Let Lauren Live!

It has been a source of ongoing sadness to read of the difficulties Lauren Richardson’s father has had over the course of the past several months. For those of you who are not familiar with her case, Lauren overdosed on heroin on August 28, 2006. She suffered oxygen deprivation and, as a result of the overdose, is now in a coma and unable to speak out for herself. At the time of the overdose, Lauren was expecting a baby. Her parents honored what they knew would have been her wish and did all they could to keep her healthy and comfortable until the child was born. Today, though Lauren may not be aware of it, she is the mother of Ember Grace, who was born in February 2007.

Since the birth of her daughter, Lauren remains unable to speak of her concerns, but she has a loving father who is doing all he can to protect her from suffering the same fate as Terri Schiavo. However, Lauren’s mother, who has been named her legal guardian, is sadly not of the same opinion and is working with attorneys to pressure the courts to permit Lauren’s starvation.

Lauren’s father has kept hope alive, even at times when there appeared to be no hope in human terms. Lauren’s father is a man of hope in Christ and is dedicated to spending every breath he has on defending Lauren, regardless of what it might cost him in physical exhaustion and worldly goods. The most recent update for those concerned about Lauren tells us the following:

Bobby Schindler, Terri Schiavo’s brother, has written about Lauren in an editorial earlier this year, "False Compassion," and is working closely with Lauren’s father in order to provide expertise that he is uniquely qualified to share during a trying time like this.

There are many links on the Life for Lauren web site that will assist you in tracking this case and learning who is supporting Lauren’s ongoing care and who is opposing it. More importantly, there is something you can do to express your concerns.

The governor of Delaware, Ruth Ann Minner, is being asked by pro-life Americans across this nation to intervene in this case in order to save Lauren from what many fear is an imminent court order dictating that Lauren be starved and dehydrated to death. I am asking you to be one of those who communicates your passionate belief that Lauren’s life is sacred and deserves to be protected from those who would order her death. The governor’s e-mail address is governor.minner@state.de.us.

Further, it would mean a great deal to Lauren’s father, Randy, if you sent him a copy of your e-mail to Governor Ruth Ann Minner. Randy’s e-mail address is Lifeforlauren@aol.com.

During a recent visit to Anchorage, Alaska where Bobby Schindler was invited to speak, he told a reporter from The Catholic Anchor, "Once we accept that killing is an acceptable answer to human suffering, we lose any type of parameters. Euthanasia is a form of abandonment. It is not compassion."

Truer words were never spoken. As I frequently tell people who argue that we pro-lifers are being heartless and cruel for fighting to defend the rights of a "hopeless case," "God is the author of every human being’s life, and He has never given permission to a single one of us to arbitrarily rob another human being of life for any reason including disability or illness."

As Flannery O’Connor once wrote on the subject of false compassion, "In the absence of faith, we govern by tenderness. And tenderness leads to the gas chamber."

Lauren Richardson is not terminal – she is severely disabled. Lauren Richardson should not be murdered.

Judie Brown is president of American Life League and a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

This crashes in from the People's Republic of Berkeley!

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But I want to focus here on an issue to which O’Malley’s remembrance gracefully refers, an issue which seems to me to come into sharper focus as we think about and honor Dona’s life. Yes, she was a great role model, especially for those of us in the disability community who continue to struggle for our rights. O’Malley writes: “People who lack Dona’s experience (that’s most of us, after all, thank goodness) are prone to make knowing comments about the importance of ‘quality of life’ for physically challenged people. What such comments often miss is that your quality of life can and should be whatever you make of it.” I recall an editorial by O’Malley, in the wake of Terri Schiavo’s horrific death in March 2005, in which O’Malley, virtually alone among progressive commentators, took the brave position obliquely reiterated here. “There’s a clear implication,” O’Malley wrote then, “in some of these discussions [of proposed “death with dignity” bills] that the life of a disabled person is somehow lacking in dignity, no matter how much bill sponsors choose to deny it.” ......

Following in Dona’s Tire Tracks

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Girls and PP in a thread by wagglebee...

Billings, MT (LifeNews.com) -- Girls Inc. is back in the news over abortion and now the group for young women is teaming up with Planned Parenthood. The organization, which has come under fire for adopting a pro-abortion position, is conducting workshops in Montana with the nation's largest abortion business.

The girls group came under fire in 2005 for adopting a statement saying it backs abortion and supports the Roe v. Wade decision that ushered in an era of approximately 50 million abortions.

At the time, pro-life groups called for a boycott of the American Girl doll because the company making them teamed up with Girls Inc. for a promotional.....

Planned Parenthood Teams Up With Girls Inc For Pro-Abortion Workshops

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The Pope and life issues in a thread by wagglebee...

Sydney, Australia (LifeNews.com) -- At the welcoming ceremony for the opening of World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, the pope told tens of thousands of young people that they have a responsibility to protect human life. Pope Benedict XVI told cheering throngs of students and young adults that they need to stand up against abortion.

Addressing a crowd estimated at 150,000 people, the Catholic leader said that newfound enthusiasm for protecting the environment must be match by an equal vigor to protect human life....

Pope Urges Catholic Youth to Respect Life, Protect Unborn From Abortion

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Jesse Ramirez update...

It has been awhile since we had developments in that happened to Jesse Ramirez, but now we do, largely thanks to Wesley J. Smith...

Thanks, Leslie.

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I was speaking at a bioethics conference in Phoenix on Saturday. At lunch the sponsors asked me to come with them because somebody wanted to meet me. It was Jesse Ramirez and his sister and family! What a wonderful surprise. Here was a man that had been consigned to dehydrating to death and who suffered without food and water for five long days, but because of the loving commitment of his blood family--and good legal work by the Alliance Defense Fund--he was standing before me with his hand outstretched, a gentle smile on his face.

Jesse had a delicate countenance and is clearly still recovering from his ordeal. But he can walk on his own with the aid of a walker, is fully cognizant, and is clearly happy to be alive. He was later introduced to the crowd of 400 at the Center for Arizona Policy event and got a rousing standing ovation.

Whilst there, I spoke with someone involved with saving his life--not a member of the family. Apparently, to legally have a feeding tube pulled in Arizona one must either be a named surrogate on an advance directive or be a court appointed guardian and act pursuant to court order. In this case, from what I was told, neither applied--and that was why the dehydration was able to be stopped. Moreover, the dehydration had apparently commenced without Jesse even being examined by a neurologist, only a neurosurgeon, which is not the same thing at all. It was only because of the legal intervention that the neurologist was consulted and saw beginning signs of awareness. The rest is history.

I am hearing way too many stories like this, of decisions to end care made with seeming undue haste. As I noted in my recent Weekly Standard piece, I believe much of this owes to the Terri Schiavo debacle and the bad cultural message it sent to the medical community and the wider society. We must be increasingly vigilant against allowing the pernicious belief that there is such a thing as a life not worthy of living from seeping even further into our health care decision making and public bioethics.

Labels: Jesse Ramirez posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 1:16 PM

I Shook Hands with Jesse Ramirez

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Wagglebee has a thread on Jesse Ramirez...

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Phoenix, AZ (LifeNews.com) -- Jesse Ramirez was badly injured in an automobile accident in May 2007 and nearly became a victim of euthanasia when his wife made the decision to have his feeding tube removed. Now, Ramirez has recovered to the point that he is enjoying life and waking and running.

Ramirez suffered traumatic brain injury in the accident and had been in a minimally conscious state for just over a week when doctors told his family he may never recover.

A legal battle ensued over the man's life and he almost became a victim of euthanasia in the same way Terri Schiavo was starved and dehydrated to death.

Last June, Ramirez woke up from the coma and appeared to be on the road to recovery................

Comatose Man Jesse Ramirez Almost Euthanasia Victim, Now Enjoys Life

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Lessons of the Schiavo Battle

Pat Robertson called the removal of her feeding tube "judicial murder," and House majority leader To...

A New Idea for Democrats: Democracy

The wisest words at the end of Terri Schiavo’s life came from her sister, Suzanne Vitadamo: "We woul...

What If It Happens In Your Family?

The saga of Terri Schiavo has touched many Americans directly, prompting them to relive difficult de...

Italy's Terri Schiavo Case

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Sometimes the ugliness of the death enthusiasts seeps through the mask as we see what really happens to some of their quarry...

Thread by wagglebee...

Nearly thirty years ago, my wife and I aborted a child. That decision will haunt us for the rest of our lives. Since that time, I've developed deep feelings on the subject of abortion.

There are two primary reasons why I'm pro-life. Besides taking a human life, aborting a child robs society......

Haunted by Their Abortion Decision, Husband and Wife Share Pain and Regret

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Lauren Richardson update...

From WND: Wish I could post the whole story, more than the excerpt. It updates Lauren's status. I urge checking out the whole story via the link. Thanks, Leslie.

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The father of a disabled Delaware woman who recently earned the support of state lawmakers says the system – of courts, lawyers, hospitals and disability agencies – literally is combining to bring about the death of his daughter.

"The court system should not have the right to impose this kind of treatment on a mentally disabled person," Randy Richardson told WND today. His daughter, Lauren Richardson, has been disabled since an apparent drug overdose nearly two years ago.

Judie Brown of the American Life League recently issued a call to those who are concerned about such cases to help.

"The governor of Delaware, Ruth Ann Minner, is being asked by pro-life Americans across this nation to intervene in this case in order to save Lauren from what many fear is an imminent court order dictating that Lauren be starved and dehydrated to death," she wrote. "I am asking you to be one of those who communicates your passionate belief that Lauren's life is sacred and deserves to be protected from those who would order her death. The governor's e-mail address is governor.minner@state.de.us."...............

Father: 'System' killing my disabled daughter... 'If they had treated a dog this way, they would be doing jail time'

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Not much surprise on this...

Thread by wagglebee.

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A leading pro-life women's group told members of Congress and their staff this week that women across the country lack pregnancy helps and resources. Feminists for Life of America says the need is particularly acute for college students without good campus resources.

The organization held a special workshop on Tuesday to help Congressional staff understand the problem and encourage more support in upcoming legislation.

While many college students who become pregnant might prefer to keep their baby and parent while they complete their education, Serrin Foster, the head of the group, says most universities make that task difficult....

Pro-Life Women's Group Tells Congress Students Lack Pregnancy Help

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A keen observation on the nation's box store of killing...

Thread by wagglebee.

A Minnesota conservative is calling for an end to the tax-exempt status and public financing of the country’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood.

According to Planned Parenthood's latest annual report, the organization received more than $1 billion from revenues -- nearly one-third of that figure came from "government grants and contracts." In light of that report, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) became outraged when she learned of Planned Parenthood's new branding effort in her Minnesota district. She says the new strategy is a move away from helping poor women with family planning, and instead involves targeting latte-drinking, affluent women across America. But Bachmann claims Planned Parenthood has always been about big business.

“When Planned Parenthood brings in over a billion dollars in revenues, pays no taxes, and sits at the end of the year fat and happy with $115 million in the bank and brazenly works to go after affluent women rather than helping out poor women, as their original mission statement said, I agree with the executive director of Illinois Planned Parenthood, who said 'Planned Parenthood wants to be the LensCrafters of family planning,'" said Bachmann. "In other words," she notes, "they want to be the big-box retailer." .............

Planned Parenthood -- 'the LensCrafters of family planning'?

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Catholics are reminded of what their Faith says about human life...

Thread by wagglebee.

BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 19 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy celebrated the 40th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, the encyclical from Paul VI, by asking every deacon, priest and bishop to reread and re-educate their flock with this prophetic document.

The organization also pledged support for all bishops who confront and deny Holy Communion to unrepentant Catholic politicians that support abortion, if prior attempts to enlighten their consciences fail.

A national association of 600 priests and deacons, the CCC met in Baltimore, MD, July 14-17 for its 33rd annual convocation. Dr. Janet Smith, Fr. Thomas Euteneuer (HLI) and Fr. Peter West (Priests for Life) and Mr. Thomas McKenna were speakers.....

Catholic Clergy Challenge Colleagues to Reacquaint Themselves and Their People with Humanae Vitae

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Lori...In need of prayers... And see post #59.

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Update on Lori.
It does not look good. The Sepsis has come back and they gave Lori another round of XiGris, a powerful drug that can have many side affects including intercranial bleeding, but if it helped her once before maybe it can help her again.My youngest Nephew “David” told me that his MOM responds when they stroke her forhead and she trys to reach up to touch them... so I know that Lori can hear and understand what the kids are telling her... she is not BRAIN DEAD, and I dont want to hear anything different from the doctors. Most of the doctors these days are to quick to pull the plug and say thats it. The doctors have requested a meeting today at 3pm calif time when the familey can get together and talk with the doctors. I was told by Jon that her breathing was erratic and that she seemed to spasm when trying to take a breath. If anyone out there knows how I could get a flight out to Calif at little or no cost please let me know. Money is tight and I too am somewhat disabled (un-able to walk without a rollator) (degenerative bone disease) so would need to have the help of my 16 yr old son to go with me. I called American Airlines and asked about berevement flights and the lowest fare was $749.00 per person, US Air does not off berevement flights nor does Delta. I was told to call “Travelers Aid” in any major city close to me (Charlotte NC) but no one has ever heard of it. I tried call the American Red Cross because I know they help out in so many different ways, but being that this is Saturday,there was no-one there to answer my qustions,,,, so if anyone can point me in the right direction as who to call for info, it would be greatly apppreciated. Please keep the Prayers going for Lori... She needs a Miracle.
I will keep you all updated as soon as the family meeting with the doctors is over.
Love and Blessings
Marianne

38 posted on Saturday, July 19, 2008 5:47:26 PM by Snykerz

[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies | Report Abuse]

To: trussell; Brad's Gramma; 8mmMauser; Snykerz

Would you ping your Prayer Warriors to this latest update on Lori? I've given Snykerz the address and phone number for Terri's Foundation ... any other suggestions for her?

Blessings all, and thanks.

Pegita

39 posted on Saturday, July 19, 2008 6:30:30 PM by Pegita ('Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word ...)

On the weekly Terri radio show, they featured a new book by Doubleday on our topics. I am posting a review. Thanks, FV.

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The bitter national debates over abortion, euthanasia, and stem cell research have created an unbridgeable gap between religious groups and those who insist that faith-based views have no place in public policy. Religious conservatives are so adamantly opposed to stem cell research in particular that President Bush issued the first veto of his presidency over a bill that would have provided federal funding for such research.

Now, in this timely consideration of the nature and rights of human embryos, Robert P. George and Christopher Tollefsen make a persuasive case that we as a society should neither condone nor publicly fund embryonic stem cell research of any kind.

Typically, right-to-life arguments have been based explicitly on moral and religious grounds. In Embryo, the authors eschew religious arguments and make a purely scientific and philosophical case that the fetus, from the instant of conception, is a human being, with all the moral and political rights inherent in that status. As such, stem cell research that destroys a viable embryo represents the unacceptable taking of a human life.

There is also no room in their view for a “moral dualism” that regards being a “person” as merely a stage in a human life span. An embryo does not exist in a “prepersonal” stage that does not merit the inviolable rights otherwise ascribed to persons. Instead, the authors argue, the right not to be intentionally killed is inherent in the fact of being a human being, and that status begins at the moment of conception.

Moreover, just as none should be excluded from moral and legal protections based on race, sex, religion, or ethnicity, none should be excluded on the basis of age, size, or stage of biological development.

George and Tollefsen fearlessly grapple with the political, scientific, and cultural consequences arising from their position and offer a summary of scientific alternatives to embryonic stem cell research. They conclude that the state has an ethical and moral obligation to protect embryonic human beings in just the same manner that it protects every other human being, and they advocate for embryo adoption—the only ethical solution to the problem of spare embryos resulting from in-vitro fertilization.

Embryo,,, A Defense of Human Life

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