The Terri Schiavo Case: A Priest Responds to a Doctor's Critique

St. Gertrude the Great Bulletin ^ | May 5, 2005 | Rev. Anthony Cekada

[AnthonyCekada]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1393366/posts

[nickcarraway]

Fr. Cekada, interesting question. Let me ask you: is being a quadriplegic and being confined to a wheel chair burdensome for any normal man? I would imagine it is. Can someone in this situation decide it is too burdensome for them to continue living, or can someone else decide it for them? There are any number of situations that people are living in that are burdnesome, and these situations could be applied to, including certain medications. I think a careful examintion of natural law is required. What happened to Terri Schiavo is not acceptable according to natural law. Time to reread the Angelic Doctor...

[nickcarraway]

I think sedevacantist believe that the poep exists, just that he may be excommunicated. Most sedevacantists today seem to believe that the pope legally holds the office, but not morally.

[8mmMauser]

The sede vacantists I associate with these three actually believe the seat is vacant, i.e. no Pope. They do not even accept the Pope at all, as if he were a representative of a different religion than their own. Those I know personally who gravitate to these three emphatically reject any possibility of the existence of who claims to be the Pope in Rome in their eyes.

At least one priest and one bishop in close communion with these three insist they are NOT sede vacantists, but one explained to me they believe a Pope sits in the chair, but more like an empty suit or a corpse propped up there. I have heard the descriptive term sede privatist used in this case. Although these insist they are NOT sede vacantists, they can be described as having never met a sede vacantist they didn't like.

Those I have known whether from Monroe, Albany, Cincinnati, or the seminary are the sede vacantists I describe.

I met Fr. Dardis who is mentioned in the other thread and who disputes Fr. Cekada, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1393366/posts?page=49#49
while outside of Terri's room as she lay dying inside. He stood out from the rest, being the only priest in a true cassock and impressed me greatly with his priestly countenance.

As you may gather, I am not a sede vacantist at all, and am at odds with those who are. I am a plain traditional Catholic.

[te lucis]

As my priest has told me in the confessional, "Jesus is the best friend you will ever have. He has suffered more than anyone ever did. And he knows exactly how you feel. Trust in Him and forget everything else and He will pull you through."

You've been blessed with a good confessor. What a gift.

[8mmMauser]

Sinkspur, this is really making me nervous. I find myself agreeing with you!

Catholics we saw at Pinellas Park KNEW the truth. We were a mix, Catholics with a common understanding, whether sede vacantists, traditionals, novus ordo. They knew she was being fed by whatever means like any human being, and it was the simple feeding and drink withdrawn solely as a means to murder her. They knew she was no different in that respect from any child relying on parents to feed it. I think most theologians here would agree that if one withdrew food and drink from a helpless baby until that baby starved and dehydrated in agony to death, it isn't Catholic behavior. It is murder. Yet that is what they did and all, on both sides on the scene, realized it.

Many suspected she may well be able to eat normally if they let her try. And they knew the murderers were not about to let her try. What Fr. Cekada portrays is of those who KNEW what happened there, and reject it in favor of argument supporting their presuppositions. To intentionally accept the lies about Terri and feeding tubes by default and to reject the truth when offered projects a bias held by Fr. Cekada. This argument couched in all the elaborate polemic one can imagine cannot erase the plain truth. Terri was systematically, doggedly murdered by evil people. We can choose the side of good as Catholics or we can choose the side of evil. I chose the side of good.

We on the scene had access to facts, not just opinions and we distributed them as we received them. Those who disagreed were obliged to cast the facts aside, while knowing they existed.

No matter how one cuts it, we hope to recognize Faith, Hope, and Charity, not Faith, Hope, and Pride. When we start accepting man over God, we get this dilemma.

That Fr. Cedaka gives any credence whatsoever to the other side, knowing what I witnessed, is simply bone chilling. It transcends misunderstanding of the truth and defaults to the other side.

[ninenot]

Not only is he a sedevacantist--he even left the SSPX, which "ordained" him, because THEY were too far to the left.

He's also an idiot.

[ninenot]

If you read what JPII ACTUALLY SAID about Iraq, you will not find that he specifically condemned the invasion.

Rather, he spoke in general terms--that 'war is bad'--

In a case such as Iraq, the benefit of the doubt must be given to the civil authorities who have intelligence information which is (presumably) better than that provided to the Pope.

The Pope did not cross that line...

[AAABEST]

...he even left the SSPX, which "ordained" him, because THEY were too far to the left.

Hey cut the guy some slack. Us liberals can be very hard to get along with sometimes.

[B Knotts]

The irony, of course, is that he has gone so far to the "right" that he has now arrived on the "left."

Or, more accurately, he has embraced his mistaken perception of Tradition to such an extent, that he now finds himself embracing novelty and modernism.

[te lucis]

Not only is he a sedevacantist--he even left the SSPX

He was expelled from the SSPX, along with 8 others, in the 80's.

which "ordained" him,

Interesting that you place the word "oradined" in quotes, as if you wish to cast doubt on his ordination. Make no mistake, he's very much a real priest, and disagreeing with him on a hot-button issue is not a good reason to be blatantly uncharitable to him.

He's also an idiot.

Like that.

[okokie]

Sorry about your depression-I think you may have misunderstood St Theresa---"contemplation" can be dry periods of prayer.

"Fire Within" by Fr Thomas Dubay is a great commentary on Thersa of Avila's and John of the Crosses writings. You should be able to get it at your local Catholic Bookstore.

A contemplative third order might help you work through your depression...

YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS...

[Revenge of Sith]

He participated in a schism led by Father Clarence Kelly in 1983 where they formed the Society of St. Pius V, which considers the Society of St. Pius X to be too liberal. The SSPV didn't approve of the SSPX's use of John XXIII's 1962 Missal and their attempt to reach a compromise with John Paul II. About five years later, Cekada and some other SSPV priests led by Father Daniel Dolan broke away in another schism from the SSPV and they're now in communion with the sedevacantist Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen. Both Kelly and Dolan have been illicitly ordained bishops in subsequent years and Kelly 's SSPV has denounced the removal of Schiavo's feeding tube.

[Mark in the Old South]

Far be it for me to lecture a Priest. However it is not proper for me to advise anyone to believe your post or to follow as you suggest. Terri Shiavo was murdered and to counsel others to believe the practice of starvation for a poor handicapped woman is acceptable in the eye of God is to open the gates of hell for those foolish enough to sit at your feet. I prefer to follow one with a different set of keys.

[Mark in the Old South]

Well if a hole poked in you is an unreasonable burden, there goes all drugs administered via needle and syringe. I know I know "that's different". You can forget lab tests and any number of medical procedures. It has been stated before feeding tube are not extraordinary in todays medicine most are tubing tubes are for the convenience of the nursing staff. I have noticed the lack of Medical knowledge has not made a dent in the opinions of those who wish to pontificate on Mrs Shiavo. Like many Father Cekada has no clue what he is talking bout. Like many I suspect the conclusion was arrived at before the justifications were considered. I doubt more consideration will achieve much.

Who can hear the "Shepherd" with so much howling going on. What's a lamb to do?

[Tantumergo]

"Far be it for me to lecture a Priest."

Why not? Someone's got to - I do it all the time! Remember that nearly all the major heresiarchs over the last 2,000 years have been in Holy Orders! ;)

And I'm sure the good "Father" would have no hesitation at all in lecturing the Pope.

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "And I'm sure the good "Father" would have no hesitation at all in lecturing the Pope."

//sheepish grim//neither would i should i feel the urgent need. But I promise to feel bad about it later if that helps. :-)

[NeoCaveman]

About five years later, Cekada and some other SSPV priests led by Father Daniel Dolan broke away in another schism from the SSPV

So now there really is a SSPII.V?

:D

[TAdams8591]

"Many suspected she may well be able to eat normally if they let her try. And they knew the murderers were not about to let her try."

Exactly right!

And thank you for the rest of your comments and for being there for Terri!

[Revenge of Sith]

I think someday we'll see a schismatic Society of St. John Paul II...

[Rosary]

So starving an ill person,who was kept alive by feeding tube for several years...is not a sin?????
Oh Fr. You need prayers badly! I will pray for you like you do the Pope..but I will really PRAY!