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Terri Schiavo, Martyr
Catholic Online ^ | March 31, 2005 | Deacon Keith Fournier

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


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: allterriallthetime; anotherterrithread; catholic; death; enoughalready; fournier; freedom; goodanotherterripost; keepthemcoming; mercy; morethebetter; prolife; schiavo; schiavorepublic; terri; terrischiavo; truth; yeskeepthemcoming
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To: Chad Fairbanks
Terri Schiavo is a martyr

Say what?!? She may have been a nice lady that just passed. She may have been in a situation that none of us would want for ourselves or our families. Her husband may have or may not have been an son of a gun that we wouldn't wish on anyone. But a martyr?!? I'm not Catholic but I think the bar for that should be just a bit higher...Any plans for beatification yet?

21 posted on 03/31/2005 4:19:59 PM PST by billbears (Deo Vindice)
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To: Chad Fairbanks
Well, that's mighty big of you.

Ummm...urrr...I think "bigofme" is illegal everywhere except Utah?

:^)

22 posted on 03/31/2005 4:20:40 PM PST by Kimba
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To: St. Johann Tetzel; Jim Robinson
To: Trinity_Tx

"It was wrong to kill her. No other "facts" matter."

46 posted on 03/31/2005 3:54:00 AM EST by Jim Robinson [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

I vote we put this on the forums home page. Simple statement, but says it all.

23 posted on 03/31/2005 4:24:15 PM PST by kstewskis ("Tolerance is what happens when one loses their principles"....Fr. A Saenz.)
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To: Chad Fairbanks
Perhaps he just remembers that you were the first to "get the message" when the Moderators announcing that Keyword Spamming was grounds for being revealed, suspended or banned.


To: Admin Moderator
OK.
2 posted on 01/30/2003 1:03:48 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks (We've got Armadillos in our trousers. It's really quite frightening.)


24 posted on 03/31/2005 4:24:52 PM PST by Askel5 († Cooperatio voluntaria ad suicidium est legi morali contraria. †)
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To: Chad Fairbanks

But ... but ... I put a smiley face after a couple of my comments to you. That's supposed to make things ALL better ;-)


25 posted on 03/31/2005 4:25:15 PM PST by St. Johann Tetzel (Theresa Marie Schindler, Martyr for the Gospel of Life, pray for us.)
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To: billbears
Say what?!? She may have been a nice lady that just passed. She may have been in a situation that none of us would want for ourselves or our families. Her husband may have or may not have been an son of a gun that we wouldn't wish on anyone. But a martyr?!? I'm not Catholic but I think the bar for that should be just a bit higher...Any plans for beatification yet?

Ummm... I don't know why you addressed that to me, I don't believe her to be a martyr for the faith, as some do. I agree with what you said.

26 posted on 03/31/2005 4:25:38 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks (Sure you can trust the government... just ask an Indian...)
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To: kstewskis; Jim Robinson

Dittos!!! Kudos, Jim!


27 posted on 03/31/2005 4:26:13 PM PST by St. Johann Tetzel (Theresa Marie Schindler, Martyr for the Gospel of Life, pray for us.)
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To: Askel5

Wow. I said 6 months ago, but turns out it's over a year ago.

So, thanks for proving my point ASkel5 :)


28 posted on 03/31/2005 4:26:38 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks (Sure you can trust the government... just ask an Indian...)
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To: St. Johann Tetzel

How do you ask for intercession from a not-yet-beatified person? Thanks in advance.


29 posted on 03/31/2005 4:27:35 PM PST by TenthAmendmentChampion (Click on my name to see what readers have said about my Christian novels!)
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To: tcg

Pray for the repose of the soul of Terri Marie Sciavo. May she rest in the arms of the Lord. Pray for her grieving parents and siblings.


30 posted on 03/31/2005 4:28:21 PM PST by antceecee
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To: Chad Fairbanks

LOL, well I figured if I addressed anybody else on this thread, I'd get flamed..


31 posted on 03/31/2005 4:28:22 PM PST by billbears (Deo Vindice)
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To: billbears

ROTFL.


32 posted on 03/31/2005 4:29:14 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks (Sure you can trust the government... just ask an Indian...)
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To: Chad Fairbanks

My penchant for nailing direct quotes does come in handy on occasion.


Btw ... I don't think anyone is saying that Terri is a martyr for the faith. If so, they are mistaken. There's a difference between a "red" martyr (who gives his or her life specifically in defense of the Faith) and a "white" martyr (killed by enemies of the Faith). Terri is a white martyr.


33 posted on 03/31/2005 4:33:08 PM PST by Askel5 († Cooperatio voluntaria ad suicidium est legi morali contraria. † RIP, Theresa †)
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To: Imaverygooddriver
We were just talking this morning how Michael changed his mind after the settlement. He will reap what he saw. I fell sorry for his children. Thea sins of the father follow his children.

I would add: "Her blood is on this nation and those that stood for death unless we repent"
34 posted on 03/31/2005 4:34:47 PM PST by Lily4Jesus ( Jesus Saves)
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To: Askel5

Thanks, Askel5. I have heard of that, but had only heard of a "White Nartyr" being someone who enters a cloister-typer thingy, like a nun or a monk or whatever.

Thanks again. :)


35 posted on 03/31/2005 4:36:55 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks (Sure you can trust the government... just ask an Indian...)
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To: TenthAmendmentChampion
Same as you would for a beatified person.

Same as any spouse "talks" to their deceased partner and asks for intercession for the grace to continue on in this life, or any followers of a holy person ask for intercession from them prior to beatification. Many people asked for intercession from Padre Pio, for example, prior to his beatification.

If they are in Heaven, sharing the Beatific Vision, they will hear your requests THROUGH their participation in the Beatific Vision (not by any power of their own) and they will pray for you before the Throne of the Triune God.

36 posted on 03/31/2005 4:38:29 PM PST by St. Johann Tetzel (Theresa Marie Schindler, Martyr for the Gospel of Life, pray for us.)
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To: St. Johann Tetzel
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 extreme Liberal roars his Liberalism; the moderate Liberal mouths it; the tainted Catholic whispers and sighs it. All are bad enough and serve the devil well.

Nevertheless, the extreme Liberal overreaches himself by his violence; the fecundity of the tainted Catholic is partially sterilized by his hybrid nature; but the moderate is the real Satanic type; his is the masked evil, which in our times is the chief cause of the ravages of Liberalism.

Fr. Felix Sarda Y Salvany (1886) excerpted excerpt

37 posted on 03/31/2005 4:38:42 PM PST by Askel5 († Cooperatio voluntaria ad suicidium est legi morali contraria. † RIP, Theresa †)
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To: Askel5
From "Liberalism Is A Sin", correct? A true classic.
38 posted on 03/31/2005 4:44:06 PM PST by St. Johann Tetzel (Theresa Marie Schindler, Martyr for the Gospel of Life, pray for us.)
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To: Lily4Jesus

As I was telling another Freeper if Terri died, then they should immediately release Jack Kevorkian from prison because he is in prison for what the courts determined is legal, which is assisted "suicide". And considering Jack Kevorkian had the people he assisted on videotape agreeing to end their lives when Michael Schiavo had not one iota of proof with Terri makes it all the more reason to release him from prison because keeping him in there from this day forth is total hypocrisy.


39 posted on 03/31/2005 4:47:46 PM PST by Imaverygooddriver (ALL MY BASE ARE BELONG TO YOU)
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To: Askel5
I don't think anyone is saying that Terri is a martyr for the faith. If so, they are mistaken. There's a difference between a "red" martyr (who gives his or her life specifically in defense of the Faith) and a "white" martyr (killed by enemies of the Faith). Terri is a white martyr.

According to Catholic.org

Red martyrdom occurs when a person sheds their blood for Christ. Throughout the history of the Church, there have been many of these brave souls who died rather that forsake the Lord. Many of their names are very familiar and form a litany of courage and trust in God; Stephen, Lawrence, Justin, Polycarp, Sebastian, Paul Miki, Maximilian Kolbe, Agnes, Lucy, Agatha, Cecilia, Apollonia, Edith Stein, and Maria Goretti are just a few. Kateri Tekakwitha herself was born at Ossernenon, the same village where three Jesuit missionaries - Rene Goupil, Isaac Jogues and Jean Lalande - were martyred.

The second form is called white martyrdom. This is a martyrdom without blood, without the violent taking of life. White martyrdom is a total offering to God, a “dying” to the world and its allurements. A white martyr willingly gives up worldly concerns and makes his or her life a perpetual pilgrimage. A white martyr lives a life of heroic devotion for Him alone, eagerly uniting that devotion with Christ’s sufferings.

She was probably neither. Just a nice lady in a bad situation, whose current situation affected a lot of people emotionally

40 posted on 03/31/2005 4:49:44 PM PST by billbears (Deo Vindice)
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