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A potential tragedy is unfolding in Florida at this very moment that has the potential of becoming another major advance for the culture of death. A young disabled woman is in danger of being starved to death at the request of her husband, who already is living with another woman. Here's where to see what is about to happen without your help:
http://www.catholicpetitions.com/petitions.php?id=226

Please read about Terri Schiavo's dire situation and then sign a petition asking Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida's Attorney General Charlie Crist to intervene in her case and stop the court-ordered execution sought by her husband, who stands to gain financially from her death.

Urge a full investigation into how Terri suffered brain damage as well as how she yet could recover from it.

Support for Terri at CatholicPetitions.com already made a difference with Gov. Bush, who cited the many emails he has received as why he asked Judge George Greer to appoint a guardian and take no action in regard to her life. Unfortunately, the judge rejected Gov. Bush's appeal Wednesday. Terri's final hearing -- to decide whether she is starved to death or allowed to live and likely recover --was set for Sept 11 in an apparent effort to obscure her expected death sentence on newscasts and front pages dominated by remembrances of the terrorist tragedy.

While Terri's lawyers still seek ways to stop the ominous precedent-setting court-ordered execution, her plight goes virtually unnoticed across America. Your help is needed not only to pray for her protection and sign the petition for guard her life but to make the public aware of this tragic miscarriage of justice. Here's where to act:
http://www.catholicpetitions.com/petitions.php?id=226

Terri suffered a collapse in 1990 that deprived her of oxygen for several minutes, causing the brain damage. She receives nutrition and hydration by a feeding tube, but is allowed no other life-support measures by her husband. A Florida court recently ruled he may remove her feeding tube despite medical evidence that (1) Terri is able to communicate and respond to commands, and (2) foul play may have been involved in her collapse.

What's more, 13 physicians say Terri can recover with proper therapy!

Husband Michael, however, has denied her this therapy. He even has not allowed her the comfort of a visit by her Catholic priest, thus denying Terri the sacrament.

Don't allow Terri Schiavo to be executed under these circumstances! Stand up for the helpless and demand action! Help make the outcry to Gov. Bush and Attorney General Crist loud enough to mandate action on Terri's behalf. Act now while there's still time! Here's where to make your voice heard:
http://www.catholicpetitions.com/petitions.php?id=226

Fr. Peter West
http://www.CatholicVote.Org

Larry Cirignano, Esq.
http://www.CatholicVote.Org

P.S. This isn't just a Florida issue endangering one woman. Americans must realize if such convenient killing is allowed, one day soon they, too, might be helpless in need of someone to fight for their lives.

Please alert everyone you know -- for their sake as well as Terri's.

Tell them to make their stand at:
http://www.catholicpetitions.com/petitions.php?id=226

My letter to all the newspaper links:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I don't live in Florida, I'm in California; however I have been keeping up with Terri Schiavo's fight for her life.

I wouldn't exactly call myself an ardent prolifer, but this case is stunning. A young woman collapses under mysterious circumstances, and the husband sues everyone. The young woman, Terri, ends up with a rather large medical trust fund. Unfortunately it seems that Terri's husband really, really, wants his wife to die. He has spent 13 years, not on trying to rehabilitate her, but trying to yank her feeding tube.

Death by starvation. Will he allow the doctors to shoot her up with morphine to deal with this slooooow death? Heck, Terri has an infection at the moment. High fever, everything coming out both ends. Last I heard, her loving husband refused to allow medical personnel to administer antibiotics to his wife. Maybe he can get rid of her that way. Considering that her wheelchair is broken, she doesn't exactly get much sunshine. She is not allowed visitors, flowers, or even the parish priest. See, Terri responds favorably to visitors and pretty things. Imagine how she could respond to therapy, considering the fact she ISN'T brain dead.

After receiving 27,000 emails, Governor Jeb Bush wrote a letter to Judge George Greer, basically asking him to reconsider Terri's death sentence. Judge Greer replied:

"I read [Gov. Bush's letter] because it came from the governor and I respect his position," Greer told the Tampa Tribune. "Beyond that, it is going in the file."

Niiiice. Judge Greer, you may be a judge, but you are not jury and executioner. You most certainly are not God. Appoint a Guardian Ad Litem....NOW. For anyone who happens to read this: What happened to us? What happened to our society that allows a husband to petition to kill his wife, and a judge that will do his bidding? What kind of society have we become to allow the wanton killing of an inconvenient human being?

Some of you may say, "so what? What does Terri Schiavo have to do with me"? Imagine yourself as Terri's parents, or Terri herself. How terrifying is it when the person who you entrusted your life with, is trying to end it...

Call, email, write letters, or picket. Do something people!

Terri's family put this website up:

www.terrisfight.org

xxxx,xxxxxxx CA

Where is the disabilities lobby on this tragedy? Isn't there an organized group that rallies to the aid of the disabled. Political science books say that 17 percent of the population is technically "disabled," though such disabilities are not always apparent to the sight.

The feminists? This time the feminists are yielding to a liberal husband who wants to starve his wife to death. I thought that feminists did not like such "husbands." Is that because in the world of the typical American feminist, euthanasia trumps feminism?

Thank you for your post at #40. You summed up the case beautifully. Signing the petition.

Have Pinellas County area newspapers shown any interest?

This is new information from the web site and provides information on the position the Catholic Church takes on nutrition/hydration of a patient and on Terri Schindler-Schiavo's situation specifically.

STATEMENT OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF FLORIDA

August 27, 2003

Florida Bishops Urge Safer Course For Terri Schiavo

   We continue our fervent prayers for Terri Schiavo, for her family, and all involved in this most difficult and heart wrenching situation. After a fourth consideration of her case, the 2nd District Court of Appeals has upheld the latest order of the trial court judge to withdraw her hydration and nutrition tube. An emergency appeal to the Florida Supreme Court was denied. Barring unforeseen legal intervention, the trial court will soon re-schedule the removal of Mrs. Schiavo’s feeding tube. It is most unfortunate that family members have not been able to agree on her care, forcing the Court’s involvement.

   Bishop Robert N. Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg has spoken in detail to this case (Concerning Terri Schiavo).* His statement followed careful consultation with his brother Bishops and we fully support it. Because of so much uncertainty and dispute, we reiterate his plea that her treatment be continued while all parties pursue a more clear understanding of her actual physical condition.

   Bishop Lynch’s statement clarifies the teaching of the Church that nourishment or hydration may be withheld or withdrawn where that treatment itself is causing harm to the patient or is useless because the patient’s death is imminent. Church teaching is clear that there should be a presumption in favor of providing medically assisted nutrition and hydration to all patients as long as it is of sufficient benefit to outweigh the burdens involved to the patient.

   The Church cannot make this decision, but her teaching guides those who must: the patient or those legally entitled to do so if the patient is unable. If Mrs. Schiavo’s feeding tube were to be removed because the nutrition she receives is of no use to her, or because she is near death, or because it is unreasonably burdensome for her, her family, or caregivers, it could be seen as permissible. But if her feeding tube were to be removed to intentionally cause her death, or because her life is perceived to be useless, or because it is believed that the quality of her life is such that she would be better off, this would be wrong.

   Without question, removal of Mrs. Schiavo’s feeding tube will result in her death. We respect the need for finality of the court’s decision, but we urge additional time to allow greater certainty as to her true condition. We respect, too, the limitations on new evidence being considered by the court, but in matters of life and death, exceptions should be made. If additional medical treatment can be shown to be helpful to her condition, we urge that all parties involved take the safer course and allow it to be used.

   Just as we are concerned for Terri Schiavo, we are also concerned for others who are weak and vulnerable. There is an inherent danger in assuming that food and water can simply be withheld without clearly knowing a patient’s wishes. There is reason to be circumspect and ever careful in these cases. We reject outright the euthanasia movement and its utilitarian standard that some lives are not worth living. Every life is precious and unrepeatable.

   And finally, we remember there are times when one may refuse treatment that will result in a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life. Properly, this may be seen as an expression of our hope in the life to come. Let each of us communicate ahead of time with our families and loved ones, our wishes for treatment at the end of our lives. To do so will give great comfort to them in an emotionally stressful time.

   We join our prayers with the family and loved ones of Terri Schiavo in this most difficult time.

http://www.flacathconf.org/Publications/BishopsStatements/Bpst2000/TerriSchiavo.htm

Archbishop John C. Favalora Archdiocese of Miami	Bishop John J. Nevins Diocese of Venice	Bishop Norbert M. Dorsey, CP Diocese of Orlando
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ Diocese of Pensacola/Tallahassee	Bishop Victor Galeone Diocese of St. Augustine	Bishop Robert N. Lynch Diocese of St. Petersburg
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, JCL Bishop-Designate of Palm Beach		Bishop Thomas G. Wenski Co-Adjutor, Diocese of Orlando

Bishop Lynch's statement concerning Terri Schiavo
* ( http://www.dioceseofstpete.org/news_releases/statement_of_bishop_robert_n.htm )

I would like to sign the petition, but as a Born Again Christian, the site won't let me sign unless I login and to do that I must join this Roman Catholic organization, which I can't.

Is there any other way to sign the petition?