Posted on 03/31/2005 3:39:17 PM PST by tcg
Terri Schiavo, Martyr, By: Deacon Keith Fournier © Third Millennium, LLC
The news out of Pinellas Park, Florida breaks the hearts of all decent people. It should shake us to the core. Terri Schiavo is dead, intentionally deprived of food and water, with the force of the raw power of government holding the hands of the executioners. She was killed deliberately, by starvation and dehydration. No Court, Legislative body or Chief Executive had the courage to stop this killing. She was deprived of her substantive due process rights by every branch of government.
Terri was not dying. She was not receiving any “extraordinary medical treatment.” She was being fed and given water, as many disabled people are at this very moment, with assistance. She had trouble swallowing because she was disabled by damage to her brain. She would have lived for many, many years, bringing great joy to her family and changing the world. But now she is dead; killed by the complete abject failure of a system that has lost its soul.
The Greek word for “witness” is “martyrion”. In our use of the word over all these centuries of Christian history, we have emphasized those who shed their blood for the faith. However, there is also a tradition of “white martyrs”, those who live sacrificial lives that change the world. That is what Terri did. None of us will forget her smile. We all adopted her beautiful family. We now mourn her loss and share, at least a little, in their deep pain. We must also become outraged at the sheer evil of this killing and we must act.
Terri Schiavo is a martyr. She had her life taken away by the enforcers of a New Rome. Remember, the old Rome also had an elaborate system of courts and a highly developed legislative system. It prided itself on its culture, its arts and its claims to “civilization.” Yet, it legally sanctioned horrors such as the practice of exposure, where children, the disabled and other “unwanted” persons were left on rocks to die by exposure to the elements or to be killed by hostile passers by. We now do the same.
The killing of Terri Schindler must mark a turning point in American history. Terri was killed while “the law” was unwilling to intervene. Her death stripped away the veneer of civility painted on the face of the current culture of death. It was a diabolical event, plain and simple. The rejection of the inherent value of every human life as a foundation of our whole understanding of ordered liberty is a clear and present danger. We face a serious risk to both life and liberty when reference to the truth is removed as the measuring stick for our behavior. Authentic freedom has been replaced by a counterfeit. The very foundation of decency is shaken.
To honor Terri, we should dedicate ourselves to the long term work of building a new society, a culture of life and civilization of love, where the dignity of every human life will be the polestar of all public policy; marriage and family will be protected as the first mediating institution and defended against those who aim to replace and eradicate them; authentic freedom will be exercised in reference to truth and within a moral constitution, and our obligations in solidarity to one another, and most especially those who have no voice, will be upheld by elected and unelected public servants.
With all the talk of the “religious influence” in America, the martyrdom of Terri Schiavo reveals the lack of a national soul. Terri was killed in a manner reminiscent of past evil regimes. I am reminded of the old adage attributed to the English Philosopher Alisdair Macintyre who, commenting on the decay in English society, once said “The Creed of the English is that there is no God but it is proper to pray to him once in a while.” Without reference to the Source of unalienable rights, the One who placed the hunger for true justice within every human heart, we have become unmoored as a Nation.
Terrible injustices sometimes mark turning points in the political history of Nations. I pray that Terri’s death becomes such an event; an impetus for a new coalition for life, family, freedom and solidarity. If it does, Terri’s martyrdom will not have been in vain. ________________________________________________________
Deacon Keith Fournier is a member of the Catholic Clergy and a human rights lawyer
The news out of Pinellas Park, Florida breaks the hearts of all decent people. It should shake us to the core. Terri Schiavo is dead, intentionally deprived of food and water, with the force of the raw power of government holding the hands of the executioners. She was killed deliberately, by starvation and dehydration. No Court, Legislative body or Chief Executive had the courage to stop this killing. She was deprived of her substantive due process rights by every branch of government.
Terri was not dying. She was not receiving any “extraordinary medical treatment.” She was being fed and given water, as many disabled people are at this very moment, with assistance. She had trouble swallowing because she was disabled by damage to her brain. She would have lived for many, many years, bringing great joy to her family and changing the world. But now she is dead; killed by the complete abject failure of a system that has lost its soul.
The Greek word for “witness” is “martyrion”. In our use of the word over all these centuries of Christian history, we have emphasized those who shed their blood for the faith. However, there is also a tradition of “white martyrs”, those who live sacrificial lives that change the world. That is what Terri did. None of us will forget her smile. We all adopted her beautiful family. We now mourn her loss and share, at least a little, in their deep pain. We must also become outraged at the sheer evil of this killing and we must act.
Terri Schiavo is a martyr. She had her life taken away by the enforcers of a New Rome. Remember, the old Rome also had an elaborate system of courts and a highly developed legislative system. It prided itself on its culture, its arts and its claims to “civilization.” Yet, it legally sanctioned horrors such as the practice of exposure, where children, the disabled and other “unwanted” persons were left on rocks to die by exposure to the elements or to be killed by hostile passers by. We now do the same.
The killing of Terri Schindler must mark a turning point in American history. Terri was killed while “the law” was unwilling to intervene. Her death stripped away the veneer of civility painted on the face of the current culture of death. It was a diabolical event, plain and simple. The rejection of the inherent value of every human life as a foundation of our whole understanding of ordered liberty is a clear and present danger. We face a serious risk to both life and liberty when reference to the truth is removed as the measuring stick for our behavior. Authentic freedom has been replaced by a counterfeit. The very foundation of decency is shaken.
To honor Terri, we should dedicate ourselves to the long term work of building a new society, a culture of life and civilization of love, where the dignity of every human life will be the polestar of all public policy; marriage and family will be protected as the first mediating institution and defended against those who aim to replace and eradicate them; authentic freedom will be exercised in reference to truth and within a moral constitution, and our obligations in solidarity to one another, and most especially those who have no voice, will be upheld by elected and unelected public servants.
With all the talk of the “religious influence” in America, the martyrdom of Terri Schiavo reveals the lack of a national soul. Terri was killed in a manner reminiscent of past evil regimes. I am reminded of the old adage attributed to the English Philosopher Alisdair Macintyre who, commenting on the decay in English society, once said “The Creed of the English is that there is no God but it is proper to pray to him once in a while.” Without reference to the Source of unalienable rights, the One who placed the hunger for true justice within every human heart, we have become unmoored as a Nation.
Terrible injustices sometimes mark turning points in the political history of Nations. I pray that Terri’s death becomes such an event; an impetus for a new coalition for life, family, freedom and solidarity. If it does, Terri’s martyrdom will not have been in vain. ________________________________________________________
Deacon Keith Fournier is a member of the Catholic Clergy and a human rights lawyer
Terri Schiavo is a martyr. She had her life taken away by the enforcers of a New Rome. Remember, the old Rome also had an elaborate system of courts and a highly developed legislative system. It prided itself on its culture, its arts and its claims to “civilization.” Yet, it legally sanctioned horrors such as the practice of exposure, where children, the disabled and other “unwanted” persons were left on rocks to die by exposure to the elements or to be killed by hostile passers by. We now do the same.
It was wrong to kill her. No other "facts" matter.
No Court, Legislative body or Chief Executive had the courage to stop this killing.
This, I won't forget.
I guess the courts never read this, how Michaels attitude went 180 degrees after the court settlement.....
1990
Feb - Terri Collapses in her home
May - Terri discharged from Humana Hospital in St Petersburg, Florida.
Dec - Terri taken to California for experimental implant
1991
Feb - Terri moved to home with husband.
Jan - Terri moved to Bradenton Mediplex Rehabilitation Center.
Apr - Terri's condition is assessed as improving.
Apr - Terri's husband advised to move her to Gainesville Rehabilitation Center to receive advanced therapy to continue Terri's recovery.
Jul - Terri moved to Sable Palms Nursing Home.
1992
Aug - Terri awarded $250,000 in malpractice settlement.
Nov - Terri awarded $1.4 million in malpractice trial.
Nov - Michael Schiavo awarded $600,000 in malpractice trial.
1993
Feb - Michael Schiavo denies recommended rehabilitation treatment.
Feb - Schiavo and Terri's parents have falling out regarding lack of therapy for Terri.
Feb - Schiavo withholds medical information from Terri's parents.
Feb - Schiavo posts Do not Resuscitate order in Terri's medical chart.
Jun - Schiavo threatens Schindler family with lawsuit.
Aug - Schiavo orders medical staff not to treat Terri for potentially fatal infection.
Sep - Bob and Mary Schindler petition courts to remove Schiavo as Terri's guardian.
Nov - Schiavo admits in deposition that he knew withholding treatment of infection could result in Terri's death.
1994
Feb - Judge Penick dismisses guardianship suit.
Apr - Terri moved to Palm Gardens Nursing Home.
1995
Sep - Schiavo orders Palm Gardens not to treat Terri for potentially fatal infection.
1996
Jun - Terri's parents obtain court order for access to Terri's medical records.
1997
May - Judge Shames approves Schiavo action to remove Terri's nutrition and hydration.
Jul - Schiavo's engagement to Jodi Centonze announced.
Aug - Attorney Felos's letter notifying Terri's parents of action to remove Terri's nutrition and hydration.
1998
Jun - Guardian ad Litem appointed by court to investigate Terri's case.
Oct - Schiavo offers to donate Terri's inheritance to charity if family agrees to allow removal of her hydration and nutrition.
Dec - Guardian ad Litem recommends the court not approve Schiavo's petition.
1999
Feb - Attorney George Felos files bias charges against Guardian ad Litem.
Jun - Guardian ad Litem dismissed by the court.
2000
Jan - Judge Greer Conducts Terri’s Feeding Tube Removal Trial.
Feb - Greer Rules to Remove Nutrition Feeding Tube.
Feb – Affidavits filed by 3 doctors state Terri can swallow and is not PVS.
Feb - Greer denies petition to allow Terri swallowing tests.
Apr - Terri Moved from Palm Gardens Nursing Home to Hospice Facility.
Apr - Greer denies motion to return Terri to Palm Garden Nursing home.
Apr - Greer imposes restricted visitor list for Terri.
Jul - Appeal filed with Appellate Court to overturn Greer’s verdict.
Nov - Appellate Court Conducts Oral Arguments.
2001
Jan 25 - The appellate court upholds Judge Greer’s ruling to remove Terri's feeding..
Feb. 8 - Motion for an Appellate Court rehearing or clarification - Denied.
Mar 12 - Schiavo petitions to remove Terri’s feeding immediately.
Mar 23 - Florida Supreme Court denies motion with the to review Terri's case.
Mar 22 - Appellate Court issued a 30 day execution stay.
Mar 29 - Judge Greer moves up feeding removal date to April 20, 2001.
Apr 1 - The Appellate Court denies extending Terri's stay of execution.
Apr 12 - Attorney Anderson files motion disqualify Judge Greer.
Apr 16 - Judge Greer denies disqualification motion.
Apr 18 - The Florida Supreme Court refuses to hear Terri’s case & denies Stay.
Apr 19 - The Federal Court claimed the issue was beyond that court's jurisdiction.
Apr 23 - The US Supreme Court refused to hear Terri’s case.
Apr 24 - Terri Feeding was terminated.
Apr 25 - Schiavo bans Terri brother and sister from visiting Terri.
Apr 25 - Schiavo ex girlfriend (Cyndi) reveals Schiavo lied about Terri’s death wishes.
Apr 26 - Judge Greer refuses to hear new evidence about Schiavo’s lying.
Apr 26 - New evidence compels Civil court Judge Quesada to resume Terri's feeding.
Apr 30 - Schiavo files an emergency motion to have Terri's nutritional feeding stopped.
May 7 - Affidavit filed by Dr. Hammesfahr (neurology) states Terri is not in a PVS.
May 7 - Schiavo charged in the Civil Court with fraud.
May 8 - Schiavo ex girlfriend (Cyndi) refuses to testify for fear of Schiavo.
May 9 - The 2nd District Court of Appeals announces "Oral Arguments Hearing" date.
May 11 - Schiavo motion to negate Judge Quesada's order denied.
Jun 1 - Affidavits by five (5) Doctors were filed stating Terri was not in a PVS.
Jun 1 - Schiavo excused from rendering his deposition.
Jun 18 - Schiavo files an affidavit that Terri is in an irreversible vegetative.
Jun 21 - Chief Judge Demers gave Judge George Greer's Court authority to decide whether Terri should have any new medical evaluation or treatment.
Jun 25 - A three-member panel presided at the Appellate Court hearing.
Jul 11 - The Appellate Court ordered Greer court to conduct evidentiary hearings. The court denied Schiavo's attorneys request to order Terri's feeding stopped.
July 23 - Schiavo filed a motion for Judge Greer to immediately stop Terri's feeding.
Aug 7 - Judge Greer totally ignored or rationalized all the evidence presented to him. Orders Terri's feeding stopped on August 28, 2001.
Aug 10 - Attorney Anderson motion to disqualify Judge Greer denied.
Aug 14 - Greer denies request for Conducting Terri Medical Examinations.
Aug 16 - Attorney Anderson files a Notice of Appeal with the 2nd District Appeal Court.
Aug 17 - Judge Greer grants Terri a stay of execution until October 9, 2001.
Aug 20 - Schiavo files with the 2nd District Appeal Court to overrule Judge Greer stay.
Oct 7 - 2nd District Appeal Court orders Terri to be neurological tested.
Oct 23 - Schiavo files a motion to reverse the Appellate Court neurological tests order.
Nov 1 - The 2nd District Court of Appeals denies Schiavo's motion..
Nov 16 - Terri's medical testing plan will be determined before a mediator.
Dec 19 - Attorneys meet with a mediator in an attempt to agree upon the tests .
2002
Jan 18 - Mediated agreement failed, testing is back Greer’s courtroom to be resolved.
Jan 25 - Attorney Anderson petitioned the court for an evidentiary guardianship hearing.
Jan 29 - Judge Greer approved Schiavo's motion to cancel the evidentiary hearing.
Feb 7 - Schiavo files with the Florida Supreme Court to overturn the Appellate Court's October ruling which spared Terri's life.
Mar 14 - The Florida Supreme Court denied Michael Schiavo’s appeal.
Jun 19 - Schiavo objects to the medical and neurological testing.
Jul 1 - Judge Greer conducted a 3+ hr hearing involving three issues:
1. Schiavo’s Plan to Enroll Terri into a Medicaid Program
2 Termination of Schiavo's Attorney Fees
3. Equal Payment for Terri's Examining Doctors
Jul 10 - Court Hearing again was for the purpose of allowing certain medical tests that were requested to evaluate Terri’s true medical and neurological condition.
Jul 12 - Judge Greer ruled -not-to-pay- Terri’s doctors for their professional fees to examine Terri. Notably, in a previous hearing, Judge Greer -approved- payment for Schiavo’s doctors fees.
Jul 22 - Judge Greer approved three of Terri’s desired neurological tests and rejected a dozen other.
Aug 28 - Judge Greer established the dates for Terri's trial.
Oct 2 - Schiavo files petition to prohibit the media from seeing Terri’s recent neurological examination videotapes or airing the video’s to the public after they have been presented to the court as evidence.
Oct 2 - Schiavo petitioned the court to authorize Terri’s cremation.
Oct 11-22 Terri’s trial
Nov15 - Judge Greer conducted a hearing in response to a motion Attorney Anderson filed requesting time to investigate recent evidence suggesting Terri’s heart failure may have been caused by physical abuse.
Nov 22 - Greer orders Terri’s starvation death to begin on Jan 3, 2003.
Dec 9 - Attorney Anderson filed a ‘Notice of Appeal’ to the 2nd District Appellate Court.
Dec 9- Attorney Anderson filed a motion with Judge Greer to ‘stay’ the January 3rd feeding termination date.
Dec 10 - Schiavo filed a motion with Judge Greer to strike attorney Anderson’s motion to ‘stay,’ requesting a court hearing to argue his objection.
Dec 13 - Judge Greer acquiesced to Michael Schiavo’s attorney motion to conduct a hearing, which resulted in a ‘stay’ being granted, pending appellate resolution.
Dec 18 - Schiavo filed a motion with the 2nd District Appellate Court to overturn Judge Greer’s December 13th order.
Dec 23 - The 2nd Appellate Court denied Michael Schiavo’s attorney motion to overturn Judge Greer’s December 13, 2002 ‘stay’ order. Furthermore, the Appellate Court established filing dates and scheduled Appellate oral arguments to take place on April 4, 2003.
2003
Guardian Removal Petition Still Pending…
On November 15, 2002, attorney Anderson filed a petition with Judge Greer to remove Michael Schiavo as Terri’s legal guardian. The petition included a declaration of Adversary Proceedings, charging that Michael Schiavo violated a dozen or more specific Florida Statutes while serving in his capacity as Terri’s legal guardian.
Apr - Appellate Court Hearing.
Jun - Appellate Court Upholds Greer.
Jul - Appellate Court Denies Court Review and Stay.
Jul - Appellate Court grants 30 day stay.
Aug - Terri hospitalized under mysterious conditions, denied visits from her priest.
Sep - Emergency hearing to allow visitation and obtain current medical information.
Sep - Michael Schiavo ordered by court to give discharge summary to Terri's parents.
Sep - Judge Greer scheduled October 15, 2003 for the removal of Terri's sustenance.
Oct - 15 Terri's sustenance removed at Hospice Woodside in Pinellas Park, FL.
Oct - 20 Florida Legislature and Senate meet in special session Terri's bill is introduced.
Oct - 21 Terri's bill approved, signed into law. Governor Bush issues executive orderr.
Oct - 23 Michael Schiavo announces plans to sue Governor Bush and challenge Terri's Law as unconstitutional.
Oct - Dr. Jay Wolfson of Tampa, Florida assigned as independent Guardian ad Litem.
Nov - New Guardianship hearing in Sixth Circuit court.
Nov - Disability advocacy groups file Amicus Brief.
Nov - Judge Baird to hear case on Terri's Law. Governor not properly served in suit, appeals venue.
Nov - Governor Bush petitions to remove Judge W. Douglas Baird on suggestion of bias.
Dec - 3 Terri's birthday. Supporters convene at Woodside Hospice. Terri receives more than 1,000 birthday cards and gifts.
Dec - Governor Bush denied discovery in Schiavo v Bush. Governor denied subpoenaing witnesses.
Dec - 20 Guardian ad Litem dismissed by Judge Demers.
Dec - 22 Judge Baird rules that he will issue a summary ruling on Terri's law without a trial. His ruling is withheld until appeals by Governor Bush are ruled upon in the Second District Court of Appeals in Lakeland, Florida.
2004
Jan - 8, Judge Demers denies petition for reinstatement of Guardian ad Litem
Sorry, but per teh Amin Moderators, I am not allowed to discuss this issue with you as it would not be deemed "constructive" - which means that we might disagree.
Thanks for the ping, though.
Some FReepers were prophetic in their comments the last few days.
"Theresa Marie Schindler, Martyr for the Gospel of Life, pray for us.
*****
It was wrong to kill her. No other "facts" matter.
LOL! Its good to know you are tight with them...
ping
Check the other thread where we were discussing this, St. J. - Since I disagree about her being a "Martyr of the Faith", and you believe she is, we disagree. Since we disagree, it has apparently been deemed "not constructive" for me to discuss this issue with you.
Sorry. I've already had one suspension today, I don't need another one just because YOU can't handle conflicting opinions.
Thanks, though. :)
That's open for debate ;-) Still spamming Keywords?
Thanks, but please quit bugging us about keywords.
De nada, gracias.
Since it is possible for the Moderators to determine exactly which FReepr posted what keywords, and on what threads, could you please inform St. J. that I have not even added a keyword to a thread in recent memory?
Thanks in advance.
See post # 13. The Keywords issue is dead ;-)
Not really. I don't appreciate being accused of it, especially since I havn't done it. At all. I can't remember the last time I added one to a thread. Probably 6 months ago...
Its over for me, thanks.
Well, that's mighty big of you.
I hate to see this turned into just a Catholic issue. I think that there are so many non catholics aligned with the Schindler family, that this is a wrong thing to do. This is a human issue, involving every one who is alive and in the USA.
If this is turned into some religious argument, we will all be the losers, and our cause will be lost, so stop it. Let all good people stand together, no matter who they are.
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