A Familiar Execution (Terri Sciavo)

Seattle Catholic ^ | March 27, 2005 | Randy LaBauve

[NYer]

During Holy Week, Terri Schindler-Schaivo has suffered in many strikingly similar ways to Our Lord Jesus Christ:

1. Judas comes to Jesus and kisses him. Then, Jesus speaks these piercing words: "Judas, dost thou betray the son of man with a kiss?" (Luke 22:48). Michael Schaivo, who has betrayed his wife and their marriage, feigns love for Terri, his wife, while demanding her death. Terri speaks in her heart to Michael, "My husband, dost thou betray your wife with a kiss?"
   
   
2. Soldiers mistreat Jesus and allow no one to give him water to quench his thirst. In Terri's room, the police soldiers stand guard as she starves to death, arresting anyone who would offer her solace by quenching her thirst.
   
   
3. Pilate speaks to Jesus, "but Jesus answered not." (Mark 15:5). "When He was accused by the chief priests and ancients, He answered not" (Matt. 27:12). Terri Schiavo has also been enduring her starvation and death in silence.
   
   
4. Jesus is abused and mistreated — led by a rope around his neck to his death. Terri also had rope marks around her neck — indicating possible abuse from her husband, Michael (as sworn to by a nurse first assigned to Terri) — and symbolic of the additional torture both he and pro-death judges would subsequently inflict upon her.
   
   
5. Jesus says in his final moments on the cross, "I thirst" — alluding to a thirst for souls as well as a physical thirst amidst his impending death (John 19:28). As Terri dies during a court-mandated death, she also suffers from an inhumane physical thirst. But, in her heart, she thirsts for people to understand that she and other people with handicaps (as well as other defenseless people like unborn babies, the elderly, etc.) are human beings that are as alive as anyone else. She thirsts for all human beings to receive the care, compassion, and protection they fully deserve.
   
   
6. The High Priests cry out "What need have we of further witnesses? "(Mark 14:63) ... and "He is guilty of death"(Matt. 26:66), as they viciously claim Jesus is NOT the God-man. People in our society hatefully say, "Terri's NOT alive. She's NOT what people pretend she is. She has no quality of life; therefore she's NOT a person. Her brains are mush. She needs to move on. The best thing would be for her to die." Terri endures the lies about her humanity as Jesus did the lies about His divinity.
   
   
7. At the Crucifixion, a lance is driven in and then pulled out of Jesus' side, piercing his heart (John 19:34). Terri's nutritional tube is ripped from her side, bringing great anguish to her heart as well.
   
   
8. Jesus' mother Mary kneels at the foot of the cross as He is executed. Terri's mother Mary kneels at her bedside as Terri is executed.
   
   
9. Jesus says to the accusing Pharisees "Why askest thou me? Ask them who have heard what I have spoken unto them" (John 18:21). Terri's true friends and loved ones speak up on behalf of her, saying it is inhumane to starve and kill a human being. Based on testimony of other individuals, Michael Schiavo speaks a lie when he claims his wife "wanted to die." Terri clearly desires to live — hoping and praying that her family and friends will speak up for her, as many of them have been constantly doing.
   
   
10. The Jewish leaders finally get the Roman soldiers to brutally torture Jesus nearly to death. But these wicked religious hypocrites will not have their thirst for blood satiated until Jesus is crucified — "Crucify him! Crucify him!" they shout (Luke 23:21). Terri Schiavo has been neglected to near death by starvation and psychologically tortured by her husband for almost 10 years. But it is not enough for both he and his "pro-euthanasia supporters." These disciples of death and darkness incessantly shout, "Kill her! Kill her!" and will not be content until her life has been snuffed out.
    
    
11. The Pharisees accused Jesus of doing his work "by the hand of Beelzebub" (Mark 3:22) (In other words, they are telling Jesus 'you have no true purpose from God in what you do'). People say about Terri Schiavo — "You have no true value to your life — no real purpose in breathing on your own. We do not understand why anyone would want to keep you alive — therefore we want to take away your breath — to end your very life.'
    
    
12. Pilate says, "What is truth?" (John 13:38) and then, in his cowardice, condemns Jesus to die according to the "law." Concerning Terri, false experts and bystanders say, "We don't know the truth about what she can understand and feel. What is the truth of her condition? Nevertheless, despite our lack of knowledge, let us 'lawfully' condemn her to death — after all, it will be a peaceful death with dignity." Just as Jesus did, Terri endures the lies and farce of an insincere and Satanic "compassion".
    
    
13. Jesus was misrepresented before the High Priest and Pharisees with no proper course to fair justice. "For many bore false witness against Him, and their evidences were not agreeing" (Mark 14:56). Terri Schiavo, too, has been denied any true justice or fair legal process, as the courts have been inundated by pro-euthanasia, "Kevorkian-types" whose main end is to make forced Euthanasia legal and acceptable — while ignoring testimony of legitimate doctors and truthful family members.
    
    
14. The innocent Jesus walks the path to Calvary with the weight of the cross squarely on his shoulder — bravely approaching death, while people jeer and taunt him (John 19:16-23). The innocent Terri has also borne various attempts at murder, while suffering untold pain at the hands of her husband. Along the way, her suffering is compounded by people shouting things like "Michael is right", "let her die" — and even contemptible remarks from many doctors, nurses, and caregivers. Here's what one person at the Hospice Center had to say: "Everything is about Schiavo ... It's almost like Terri's rights are more important than ours." Isn't that the issue flipped upside down? Terri's rights, like Our Lord's, are not important to most people in positions of power and influence, nor, unfortunately, to the majority of our populace.
    
    
15. The soldiers gambled for Jesus' garments at the foot of the cross (John 19:24). There are credible reports that heartless individuals, amidst Terri's agony, have been gambling about the date and time this woman would die — as if it were a sporting event. To those who have no sensitivities to the sacredness of life, it becomes more and more difficult for them to divert their paths from the pits of disrespect, banality, and despair present in their souls.
    
    
16. In his agony, Jesus says to His Father in heaven "Into your hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46). Terri, amidst her suffering, is commending her soul to God as well.
    
    
17. The Pharisee says about the tax collector — "I give thee thanks O God, that I am not like this publican" (Luke 18:11). And then, that same Pharisee methodically and vehemently plots to have the innocent Jesus executed. Heartless people in our society say, "Thank God I'm not like Terri. She has no 'quality of life.' If I ever got to that point, please kill me" as they cruelly support her execution by starvation and dehydration (as well as the murder of countless other innocent, defenseless people).

In some way or another, do we callously support extermination of those who are most vulnerable in our society? When you or I fail to do something immediately, we endorse the minions of death. Now is the time for us all to wake up to the reality of forced euthanasia and other forms of murder here in America! It's been happening on a wide scale basis for many years now and will begin to visibly increase to proportions we could never imagine. We must square up our shoulders and become strong and tough like the earliest Christian disciples who fearlessly battled the dark bastions of hell.

The atheist forces in America fail to see the value of suffering. To them, life ends here on earth. To them, loss of health, youth, and pleasure represent the ultimate diminishment of value and 'quality of life.' If you call yourself a Christian and don't see the value of what Terri's parents have suffered to preserve, love, and care for her; if you call yourself a Christian and don't see the intrinsic sacred value of all human life from conception to natural death, then you've missed a basic point of Christianity.

Terri, over the course of 15 years has not been dying. She has had no need of "extraordinary" means to keep her alive. The only thing she has been receiving is what any healthy human infant receives through insertion of a bottle nipple — nutrition and hydration — natural rights. Now, Terri's natural right to life has been barbarically denied by her husband, her government, and her country.

If you close your eyes to the suffering Terri has endured and act as if she's merely taking a nap, your Christian sensitivities have been drowned in the murky slime of materialism and selfishness. Jesus suffered and died on a cross to win for us eternal salvation and boldly stated that we must take up our crosses and follow after Him daily (Matt 10:38), even when our lives are not exactly what "we had planned." "No servant is greater than his master." (John 15:18-21) Therefore we can expect suffering and opposition when standing up against the demonic forces that threaten our families and our country.

Embrace your cross! Pray without ceasing! Cherish suffering! Fight for life! Hope for miracles! And never forget Jesus and Terri!

"Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me." Matt. 25:40

"I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us." Rom. 8:18

[Irene Adler]

"I disagree, kook. If christians are to believe that heaven awaits you, then death is victory. That's what I've been taught growing up. Death part of this world. Jesus conquered death for all of us. So why do christians mourn for her if you truely believe she will be with her lord when she passes. THis question baffles me knowing how many christians are prostesting the inevitable. We will all die, slowly or suddenly. Man has made it possible to prolong death un-naturally. 15 years incased in a body to wither away slowly isn't my idea of life. If you believe heaven awaits you, why do you fear death?"

We don't fear death. We expect and want God to take us when it pleases Him to do so and not when it pleases some murderer to do so. Hope I cleared that up for you.

[MarMema]

Perhaps you need to do some educational time then. Because the time period immediately preceeding the Nazis had a lot in common with where we are headed in this country today.

Do let me know if I can help you with understanding this.

[Siobhan]

My Divine Mercy devotions are all for Terry.

Satanists, Scientologists, atheists, and anti-Christians want her dead.

[chimera]

The government should never have gotten involved in this matter to begin with.

If the government were not involved, Terri Schindler might still have a chance to live. She is being put to death by order of a government agency, a state court. You do know that the courts are a branch of the government, don't you?

The problem here is that one branch of the government has become abusive, and the other branches have failed to exercise their powers of restraint and establish some kind of checks and balances against this abuse. So "the government" has been involved from the beginning. The wheels have come off the system in this case because one branch is egregiously abusing a citizen of this land (i.e., killing her), and the normal system of checks and balances has broken down. The danger then becomes one of tyranny, wherein a branch of government becomes the arbiter of what had been heretofore an inalienable right.

[ruoflaw]

we cannot help it if you do not like history. Please stop getting personal in your posts and you are right, you have only been here for a little while now.

[Theodore R.]

Absolutely, the government is very involved. The last time I checked George W. Greer drew a government pay check. This is NOT a "family feud," as liberals claim.

[schmelvin]

First go read the Bible, so you can learn the true meaning of the sanctity of life and what God has to say about it.

Then, go read this link, so you can learn the true meaning of Godwin's law.

http://www.answers.com/topic/godwin-s-law

The purpose of Godwin's law was to keep people from "trivializing the evils that the Nazis perpretrated by comparing insignificant matters to Hitler's atrocities".

It does not mean that we should not make legitimate comparisons. It is our duty, after all, to learn from the mistakes of history lest we repeat them. And, that means ALL history including Nazi Germany's.

The Nazi Holocaust began with the killing of the elderly and incapacitated. That is a fact. And, we are doing this very same thing right now.

The only real difference is that when the Nazi's began killing the disabled, they tried to hide it and sent the relatives of victims fake letters of condolence. Here in America, we know exactly what is happening and in many cases it's the victims' relatives who give the order to kill.

When my stepfather had a stroke, we were told that his condition was much worse than it actually was. And, the doctors didn't just recommend that we kill him, they badgered us to do so. We refused. Later, after he'd regained consciousness, they told us that the diagnosis wasn't as bad as they'd originally thought and that he could be rehabilitated.

My stepfather did die shortly afterwards from a coronary, but he died of natural causes surrounded by a family who loved him and would never dream of killing him. If we'd have "pulled the plug" on him, so to speak, when the doctors wanted us to, we'd have never gotten the opportunity to tell him how much we loved him before he passed away. And, we would've had his blood on our hands.

[Salvation]

**Embrace your cross! Pray without ceasing! Cherish suffering! Fight for life! Hope for miracles!**

Christ sets the example for all of us to follow. Not OUR will, but GOD'S will be done.

[Salvation]

They are praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet down in Florida. Even have a monstance. A lot going on down there that we don't know about.

Divine Mercy Novena Begins on Good Friday

 

The Message of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy

Chaplet of Divine Mercy

[Technical Editor]

Thank you for posting this.

Every time I think about Terri Schaivo, I am sickened. I cannot tolerate being an accessory to murder. So I put it out of my mind. Otherwise, I will go insane.

[CitizenM]

I know this is a little off your exact topic, but I am trying so hard to think of something that might create some way for someone to stop this killing.

I just sent this fax to Gov. Bush. Now, be nice...no criticism of Bush allowed. This is not for battle. We must all refrain from being negative and hope he can still do something. I hope this helps:

March 28, 2005
The Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor Florida

Urgent: To Save Terri Schiavo

Dear Governor Bush:

Please consider this comment:

Could Terri be saved by a contest that she was psychologically imbalanced when she allegedly said she did not want to live on life support? Could this be challenged now to try to save her life?

Consider this:

Last night Geraldo Rivera on FOX News had a segment where he interviewed a woman who is a specialist who deals with bulimia. The reason was is that this is the condition that is being purported to be the cause of Terri’s heart stoppage. I offer these thoughts:

1. The original diagnosis for Terri's death was nutritional deficiency/bulimia.

2. Later Michael Schiavo won a lawsuit because the doctors mis-diagnosed her and did not recognize the bulimia problem.

3. Schiavo supporters and the media are continuing to offer this as the cause of her "collapse."

Ok...the question – and a possible way to get her a new court hearing, and stop this starvation/dehydration:

1. Bulimia is, basically, a psychological disorder. Bulimics have a very poor self-image; they feel they need to be perfect; many are never cured because the psychosis is so deep. They often die from this psychosis and the eating disorder it causes.

2. In that state of psychologically connected obsession, how could anyone's comment, about such a serious issue as life support could be considered rational?

3. Most medical professionals agree that those afflicted with this disorder are not mentally healthy, often are depressed, irrational.

4. How can any legal system support the desires of a woman who was, evidently, psychologically unbalanced at the time of the "supposed" comment?

If they are going to insist this as the cause, couldn’t it be insisted that the Court be forced to revisit this case, because the decision by Judge Greer did not consider her mental state?

God bless Terri. God bless you for your efforts.

Signature

[Technical Editor]

But was she, in fact, sick when she made those alleged statements about not wanting to be hooked up to tubes?

[CitizenM]

That, of course, would come into question. But, just perhaps, the question raised would be enough for something to be haulted.

And, as I recall....Michael said she was binging and vomiting all the time. For a long time. She was very overweight in high school, and lost a lot of weight for her wedding. So, just perhaps it was a problem at the time. Bulimics just cannot stand not to look perfect, they are obsessed with their appearance, to the point of sickness. It is often hidden from everyone. They simply cannot accept imperfection - hence, this could also be the reason that the thought of living "on artifical life support" would have been so repulsive.

But, in a natural state of mind, it would not have been an issue for a person so young, immature, and inexperienced. I mean, at 20 years of age how many of us ever made a definitive statement about life? We felt that nothing could harm us. If she were so obsessed, that would have been part of her psychosis. IMHO.

I just think that professionals could explore this and, hopefully, to some good end.

[exDemMom]

I cannot tolerate being an accessory to murder.

You are not an accessory to murder! I know, it is so frustrating to sit by and have to watch while an innocent woman is murdered, we all feel helpless. I keep praying for a miracle--praying that Judge Greer would suddenly develop a heart (but the shock would probably kill him and Terri would die anyway). What we need to do is to push for laws that prevent this kind of abuse from ever happening again. And also rein in the out-of-control judiciary.

[DBeers]

And one more thing. I've been on this forum a little while now and can say I'm amazed at the term "nazi" being thrown around like the liberals did to Bush during the election and after.

Nazi's murdered innocent people by various means -the term is quite appropriate. Stop whining.

[Deo volente]

I am praying to Therese Neumann to intercede for Terri.

Neumann was the German mystic and stigmatist of the 20th century who lived for several years on only Holy Communion. She reportedly did not even drink any WATER.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[windchime]

Bump!

[floriduh voter]

PRESS RELEASE by Conservative Spirit: Monday, March 28, 2005 12:00 noon est

On Monday, March 28, 2005 at approximately 11:00 am est, seven American citizens met with Representative David Simmons, Chairman of the Florida House Judiciary Committee to A. urge that our leaders save Terri's life and to declare to Representative Simmons that we didn't believe all possible had been done to save an innocent, woman from a painful, gruesome death by dehydration and starvation as ordered per a guardianship judge who lacks compassion. A guardianship judge should be compassionate whether the ward is Terri Schiavo or Jane Doe. B. demand that an exploratory committee be created regarding the impeachment of George W. Greer, Sixth Circuit Court, Pinellas County, Florida. (details being withheld at this time to protect the integrity of the process.) C. demand that Guardianship Laws in Florida are revisited In total to protect all Floridians and their families from bad law.

End of Press Release.

[shhrubbery!]

Thanks NYer. This is a thought-provoking piece.

I'd just like to mention something I learned about the Pharisees, however. Not all were eager to see Jesus put to death; some of them warned Jesus to flee:

Luke 13:31 ¶ The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.