Posted on 02/27/2009 5:47:09 AM PST by BykrBayb
DOCUMENTARY REVEALS NEW DETAILS IN TERRI SCHIAVO CASE
By Gina Adams
Story Published: Feb 25, 2009 at 5:31 PM CST
Story Updated: Feb 25, 2009 at 5:34 PM CST
The story of Terri Schiavo caused a nationwide uproar that garnered the attention of the worldwide media, the U.S. Congress, and even the office of the President of the United States.
The ethical and cultural implications of her case are still being felt throughout society and continue to spark debate.
In the newly-released documentary, The Terri Schiavo Story (Franklin Springs Family Media), previously unexplored facts of the case are revealed through in-depth interviews with participants on both sides of the issue.
Hosted by author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada, who became personally involved in the case in 2005, The Terri Schiavo Story sheds new light on the controversial decision that led to the death of a 41-year-old disabled woman.
In 1990, at the age of 26, Terri Schindler Schiavo suffered a mysterious cardio-respiratory arrest for which no cause has ever been determined.
She was diagnosed with hypoxic encephalopathy - a neurological injury caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. Terri was placed on a ventilator, but was soon able to breathe on her own and maintain vital function.
She remained in a severely compromised neurological state and was provided a PEG tube to ensure the safe delivery of nourishment and hydration.
On March 31, 2005, Terri Schindler Schiavo died of marked dehydration following more than 13 days without nutrition or hydration under the order of Circuit Court Judge, George W. Greer of the Pinellas-Pasco's Sixth Judicial Court.
Veteran producer and director Ken Carpenter felt the story deserved to be re-told, but he did not anticipate the amount of new information that would come to light.
"Working on this project made clear to me that we need to keep Terri's story alive. Our children need to know the lines were drawn when our government and court system let Terri die. Knowing the full story - not just what we heard in the media - equips us to address new challenges to our faith."
Joni Eareckson Tada, herself disabled after a diving accident which left her a quadriplegic in a wheelchair and unable to use her hands, says what happened to Terri continues to affect disabled citizens.
"The story remains relevant because there are countless people like Terri Schiavo whose lives are in grave danger because of unclear custody and guardianship laws," says Tada. "Plus, more states (under futile care policy directives) are quietly removing the feeding tubes from brain-injured people when families abandon their responsibilities. Feeding tubes are providing basic care, not medical treatment."
Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, was interviewed at length in the documentary and is now involved in helping families in similar circumstances through The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation.
Schindler believes the truth about his sister's death has been distorted and hidden - until now.
"Our hope is that people will learn the truth about what happened to Terri," says Schindler, "and realize the atrocity that it was and that anyone who claims that her death was 'peaceful' and 'painless' is lying. It is because of the truly inhumane nature of death by dehydration that when people are killed this way it is always done behind closed doors in the strictest secrecy. I wholeheartedly believe that if the public had been allowed to witness Terri's suffering first hand, the outcry would have deafened Florida and the world."
Tada was on the front lines with Terri's family in 2005, helping lead the protests that eventually landed in the halls of the U.S. Congress. "I hope that people understand that Terri Schiavo's story is really our story," says Tada.
"We have a special obligation to protect the weak and vulnerable in our society. We have a responsibility to uphold their human dignity -- because we are of equal dignity, we are not at each other's disposal. The weak and the vulnerable need their rights safeguarded and protected... we must not allow them to become eroded. For when we do, we are jeopardizing the rights of us all."
Originally produced as an episode for the Joni & Friends television series, Franklin Springs Family Media felt the story was compelling enough to produce as a stand-alone project.
Their decision was recently justified when The Terri Schiavo Story won the Jubliee Award for Best Documentary at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival.
Franklin Springs Family Media founder Ken Carpenter believes the documentary should be seen by every church and organization that cares about policies related to the disabled and pro-life issues.
"I hope this film helps us see that our understanding of complex situations such as Terri's should not be rooted in popular opinion, but in biblical standards."
Carpenter took home the Dove Award for Long Form Video in 2007 for Amy Grant's Time Again, and in 2006 for Mark Schultz' A Night of Story and Songs.
Carpenter also recently produced and directed the latest John Tesh television special - John Tesh Alive.
Through his Franklin Films production company, Carpenter has produced projects for many of the leading names in Christian entertainment and ministry, including Michael W. Smith, Compassion International, Steven Curtis Chapman, The Gideons, Jeremy Camp, eHarmony, dcTalk, Integrity Publishers, Mercy Me, Big Idea Productions, Casting Crowns, and many others.
Carpenter launched Franklin Springs Family Media in 2005.
For more information and to view a trailer for the new documentary, click here: www.TheSchiavoStory.com.
For more information on Franklin Springs Family Media,visit: www.FranklinSprings.com.
For more information on The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, visit: www.TerrisFight.org.
For more information on Joni Eareckson Tada, visit: www.JoniandFriends.org.
I agree. Terri’s plight affected me deeply.
Well stated.
Thread/story by Steven Ertelt.
Washington, DC -- Strongly pro-abortion Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has accepted President Barack Obama's request to serve as the Health Secretary. Sebelius has one of the most radical pro-abortion record of any elected official and a longstanding relationship with a late-term abortion practitioner.
White House officials told the New York Times as late as February 18 that Sebelius had emerged as Obama's leading choice for the position. Then, this week, they acknowledged that her pro-abortion record could cause problems for her nomination.
Obama's decision to announce his selection on a Saturday is designed to play down news coverage of his selection of a hardcore abortion advocate to lead his health care reform efforts and to implement his pro-abortion agenda.
He will make the announcement official on Monday.
As the health secretary, Sebelius could have an impact in crafting a health care plan that could cover abortions with taxpayer funds or require insurance companies to cover abortions in their plans.
"We will not be silent.
We are your bad conscience.
The White Rose will give you no rest."
Thread by me.
SCRANTON, Pennsylvania, February 27, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-life leaders across the country are hailing Scranton Bishop Joseph Martino for his recent salvo against public anti-life and anti-family forces in the Scranton diocese.
Bishop Martino has attracted national attention for his fearless pastoral work on several occasions in the past few weeks. Known to be a staunch defender of the Church's teaching on life, Martino made that teaching abundantly clear earlier this month to Sen. Bob Casey, a Scranton parishioner who had voted against restoring the Mexico City Policy. In a letter to the Senator, the bishop urged him to rescind his vote against reinstating the policy, observing, "“Your vote against the Mexico City Policy will mean the deaths of thousands of unborn children."
After Casey ignored the bishop's warning, Martino issued another rebuke to Casey, and reminded Scranton ministers of their duty to deny Communion to any public figure who helps the cause of abortion. (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09022705.html)
Martino also made headlines last week when he chastised Misericordia University for inviting a homosexualist speaker. When the school insisted in response that it was "deeply committed to its Catholic identity," Martino challenged the school to prove its Catholic identity and dissolve the "Diversity Institute" that sponsored the speaker and to provide an account of the school's fidelity to Catholic teaching on sexuality. (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09021709.html)
. . .
Thread by me.
OTTAWA, February 27, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Fasting, prayer and constant vigil before an abortion centre in the Canadian national capital is literally saving lives, and the vigil only launched two days ago.
In Canada, Campaign Life Coalition (CLC) has undertaken the organization of 40 Days for Life vigils at various locations across the country. CLC's Ottawa 40 Days campaign has seen, according to reports from 'ground zero,' possibly four lives saved since commencing Wednesday.
Vigil participant, Doris G., wrote on the 40 Days for Life blog that on Day 1, a couple went into the abortion facility. But before they did so Doris was able to give them a pamphlet and exchange a few words with them. The couple went up into the centre while looking through the literature, but then came out a half hour later, despite the fact that women who have an abortion are usually in the centre for several hours.
"We can't be sure if the life of a child was saved, but I was greatly encouraged," said Doris. Three other similar incidents occurred, that Doris says cannot be definitely confirmed, but which indicate turnarounds.
However, in today's daily report from the 40 Days for Life headquarters, Shawn Carney,
Spring Campaign Director, reports a definite story of a life saved in New Jersey. According to vigil participants a woman exited an abortion facility in New Jersey and told the pro-lifers, "I didn't do it! I changed my mind."
. . .
Thread by me.
John Celmer, the man whose death is the subject of the Final Exit Network assisted suicide criminal charges, was not terminally ill. Indeed, he had apparently beaten his cancer. From the story:
John Celmer was making what his doctor considered "remarkable progress" last spring after two surgeries to reconstruct his jaw.Repeat after me: Assisted suicide is not about terminal illness, it is about near death on demand.
The 58-year-old Cumming man faced hip replacement surgery for arthritis, but he appeared to have won a battle against head and neck cancer. Then, he was found dead.
"His doctor was shocked," said Forsyth County Coroner Lauren McDonald III. "He said he shouldn't have died." McDonald said an autopsy confirmed that Celmer, who smoke and drank, was cancer-free at death; the man had died from asphyxia suffocation resulting from the inhalation of helium. The death was ruled a homicide.
Thanks for the ping!
ATTENTION: Terri's Day Mass will be at Ave Maria University in Naples,FL instead of a local mass in Pinellas County.
Don't come to Largo. Visit www.terrisfight.org or wagglebee's thread for more info.
Thank you
Barack Obama is e-v-i-l. Can anyone see it in his eyes? I CAN.
BTTT
The country went downhill the very morning that Terri took her last labored breath at Hostage Woodside.
fregards dante3, FV
That’s beautiful.
Wonderful picture!
Amen!!
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