Pegita, it may not even take a weary judge. The federal judge this is to go in front of is Richard Lazarra. From what I've been told about him, two things work in Terri's favor. One is that he is a devoted Catholic. Let's face it, Catholics aren't super hip on the idea of killing people off. It simply goes against their teachings.
The other good tick is that Lazarra's entire family are reported to be major humanitarians. One sibling is said to run missionary and hospital efforts here and overseas to help children who are disfigured due to burn and injury.
With those two values as part of their character make-up, one could assume that the Lazarra family - including Richard Lazarra - take human life pretty seriously and have aspirations to serve this notion.
Just an opinion.
-P-
Thanks again, phenn ... your information is so encouraging and gives better direction to the prayer efforts on Terri's behalf. My Dad spent some time in a Catholic nursing home ... several short stays, as a matter of fact ... and each time the Living Will was discussed. On the subject of nutrition and hydration, the facility WOULD NOT withhold either because of their belief, no matter if that were the patient's request. May the Lord give such a strong stance to this Judge ...
MY FAITH IN HUMANITY HAS BEEN RESTORED THIS EVENING!
You wrote in your post:
"The federal judge this is to go in front of is Richard Lazarra. From what I've been told about him, two things work in Terri's favor. One is that he is a devoted Catholic. Let's face it, Catholics aren't super hip on the idea of killing people off. It simply goes against their teachings.
The other good thing is that Lazarra's entire family are reported to be major humanitarians. One sibling is said to run missionary and hospital efforts here and overseas to help children who are disfigured due to burn and injury. "
WELL, I did a little research, and came up with this about the judge's brother, Tony Lazzara.
He sounds like a saint!
Read the article linked below about Dr. Lazzara. It's beyond heartwarming!
If Judge Lazzara is 1/10th the wonderful man his brother is, Terri's in good shape.
I'm praying for the Judge tonight.
EXCERPT:
Richard Lazzara is a U.S. District judge. In his 15th-floor office at the Tampa federal courthouse, he keeps a photo of his missionary brother, flanked by the children of his clinic.
"He's basically sacrificed his own personal life to save those children," said the 57-year-old judge. "I think he made the decision, if he was going to make this commitment to those children in Peru, he wouldn't be able to have his own family."
The judge corrects himself. "He does have a family. That's his family, down there."
EXCERPT:
As a boy in Lima, Nestor Sivirichi was heating milk for his baby sister when a stove exploded, leaving him badly burned and disfigured. He remained in Lazzara's care for 10 years and returns now to run errands around the clinic. He's 25 and studying to be a nurse.
"Loco," Sivirichi says of el doctor, when asked to describe Lazzara. The word is full of love and awe. "If I were a doctor with a lot of money, I'd be in the United States, in Miami, at the beach. He doesn't buy anything for himself. He gives everything and takes nothing. He's a doctor-saint."
Read the whole article and have a good cry.
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/05/Worldandnation/For_20_years__he_s_he.shtml