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Life Issues: February 19, 2005

Terri Schiavo's Value is God Given

The story of Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman who suffered brain damage in 1990, has been sensationalized following the efforts of her husband to euthanize her through starvation. Many bloggers, including me, are swarming to her defense and writing substantial, influential and beneficial articles that generally fall into the following categories:

  1. Terri is far from being brain dead as many have asserted. Terri has cognitive abilities, recognizes and responds to others and makes attempts at verbal communication. Twelve medical experts, nurses who cared for her, family members and, recently, a Catholic Priest, confirmed these facts. With the exception of a removable feeding tube, which experts testify would not be needed if she were given therapy, she is not on any life support.

  2. The actions of the legal system and her husband have been unjust and immoral.

  3. Something must be done
Bloggers are making a difference in this fight and must continue to focus their efforts in a manner that will provide the greatest impact.

As we publicize the powerful argument that Terri is responsive and attempts to talk, we must remember that swallowing and talking are not necessary for an individual to have the right to life. The sanctity of human life and the liberty of the individual are God given; they are intrinsic and independent of cognitive or physical ability.

Terri, and humans in general, are valuable because of their “kind” rather than their substance or utility. Those who have suffered severe brain damage are just as valuable and worthy of protection as the brightest scholar or the most talented athlete because they are members of the human class. It is not necessary for Terri to “prove” her worth by talking or swallowing. She is human.

When considering the value of the individual it is also necessary to talk about the manner by which humans are valuable. “God given” means that value flows from a transcendent source and is independent of the characteristics and qualities of the individual.

A practical consequence of the rejection of God is a change in the way humans perceive the value of others. As society is secularized, it becomes man-centered and value is assigned based upon consciousness, maturity, contribution to society, the ability to care from oneself, etc. Using an example from the presidential election, Sen. John Kerry stated that he believed life begins at conception. He explained that abortion was still justified because personhood begins later. So, life is not valuable until it reaches a certain point of maturity, defined mystically as the point of “personhood.”

Arguments for ending Terri Schiavo’s life through starvation (literally withholding her food and drink) are based upon her health status, her cognitive abilities, her suffering and her husband’s wishes. All of these are irrelevant when considered next to the God given right to life which is the definitive argument for defending the weak and the helpless.

True God-centeredness opposes discrimination based upon characteristics, such as race or gender, and abhors the murder of all humans, including those who have suffered brain damage.

There is no litmus test that Terri Schiavo must pass to prove she has the right to live.

Update: Here are a couple links for more information about how to get involved in the fight for Terri:


Posted by tim at February 19, 2005 11:11 AM




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Comments

Very well reasoned.

Posted by: Juan Schoch at February 19, 2005 11:37 PM

Your posts are eloquent and always touch me in a highly profound way. Thank you

Posted by: Crystal Clear at February 20, 2005 5:57 PM

The actions of the legal system and her husband have been unjust and immoral.

For all the posts I've read about Ms. Schiavo, I haven't seen anyone suggest that FL ought to be changed. Two questions: why is this? Should the law be changed?

Thanks, and I'll take the answer off-air.

Posted by: jpe at February 21, 2005 9:49 PM

If Michael Schiavo and Judge Greer knew the lord Terri would live,They need prayer,God Will answer our prayers,pray for them

Posted by: Mike Pedersen at March 13, 2005 7:46 AM

the constitution gave the least amount of power to the courts! I wonder if judge Greer has really ever read the constitution !!!! Hum ! Makes me wonder ! Terri is God's child not mans !!!! I think Terri's adulterous husband has proved to be an UN-FIT guardian . Terri needs to go to her parents , who love her !!! The Lord is NOT PLEASED !!! We the People are TIRED of TYRRANT JUDGES !!!! And the legistaltors need to get a hold of them ! The people are crying out !!!Lord help us !!! He will not always put up with this behavior !!! This is evil and the SIGN of the TIMES!!!! This is also an affront to all who have christian beliefs ! This is a total disreguard of Terri's Catholic Faith !!! The Lord said , the world will pursecute you , because your Mine !! Thank you for this website ! Our voices are getting louder!!! Thank the Lord !

Posted by: jORGI at March 18, 2005 3:23 AM

i am followin the problems they have been havin on makin a disicion on her life i belive she should be given a chance to live ,, i would like to know how she got to where she is i have no idea how she got to where she is,,what happen to terri Schiavos ??? i just recently started to hear about her ,,,,let her live we all have a right to live....

Posted by: margarita gomez at March 19, 2005 1:38 PM

The children in my Sunday School class have more sense regarding this case than the judge who is presiding over it. And they're only 10-12 years old. One young lady said that animals are treated better than humans. She is right. At least they give animals a shot to end their misery. Terri Schiavo is slowly being starved to death. This young lady (of 11) also stated that food and nutrition was not life support, at least not in the sense of prolonging life for a 'braindead' person, which I do not believe Terri is. Murder. Murder. Murder. it's pretty bad when a child wants to hurt a judge. Sad state of affairs when you upset a child in such a fashion because of your assinine actions.

Posted by: Judy Hart at March 20, 2005 2:18 PM

I know that for whatever reason God has kept Terri this far and we all know that this is truly and injustice that is being done unto her.

We have seen the videos, and even if one haven't seen the videos we understand that she only requires food not a breathing machine. I pray that God would turn the heart of her husband that He would release Terri in the care of her parents.

Then if not I pray that God would turn the heart of the judge that He would do the right thing and let Terri live and be turned over into the care of her parents for the remainder of their lives. I also pray that all of God's children would intercede in prayer on the behalf of Terri so that God will hear our prayers and move.

However we know that all things are to work according to God's perfect Will and when it is all said and done we pray that the perfect Will of God be done and if by chance He decides to allow Terri to be called home to glory then we pray that her soul would rest in His care for ever and ever to God be all the glory, power and dominion.

I pray for the continued strength for Terri's parents. May God bless in Jesus' Name.

Posted by: Sheila Ashley at March 20, 2005 2:45 PM

I wouldn't want to live like Terri. There is no quality of life. I have made my wishes clear to my family and certain members have made it clear to me that they will not abide by my wishes should the unthinkable happen. If Terri made it clear to her husband that she did not want to live in such a state, her wishes should be abided by.

Posted by: Nina at March 21, 2005 6:57 AM

This is for Terri. God uses the simplest of people. I was a Midwestern country boy.

I am a 58 year old Christian businessman who moved from Oregon via Michigan a year ago to find work in FL, …. I guess. I told my friend in MI that I really had no idea why I was moving to (Pinellas Park) FL. To live. I was born and raised Catholic, attended Catholic Schools for 14 years, studied Latin 3 years, was an alter boy for 8 years and I could likely still say the Mass in Latin today. I believe the bible promises to cast all our concerns on Jesus. I also believe in the New Testament examples of healing, casting out demons and prophecy.

I had lost my job after the 911 terrorist attacks and had furnished unsolicited prophetic intelligence to the CIA for six months for their use in locating and apprehending terrorists. Many have heard of remote viewing, this would be similar but from a Christian Prophetic view. I have had this prophetic inclination since childhood.

At 4:20 a.m. Sunday March 6th I awoke to hear this about Terri “Satan, this is Jesus Christ, Terri Schiavo is mine and is to be released completely by noon today. There is to be no further interruption!” This was a prophetic utterance. This all happened after I saw a picture of her in a vision, as a young clean and healthy adult, maybe early 20’s, short black hair and in a white dress, smiling. It could have applied to that day or the future day it foretold. But it applies.

I sent this to the BlogsforTerri blog site at http://www.blogsforterri.com/archives/2005/02/blogsforterri_a_1.php on that day but it was not posted, and I heard no response. Perhaps it was not time to. Everything needs to be done in God’s timing. This document is being sent to that same blog as a courtesy, but if it does not print this I will send it to other blogs for posting if allowed. This requires prayer. Our prayers now must focus on the below.

‘Releasing’ Terri? This prophetic word does not guarantee life. It guarantees that Terri herself should have the choice in deciding to live or die, but she would be released from spiritual bondage of an imprisoning spirit that had prevented that for 15 years. Hearsay on her choice is not acceptable.

This was not the end of the prophecy. At 5:16 am while praying about it I had a vision of a big tall steel fence that had bars and with an automatic gate. In the distance was a big hospital like building. The gate would open and close at God’s command. No one bars God from entry. This meant that He alone was in control. He does not override well thought out personal choices very often. But He will not allow imprisonment behind bars any longer for Terri.

At 5:02 am the next day, Monday, I was with a well established prophet in the Spirit, His name is John Paul Jackson. We were discussing the fence and the Big Construction Project that God had started. This I believed to be Terri Schiavo being reconstructed. If she chooses life God will completely restore her life.

At 5:18 am I saw in vision an angel like man with a briefcase. He had BIG documents and then said “I am here to take you home with me.” The documents were printed and said “Take me home!”. I believe that at this point Terri had regained the use of her faculties, and was so tired from 15 years of being incapacitated that like many women would think, she just wanted it to be over, she was so tired from the battle. At this point though she was completely unaware of her natural surroundings and the court battles, just aware in her mind of her weariness. This did NOT mean that she would not choose to live. But the end was near one way or the other.

At a little after 5:30 am I saw a little girl 10 – 12 years old, sandy hair in a green top, one of those thin crepe like tops for summer, with little flowers sewed into it. She was in the yard on a swing and happy. I saw this same vision repeated after that. Dreams and visions are full of symbolism. Blond hair can mean innocence and without worries, being younger again implying a simpler time without the complexities that Terri faces today. It could also indicate her childlike spirit, trusting for the right things from adults, and happy.

On Tuesday March 8th at 4:37 am I awoke to a vision dream of Terri’s being open to trusting in the Lord and in me at a very deep spiritual level. I also understood that she had been sexually abused at some point, and that a new law was being developed as a result of that.

On Monday March 14th at 1:39 pm I saw in vision the close up of a girl’s (faith) face. She was radiant and her eyes were a supernatural blue mixed with radiant purple. Blue is symbolic of prophecy and purple of God’s sovereignty. I knew she was of God and had God’s radiance on her. I wondered if she was alive or dead and in Heaven. I knew that this meant that her eyes were now open spiritually, full cognizance at choosing right from wrong, and I knew that her eyes were open to my presence spiritually as well, she was only inches from my face, looking into my eyes boldly and with a smile.

On Thursday March 17th at 3:35 am I saw my own daughter Anna in the spirit and she reminded me of my own mother and father’s love for me, and gently warned me of being steeped in Catholic mysticism to the exclusion of trusting God. Votive candles were just symbols, they had no inherent power. Trust God, not devices. At 5:35 am I heard that “the contest ended 40 years ago.’
1
I have yet to fully understand the outcome of all this. On Thursday March 3rd at 5:30 am my radio alarm went off and a minister from Memphis, TN (Adrian Rogers) whom I had never heard of before, was saying something God wanted me to hear. The man said “How do we know how to pray in tough situations? We ask God how to pray, and he will actually give us the words. The prayer that starts in heaven, closes the loop in faith and stops in heaven!” (paraphrased) It was this prayer ‘of what to pray’ that I had prayed about Terri before hearing my self actually pray the prayer I heard on At 4:20 a.m. Sunday March 6th .

I don’t like to give black and white conclusions. But the time is short, so very short. So here goes: It is my assessment that Terri never chose death previously, that Terri is very weary now and to her ending this in death is a viable situation. I believe that Terri is now free to hear up close, words whispered or spoken from those that love her that she can chose life and will be given a full life if she does so. God gives blessings and no curses with it. If Terri chooses death at this time, that is not a sin before God, she is weary. If other’s insist on starving her, well that is for God to judge their sin, all authority comes from God. There are consequences for authority that is misused, and for premeditated murder of convenience. But … IF Terri chooses life, God will not just allow her feeding tube to be reinserted. Jesus spoke those very words that this situation ends here! No more vegetative state. …. If Terri chooses life she will be fully and completely restored, she will rise from the bed and walk. Before this year is over she will have the same wonderful health and look that she had 15 years ago, better in fact. This is the prayer that started in Heaven and will end in Heaven.

It in fact is not any judge’s choice, nor the choice of a husband who has a mixed agenda and is worn out himself - we all eventually come to a breaking point where we can not take any more. Terri once restored might have a wonderful set of lawsuits over these matters. How fitting. It is in fact Terri’s choice to live and be fully miraculously healed of God, or die. She has the right, and must be made aware that she has this choice through not only prayer but physical words being spoken to her in her presence if at all possible. If that is not possible, it does not matter, prayer transcends time and space, it is not limited.

We as Catholics have grown up knowing the power of God and the security of the Church’s traditions. This may be when Christ overthrows the money changer’s tables.
-R********

Posted by: R at March 22, 2005 10:16 AM

Dear America,

The constitution of the United States gave the power to the people not the judges. Please, somebody, gather together a militia and storm the hospice and force the doctors there to reinsert the feeding tube of Terri Schiavo. I am not kidding. This was the reason that the second ammendment was so important to the founders - to prevent tyranny. If I did not have a five year old son - I would be out there forming a militia myself....If Terri dies, I fear that the United States will have blood on it's hands for eternity....Everything that our country stands for will be moot. As a mother of a son who was severely damaged at birth (and who at 5 is a perfectly normal child) - please, please, help Terri. Only the people can do so now!!!!!

Posted by: Mike at March 24, 2005 10:40 PM






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