 1, to 'take care that the laws be faithfully executed.'"
Kennedy said Gov. Bush may not disregard that obligation, even if a member of the judiciary has ordered otherwise. "He is not bound by a court order that is at odds with a constitutional guarantee," Kennedy said.
"Jeb Bush must choose between the clear mandate of Florida's constitution and a judiciary which, in this case, has acted in defiance of that state supreme law. After all this time of praying, petitioning, and lobbying, it comes down to this," Kennedy said.
Pontius Pilate
A pro-life group called Crossroads agrees that Gov. Bush has done a great deal on Terri's behalf.
"But how will history remember him if Terri dies? Likely, as a weak, moral coward, who did not have the courage to save a helpless, dying woman from those who so vehemently wished to take her life," the group said in a press release.
Crossroads noted that nearly 2000 years ago this week, Pontius Pilate "stood by and did nothing in the face of determined evil as it took the life" of one innocent man."
Pilate simply lacked the moral courage that is occasionally demanded of one who governs, Crossroads said.
The group said Pilate was not filled with hate -- but in the end, he "chose not to risk his office to save the 'insignificant' [Christ]."
Crossroads said Bush must ask himself, "Is one helpless woman's life worth my political career?'"
"As of this writing, the tribunals have spoken against an innocent, helpless woman, and an angry, hate-filled mob has gathered to mock and ridicule those praying for a miracle near to where Terri Schiavo lies in her fatal agony," Crossroad said.
"And her mother, Mary, must suffer the contempt of those who are determined to see her child unjustly condemned to death. Now it is in the hands of the governor, the man who will ultimately choose either to wield the temporal powers of his office to save innocent life, or 'wash his hands' of her."
Jeb Bush said on Thursday he understands that people are "acting on their heart, and I fully appreciate their sentiments and the emotions that go with this."
But, he added, "I've consistently said that I cannot go beyond what my powers are - and I'm not going to do it."
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Jesus didn't what?
Maybe he should. When the dust settles from all of this, I think it will be found that all of us bear some responsibility for what's transpired here, be it in a refusal to speak up, a refusal to stand against evil, or perhaps the "sin" of being "pro-life" but only if it isn't inconvenient.
Amen.
See ya troll.
What!? The guy was banned?! I wonder how long before I'm banned? I'm on thin ice too....I didn't contribute during the last quarterly fundraising drive.
Was he a troll?
Put me down in your column.
Good post!
I agree with your comments on Jeb and Terri. Some people have gone way over the top. What if Jeb was a Democrat Governor and had gone in after Elian against a Court order protecting him? What do you think these people would have been saying then? They are letting their emotions override everything.
Jeb took an oath to uphold the law -- not good laws or bad laws but the law.
Ibystander
He's one of those DUmmies coming to FR to start crap and scream how he's never supporting Bush again or voting Republican, blah blah blah. There was one bragging over at DUmmieland he has been a troll here for 1-1/2 years sowing dissent and starting flame wars.
GO TO: http://www.theempirejournal.com/ . . . READ MORE
LOL! Too funny.
Jesus must have told you the comparison was OK, and who am I to argue? Meanwhile, you and the rest of the saintly deacons can cast stones at Jeb Bush while you sit at your keyboards.
You had better start with some of the most incompetent attorneys ever that have been pleading this case and until recently refused pro-bono help of people that are used to federal court. And what took that woman attorney seven days to say Terri spoke? Having Randall Terry as the spokesman and Larry Klayman involved was a prescription for disaster.
They waited all this time to file under the Americans with Disabilities Act? WHY?
Much easier to blame Jeb for NOT breaking the law then start laying some blame on the family's incompetent attorneys and the fact that the law to starve is on the books in Florida and has been upheld by their Supreme Court.
I certainly do not know what will come of this for Jeb or any of us.
Maybe the coverage will open enough eyes, pain enough hearts, and strengthen enough souls, that there will be a cleansing of this self anointed Imperial Judiciary.
That to me at least, seems like the obvious place to start.
Without the courts,the culture of death is vulnerable.
If a little baby crawled out into a busy highway and sat in
the middle of the road, I'm quite sure that Governor Bush
would risk a jaywalking ticket to rush into the street and
save the child even if the Don't Walk sign was flashing !!!
Terri is an innocent and helpless child right now. Therefore, she
desperately needs someone to bravely risk arrest for jaywalking
to save her life from that evil mob of monsters who are blatantly
attempting to murder her ... in plain view of the entire world !!!
Jaywalk NOW Jeb !!!
Dammit... Jaywalk NOW !!!
Sekulow said he had it on good authority that Greer was tipped off by the Pinellas Park Police that Jeb already had DCF on its way to take custody of Terri.
Of course we know that Greer and the Pinellas Park sheriff are big buddies. (Sekulow didn't say that, I did.)
Sekulow said his source suspects there was a Greer tipster on the "inside" of the Hospice, also.
Greer was able to act so fast, he got the injunction out against DCF before they arrived.
Where would DCF have been traveling from? Tampa or Tallahassee?
No, I was inferring it from his sayings in the NT. Of course, everyone interprets the scriptures differently.
Meanwhile, you and the rest of the saintly deacons can cast stones at Jeb Bush while you sit at your keyboards.
There are alot of people that share your point of view. Did you see the FR poll question results?
I'm not of the "Jeb's done everything he can do, I admire him so much", nor of the "I'll never vote for him!" school. I'm disappointed, because I expect good men to stand up to evil. I think Jeb is a good man. He just decided not to fight this battle.
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