Saturday, March 12, 2005

President Bush urged to intervene in Terri Schiavo Case

For Immediate Release – 03-10-05 5.00 PM (GMT-5)

President Bush urged to intervene in Terri Schiavo Case

Healthcare advocates demand the President back up his Culture of Life stance by working to protect Terri Schiavo in Florida.

Clearwater, FL – Healthcare and Eldercare advocates in Florida are urging President George W. Bush to take a stance in the Terri Schiavo case in Florida.

Schiavo is the brain-injured woman whose husband has successfully won, through the courts, the authority to remove her tube-assisted nutrition and hydration beginning March 18, 2005. This action will cause the 41 year-old woman’s death by dehydration and starvation over the course of 7 to 14 days.

Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler have asked the courts for the authority to care for her, provide her with therapy, the ability to conduct updated neurological tests, the ability to offer her food and water naturally and the ability to try new forms of therapy that could improve Terri’s ability to accept nutrition naturally. The judge has denied them in these and other efforts to protect their daughter’s life, even though there is evidence that doing so is contrary to Florida’s long settled guardianship laws.

In 2003, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida and the state’s lawmakers intervened with what would be called Terri’s Law, only to be struck down by the Supreme Court. A group of advocates, organized by Cheryl Ford, RN of Tampa, Florida, is now asking for the intervention of the President.

Citing the President’s “Culture of Life” address to the March for Life in Washington in recent months, Ford and her supporters are demanding that the President back up his words with swift action to protect the innocent, disabled woman. Activists have arranged an intensive email campaign to the Whitehouse and are asking for both the President’s words and action on behalf of Terri Schiavo.

Statement of Cheryl Ford, RN:
We are asking President Bush to make a firm statement against the euthanasia of our country’s elderly and disabled citizens. We are also asking that he come immediately to Florida, where Terri has been held captive in a Hospice House for five years so that he can meet her personally and decide for himself if this innocent woman should be put to death by Florida’s out of control judiciary.

###

Contact: Cheryl Ford, RN – Healthcare Advocate
813-695-0870 fight4terri@aol.com
www.fight4terri.blogspot.com

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National Call for Thousands to Come to Florida

National Call for Thousands to Come to Florida if Terri Schiavo's Feeding Tube is Removed

To: National Desk
Contact:
Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition,
202-547-1735,
540-538-4741 cell
PINELLAS PARK, Fl., March 11 /
Christian Wire Service/

-- Faith organizations and leaders are encouraging supporters to come to the Woodside Hospice to stand in solidarity with Terri Schiavo if she faces starvation and dehydration from the removal of her feeding tube.

The Woodside Hospice, where Terri Schiavo lives, is located at 6774 102nd Avenue N. (near 66th Street N and 102nd Avenue N) in Pinellas Park, Florida.

The groups will begin a round-the-clock vigil on Wednesday, March 16th at 12:00 P.M. Organizers to hold prayer vigils, rallies, and peaceful activist and cutting edge public events.

Rev. Rob Schenck, President of the National Clergy Council, states, "If the feeding tube is removed, we are asking people of good will to come from all across the nation to stand in solidarity with our sister Terri and the Schindler family.
It is essential that we send a loud and clear message that in America we do not starve people facing physical and mental challenges. We love and care for them."

Troy Newman, Director of Operation Rescue West, comments, "If Terri were a convicted serial killer, she would be afforded more civil and legal rights then she is being given right now.
It is illegal to starve an animal in America. How can we possibly allow this to happen to a human being?"

Brandi Swindell, National Director of Generation Life, shares, "I hope and pray thousands come to Florida to stand with our dear sister Terri. We must prayerfully do all that we can to save her life and ensure this never happens again."

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, adds, "If Terri's feeding tube is removed, it is critical that that the faith community and people of good will publicly stand against this horrible injustice and evil. Our prayer is that thousands will come to Pinellas Park and send a clear and powerful message to our courts and political leaders that all life is sacred and has dignity. Not only are working to save the life of Terri Schiavo, and the many others in her condition, we are working to save the future soul of our nation."

For more information or interviews call:
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney
202.547.1735 Cell: 540.538.4741

Fight4Terri @aol.com
www.fight4terri.blogspot.com
Visit Terri's site: www.terrisfight.org
Cheryl Ford, RN (Fight4Terri@aol.com) is not affiliated with any other group
and works as an independent volunteer promoting the protection of Florida's disabled community.

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Friday, March 11, 2005

Florida seems to be just a little double-minded....

I am not casting aspersions on this couple, as I know that there are conditions that cause some to binge eat constantly if they can find a way to do so, and I know that there are families that for medical reasons have locks on cupboards and refrigerators, etc. Having cared for some developmentally disabled children, I have also seen these beds described which are NOT being used to abuse the children, young adults, etc, but to protect them. That said... it is also possible that there is a case.

My point is NOT this case, but the CHARGES......
Adoptive parents accused of starving 17-year-old son
AKRON, Ohio - (KRT) -
A former Akron couple who moved to Jacksonville, Fla., in October were in Duval County Jail on Wednesday - accused of starving their adoptive 17-year-old son and locking him in a cage-like crib.
Brenda and Wilson Sullivan were arrested Tuesday on felony child neglect charges that carry a maximum of 15 years in jail.


Very strange that this is a felony, but what Michael Schiavo is intending to do to his wife is 'merciful' and court-ordered. Hasn't he also in many ways 'locked her in a cage' by not allowing her out of her room, into the bright Florida sunshine for years?

Double-minded Florida... which way do you want it? Starving is merciful? Or starving is a felony?

Kate Adamson, Once considered 'a vegetable', for Terri

DISABILITY-RIGHTS ACTIVIST, ONCE CONSIDERED 'A VEGETABLE', JOINS FIGHT FOR TERRI SCHIAVO
LOS ANGELES, USA, March 3 (CNA) -

A disability-rights activist, who was once dependent on a feeding tube and considered "a vegetable" by medical professionals, has joined the fight to save Terri Schindler Schiavo and hopes to visit the 41-year-old disabled Florida woman by mid-month.

Kate Adamson suffered a catastrophic brainstem stroke in Los Angeles in June 1995 at the age of 33, which left her in what is now being called "a locked-in state" for five months. She was totally paralyzed and unable to communicate, but she could see, hear and feel and she was fully conscious, like Terri.

While doctors said Adamson could not be saved, her husband insisted that she receive rehabilitation therapy and treatment, unlike Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, who has denied his wife treatment for more than a decade.

Now, at 43, the mother of two is fully functional, except for some paralysis on the left side of her body. She tours the country to tell her story and speak about the sanctity of life. Adamson believes the campaign to defend Terri's life has a large impact on all of society.

"This is not just going to affect Terri, but a lot of Terris," she told CNA. "This (the outcome in Terri's case) will affect a lot people's lives."

The New Zealand native believes Terri's condition is being widely misrepresented. In an effort to clarify Terri's condition and urge others to join the fight to save Terri, Adamson has made several television and radio appearances, often with Terri's father, Bob Schindler.

"I have a unique understanding of what Terri is feeling. I could feel everything that the doctors did to me, and I could do nothing. I was at the complete mercy of others, and they couldn't hear me," said Adamson.

Kate also has a unique insight into what it is like to be starved. While in her locked-in state, she experienced digestive problems, which led doctors to stop her feeding tube for eight days. She remembers the pain of being withheld nourishment.

Adamson is in the midst of making travel plans to visit Terri in Florida, March 12-13, a few days before Terri's feeding tube is to be removed by court order. Her publicist, Wanda Sanchez, told CNA that a request has been made to Terri's husband's lawyers to visit Terri, but Adamson has not yet received a response.

While Adamson is unsure whether she will be permitted to visit Terri, she hopes to meet Florida legislators and to share her story.

"God has brought me back for a purpose," said the Christian woman. "For me not to speak would be a betrayal of that gift."

"I pray that God will soften hearts to see the woman (Terri) lying there and see someone who deserves a chance at life, even if she doesn't respond the way we want her to respond," Adamson told CNA. "I'm praying the judge's heart will be softened."

"God is in the business of miracles. Everything hinges on him right now," she said.

Adamson's efforts to date have resulted in thousands of responses from people who agree that Terri deserves a chance to live, reported Sanchez. These people have been encouraged to contact legislators through phone calls or letter writing and make their voices heard, said Sanchez.

Adamson has documented her story in the book she authored, called Kate's Journey.

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For the sake of Terri Schiavo

K.L. Marsala wrote an article that is on The American Thinker website, and it is very good, asking where are the women's rights activists in the matter of Terri Schiavo. I have found personally that they never seem to show up for things that are not involving reproductive or abortion rights, or no fault divorce.

Those who are pro-life AND pro-women are fighting for Terri's right to life as are
Susan B Anthony List .

After reading K. L. Marsala's "For the Sake of Terri Schiavo", I also went to her website, where I found a response I had read earlier yesterday and 'tossed' into the cyber oblivion by simply deleting the google news email I had received. But she responded to him, as I should have done. Granted, it was her article he was writing about. But when we see errors in thinking as he has, they need to be corrected, especially in something as important as Terri's life. (Forgive me, Lord for my laxness...)

You can read both by scrolling down on her website for these two letters. She has another GOOD letter printed there by Karen August. Don't pass these up...... just click below:

Check out this month's Favorite Letter:
This month we've posted two. We'd love to hear your opinion email
1) Response from Chief of Bio-Ethics Paul Wolpe to For the Sake of Terri Schiavo that ran in the Augusta Free Press.
2) Karen August- On Terri Schiavo

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Other articles about Terri online

Articles relating to Terri:

Terri Schiavo's Estranged Husband Gets $1 Million Offer to Not Kill Her
by Steven Ertelt
Businessman Offers $1 Million to Keep Terri Schiavo Alive

Cardinal joins with Florida bishops in statement on Schiavo case
The statement from Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore

WHERE IS KING SOLOMON WHEN TERRI SCHIAVO NEEDS HIM?
By Michael J. Gaynor

Terri Schiavo Deserves the Same Rights as Ted Bundy;
Disability and Pro-Life Groups to Endorse 'The Incapacitated Persons Legal Protection Act'

Save Terri Schiavo's Life says Fédération Internationale des Associations Médicales Catholiques

Terri Schiavo case symbolizes two threats to women
BY MARY SANCHEZ

Save Terri Schiavo: How You Can Help

THE TERRI SCHIAVO CASE:
ROTTENNESS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA
By Michael J. Gaynor


Terri Schiavo has a Mind of her own
Janice Sanford

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Thursday, March 10, 2005

Press Release Urges GW Bush to intervene for Terri

Press Release
For Immediate Release – 03-10-05 5.00 PM (GMT-5)

President Bush urged to intervene in Terri Schiavo Case

Healthcare advocates demand the President back up his Culture of Life stance by working to protect Terri Schiavo in Florida.

Clearwater, FL – Healthcare and Eldercare advocates in Florida are urging President George W. Bush to take a stance in the Terri Schiavo case in Florida.

Schiavo is the brain-injured woman whose husband has successfully won, through the courts, the authority to remove her tube-assisted nutrition and hydration beginning March 18, 2005. This action will cause the 41 year-old woman’s death by dehydration and starvation over the course of 7 to 14 days.

Terri’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler have asked the courts for the authority to care for her, provide her with therapy, the ability to conduct updated neurological tests, the ability to offer her food and water naturally and the ability to try new forms of therapy that could improve Terri’s ability to accept nutrition naturally. The judge has denied them in these and other efforts to protect their daughter’s life, even though there is evidence that doing so is contrary to Florida’s long settled guardianship laws.

In 2003, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida and the state’s lawmakers intervened with what would be called Terri’s Law, only to be struck down by the Supreme Court. A group of advocates, organized by Cheryl Ford, RN of Tampa, Florida, is now asking for the intervention of the President.

Citing the President’s “Culture of Life” address to the March for Life in Washington in recent months, Ford and her supporters are demanding that the President back up his words with swift action to protect the innocent, disabled woman. Activists have arranged an intensive email campaign to the Whitehouse and are asking for both the President’s words and action on behalf of Terri Schiavo.

Statement of Cheryl Ford, RN: We are asking President Bush to make a firm statement against the euthanasia of our country’s elderly and disabled citizens. We are also asking that he come immediately to Florida, where Terri has been held captive in a Hospice House for five years so that he can meet her personally and decide for himself if this innocent woman should be put to death by Florida’s out of control judiciary.


###

Contact: Cheryl Ford, RN – Healthcare Advocate
813-695-0870

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Greer's Decisions (from Cheryl Ford, RN)

Dear Terri Supporters:
In summary, the following is a synopsis of what has taken place this week and what is remaining on the table for discussion.
Cheryl

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clearwater Court
Monday, March 7: 1:30 p.m.:
Hearing on 10 Motions, including permitting Terri to be fed by mouth should her feeding tube be removed.

Result: Greer Denied 3/8/2005
-------------------------------------------------------

Clearwater Court
Tuesday, March 8: 3 p.m.:
Hearing on medical motions and Karen Ann Quinlan testimony with regard to error made on behalf of Greer and dates of Ms. Quinlan's death.

Result:Greer Rejected 3/9/2005
--------------------------------------------------------

Clearwater Court
Tuesday, March 8: 3 PM
The following neurologists, physicians and other experts in the medical field filed affidavits which said Terri should be retested based on new evaluation and therapeutic technologies that can significantly impact brain damaged and disabled persons.
Dr. Ralph Ankenman, MDDr. Pamela Hyikn, SLPDr. Beatrice Engstrand, MDDr. Jill Joyce, PhDDr. Alyse Eytan, MDDr. Philip Kennedy, MD, PhDDr. Harry Sawyer Goldsmith, MDDr. Kyle Lakas, MS, CCC, SLPDr. Jacob Green, MDDr. Richard Neubauer, MD, PADr. Carolyn Heron, MDDr. Ricardo Senno, MD, MS, FAAPMRDr. David Hopper, PhDDr. Stanley Terman, MD, PhDDr. Lawrence Huntoon, MDDr. J. Michael Uszler, MDDr. Richard Weidman, MD

Result: Greer Rejected hearing all 33 affidavits on 3/9/2005
(Note: only 17 names of the 33 are listed above)
--------------------------------------------------------
Clearwater Court
Wednesday, March 9: 1:30 p.m.
Hearing on DCF intervention and stay

Arguments took place today in George Greer's court.

The DCF has stated by law because they are a state agency which are mandated to investigate abuse and exploitation issues it is their statutory duty have 60 days to conduct an investigation.
In response, Michael Schiavo's attorney argued, as he has many times before, that the matter before the court was little more than a delay tactic.
"This petition, your honor, is odious. It is transparent. It is nothing more than an attempt to modify, without authority, this court's order," George Felos said, reminding Judge George Greer that two higher courts have ruled in favor of removing Terri's feeding tube. "This court simply does not have jurisdiction to interfere with, hinder, delay, the mandate of the 2nd District Court of Appeal."
Note: Felos's argument is not legally based in truth, the 2nd DCA mandate did not give a specific time frame for anything.

Result: No ruling yet. Greer may issue his ruling tomorrow, 3/10 regarding DCF allowed a 60 day window to investigate.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Tallahasee
Capital Builiding
Wednesday March 9, 2005 8:30 AM

House Bill 701

TALLAHASSEE - The bill known as "Florida Starvation and Dehydration of Persons with Disabilities Prevention Act (HB 701) sponsored by Rep. Dennis Baxley was heard this morning in the Health Care Regulation Committee. FRTL lobbyist Robin Hoffman remarked, "We are thrilled the committee voted in favor of this critical bill. This legislation is necessary to protect all Floridians from what Terri Schindler-Schiavo has gone through." It is expected to be heard next week in the Judiciary committee.
HB 701 passed out of committee on a voice vote of 7-4.

Of course, there are typical pro death guardian lawyers who like Deborah Bushnell see this law has hindering their ability to profit by making money over killing those needing a feeding tube. Comments today in Tallahasee were also heard such as:
"I am an attorney who spends all of her practice dealing with end-of-life incapacity guardianship issues. And this bill is a bad, bad, bad bill," Twyla Sketchley said, softly but firmly.

The bill still has to pass through two more House committees, then the House itself, before going to the Senate -- all before the March 18 deadline when Terri's feeding tube is schedules to be removed from her abdomen at 1:00 PM.
At this time, we believe the judiciary committee will not reconvene until next week.


Fight4Terri @aol.comwww.fight4terri.blogspot.comVisit Terri's site: www.terrisfight.org

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Florida State House Committee Approves Bill

Florida State House Committee Approves Bill Protecting Terri Schaivo

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 9, 2005
Tallahassee, FL (LifeNews.com) --

A Florida state House committee has approved a bill that could possibly be used to prevent Terri Schiavo from being starved to death. The legislation prevents a legal guardian, such as Terri's estranged husband Michael, from denying food and water to a person unable to make their own medical decisions.

It's unclear whether the legislation could be applied to Terri, but Rep. Dennis Baxley, a Republican, said he hoped it would.

The bill has to move through two other state House committees before it can get a vote on the House floor. The Florida state Senate is considering a similar measure.

"If I have my way, we'll get it passed by the 18th (of March)," he said. That's the date on which Michael is allowed to remove Terri's gastric tube and begin a painful week-long starvation process.

The measure received approval from the House Health Care Regulation Committee on a 7-4 party line vote with Republicans voting for the bill.

If the bill does not apply to Terri, Baxley said amendments could be placed on the bill to ensure that it does.

Governor Jeb Bush has planned to meet with Rep. Baxley on the legislation this week. He told reporters he supports the measure.

Some lawmakers are reticent to get involved again after Florida courts declared Terri's Law unconstitutional last year. That measure allowed Governor Bush to ask doctors to halt a previous attempt to starve Terri.

Rep. Chris Smith, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat who is the floor leader in the state House for his party, told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper that the "Schiavo case is a personal matter; it's a family matter."

Related web sites:
Terri Schiavo's parents - http://www.TerrisFight.org
Florida state legislature - http://www.leg.state.fl.us
Printed from: http://lifenews.com/bio758.html
Copyright © 2003-2004 LifeNews.com. All rights reserved.
For free daily/weekly pro-life news, email us at
news@LifeNews.com.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Errors in Judgement

Judge Greer quoted (see article hyperlinked to title) :

"One of the lowest points in Greer's career as a judge came in 1998, when he denied an injunction for a wife seeking protection from her husband. He noted that the woman had not liste d any acts of violence by the man. Days later, the husband stabbed her to death. Greer said he followed the law, and the woman's co-workers protested outside the courthouse. "As a judge, there's always the fear that you're going to miss something and somebody is going to get hurt," Greer said. "It happens in all cases. When you make those kind of decisions, there's very little you can do to be 100 percent certain because you never have 100 percent of the facts." Soon enough, protesters in much greater number would be asking Greer to prolong the life of a woman named Terri Schiavo.

He made an error in judgement that ended in the death of a woman by her husband's hand once before. He is now making the same error in judgement, based on his own error in not looking into Karen Anne Quinlan's case and date of death. Three grave errors, resulting in two dead women.... unless he is willing to ADMIT his error and either order a new trial or rescind his order of execution for Terri. Or direct intervention by way of a miracle....

And we should feel sorry for him?

Lord, have Mercy, on me for my thoughts, and on him for his pride.

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An Excellent Couple of Articles on Terri!

Sometimes while reading, you happen upon an EXCELLENT piece that takes you to ANOTHER excellent piece of written work. I had to work three shifts in two days, so had not read my emails until today, since Mar 7. I am glad that I did not just delete the nearly 300 emails waiting for me at that address!!

Cheryl Ford, RN fighting4Terri has sent many emails in the past couple of days. As I began reading them, I came to this article by J B Williams, and I highly recommend spending the small amount of time it takes to read it, to read his first piece (he has a hyperlink to it) and also to read the one he has hyperlinked by Joan Swirsky, entitled
Why Terri (and All Compromised Children) Should Live.

Cheryl, thank you for bringing this to my attention! J
B Williams, thank YOU for your words, and for also introducing me to your dear writing friend, Joan Swirsky. Your conclusion shows that if everyone really read ABOUT Terri and the evidence of the truth that IS out there, they would see that Terri deserves to live, and the one who needs to LET GO is Michael. God bless!

LIFE IS PRECIOUS
FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH~
CHERISH IT!
PROTECT IT!

Monday, March 07, 2005

HIGHEST PRIORITY Message from Vatican official for Terri

I have paragraphed the email now, making it easier to read. And WOW, what a statement it is.... Encourage your Bishops to publically reiterate it and even READ IT FROM THE PULPIT!
Cardinal Clemens August von Galen, PRAY FOR TERRI, and intercede for her!
Lord, have Mercy!

Get the word out!!!

Cheryl Ford received the following and sent it out via her fight4terri emails...

Subj:Fw: Statement of Cardinal Renato Martino on behalf of Terri Schiavo
Date:3/7/2005 7:25:59 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:Msgr Ignacio BarreiroTo:Cogforlife@aol.com,
Sent from the Internet (Details)HIGHEST PRIORITY
Please find attached an important Statement from Cardinal RenatoMartino,
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace defending the right to life Terri Schiavo.
This statement was issued today by the Cardinal and it was just sent to me by Msgr. James M. Reinert of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. In our unflagging struggle to defend the life of Terry Schiavo this is an important and very encouraging document that should receive the most ample possible distribution.

Today that we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas (1962calendar) I am imploring the Angelical Doctor to came to our assistance and protect the life of Terri Schiavo.
Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro Carámbula
Human Life InternationalRome Office
---------------------------
Statement of Cardinal Renato Martino,
President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Vatican City
7 March 2005
The courts have ruled again and again. Unfortunately, the deadline for the removal of the tube delivering food and water toTerri Schiavo is quickly approaching. I am sorry to have to use the word "deadline" but this is the most accurate way to describe what will happen. Without the tube which is providing life-giving hydration and nutrition, Terri Schiavo will die.

But it is not that simple. She will die a horrible and cruel death. She will not simply die, she will have death inflicted upon her over a number of terrible days even weeks. How can anyone who claims to speak of the promotion and protection of human rights-of human life- remain silent? Is this not a question of the right to life? I believe that I must speak out
about this in the same way that I would speak of the protection of the unborn and just as I would concerning any injustice .

Has due process in this case been truly served? Have all options been employed? Where is love? Where is human compassion? Noone would ever wish to witness the suffering of another, especially a loved one. And I am sure that no one could ever choose to witness suffering or a cruel death being inflicted upon another, especially one who is loved. How then have we come to this point?

If it is true that the process has been fair and that all legal avenues have been exhausted, how is it that this woman, who has done nothing wrong, will suffer a fate which society would never tolerate in the case of a convicted murderer or anyone else convicted of the most horrendous crimes? Again, it is an issue of human rights. It is an issue of the right to life, and as I stated earlier, no one can be the arbiter fo life except God himself!

The State of Florida has many laws on its books which protect animals, whether they be household pets, domesticated farm animals or animals destined for slaughter. (And please pardon me as I make this analogy. I am not comparing Terri to an animal. I only want to show the protection that the courts afford to animals in the State of Florida.) These laws "prohibit[s] anyone from intentionally committing an act to any animal which results in cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering"(828.12). It is also unlawful to keep an animal in a place while failing to supply "a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water"(828.13).

Are these laws not enforced by the same courts, are these not the same laws established by lawmakers in order to protect other creatures of God? However, in just a few days, [if her husband and the courts have their way, ]this is exactly what will happen to Terri. She will be completely deprived of water and food. She will have excessive suffering and pain inflicted upon her which will lead to her cruel death.

Yet we have come to the point of asking whether due process been fully carried out and all options exhausted on behalf ofTerri? This is unbelievable! Is it not sufficient enough to say that there are still questions that must be answered? We plead, we make the urgent appeal for the life of a helpless human being...a person with whom we all share our God given human dignity. How can anyone say that her best interests have been taken into consideration?

In his Message for the Eleventh World Day of the Sick (11February 2003) His Holiness Pope John Paul II stated: "And while palliative treatment in the final stage of life can be encouraged,avoiding a "treatment at all costs" mentality, it will never be permissible to resort to actions or omissions which by their nature or in the intention of the person acting are designed to bring about death." Palliative care, by its definition is the alleviation of suffering and relieving pain. In the last stage of life, it is this care for which we all must hope because, if the feeding tube is removed and Terri is forced to die this slow, terrible, painful death,we must ask ourselves, "And who will be next?"

Will this open the door for a state to decide whether this or that incapacitated person should die...not be allowed to die a dignified death but that they should have death inflicted upon them? It must stop here and now. The courts, the judges and everyone involved with this must understand that all of the questions involved in the case of Terri Schiavo have not yet been answered. Society must realize that we can never inflict this sort of death on a human being, on any other creature, without each and every one of us and society as a whole suffering a terrible fate.

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No-Fault Divorce--The End of Marriage?

One great benefit about the internet is that you can finally learn that there are OTHERS out there who are learning and speaking out about some of the same things that you yourself are speaking out about.

In many years of yahooing in various Catholic groups, I made some friends who had also been affected by no fault forced, unilateral divorce where the respondent loses any and all rights to protect and save their marriage. Among them was one who had created a website with as many words of the Holy Father as she could find, including one I had been looking for. That included the news article where JPII blasted our US Tribunals for granting too many declarations of nullity.

From her site I had also learned about Judy Parejko, author of "Stolen Vows" and owner of another website of the same name. Judy was a Mediator in our Wis court system who saw the truth...that there were MANY of us being forced into a divorce we did not want, even being threatened with contempt and losing our kids if we did not acquiesce and accept it, and 'get on with our lives'. When she tried to help some couples to reconcile (and at times successfully), she was locked out of her own office.

Judy has done a lot of work and research on the subject, including transcribing the Transcripts from the annual meetings (1965 to 1973) of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws ( NCCUSL ) A national lawyers' group that promulgated the "model law" called the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act , and has traced it back even further to a group, National Association of Women Lawyers whose website brags about it.

The Uniform Divorce Bill
"The greatest project NAWL has ever undertaken" is the description given by committee chair Matilda Fenberg to NAWL's pioneering work to create a Uniform Divorce Bill. At the 1947 NAWL convention in Cleveland, it was voted to draft and promote a bill that would embody the ideal of no-fault divorce. A draft prepared by Fenberg, working with NAWL past presidents Helen M. Cirese and J. Helen Slough, was approved at the 1952 convention in Berkeley, California.
Although the National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws had attempted to produce such a bill since its founding in 1892, Fenberg was informed that the Conference could receive bills or suggestions only from the ABA. Fenberg-who had been the first woman student at Yale Law School in 1919-then undertook a campaign to convince the ABA to create a Family Law Section. Three years later, in 1955, the section was approved. Fenberg was appointed chair of the Subcommittee on Migratory Divorce. In 1960 the bill was introduced to the ABA, which sent it to the Conference.
In 1965, the Conference commenced the task of drafting, and in 1970 produced, the Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act (amended in 1971 and 1973). By 1977, the divorce portions had been adopted by nine states. Following this, the momentum for uniformity waned, but the ideal of no-fault divorce became the guiding principle for reformof divorce laws in the majority of states.


But as I continued to learn, I also found that this kind of divorce was even more insidious than this, and I learned this initially from Judy Parejko's research and friendship, and other places on the web. This kind of divorce was the law of the land in Russia after 1917 Revolution.

From Bill Wood's testimony to theWays and Means Committee:

Statement of Bill WoodFC-8 Hearing on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse July 17, 2003TESTIMONY FOR THE [US] WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
The planned destruction of the family was part of the communist agenda from its
inception by Karl Marx and Frederic Engels. It became government policy in the USSR in about 1917. It was so successful in the USSR that it threatened to destroy society in the USSR. Curiously, while in the 1940s the USSR took steps to repair the damages its family-hostile policies had caused, American communists imported the Soviet agenda for the planned destruction of the family into the USA. It has been and continues to be promoted by left-leaning liberals in the West ever since.
When it was determined that this type of class warfare directed at the family was a complete failure, the Soviets worked quickly to restore the traditional nuclear family in the 1940’s. Shortly after this, the NAWL (National Association of Women Lawyers) began their push for adopting these failed Soviet policies in America. America’s version of “family law” has adopted much of the early Soviet failed version of class warfare, while adopting new and more insidious Gramscian versions with gender, cultural, and social warfare components.


Both Judy Parejko and Michele Gauthier collaborated on an article that also speaks to my concerns for the past many years...the absence of help and assistance for those who are being forced into divorce as Catholics.

Stephen Baskerville has long been speaking out/writing about the effects of this legal denial of rights to half of every couple, the Respondents in at least 80% of forced unilaterl 'no-fault' divorce, including his recent Crisis magazine article, but he has authored MUCH more on the subject over the years. Defending Holy Matrimony also has many of his articles included on the website

Many non-Catholic groups have also been fighting this for years, including Marilyn Conrad's group Covenant Keepers, Inc . Long ago, individual members of this then beginning group helped me to maintain hope and sanity. On her website, Marilyn mentions that she has been on
TBN's program Back on Course with Gavin and Patti Macleod (Love Boat Captain) whose remarriage I was fortunate enough to attend. It gave me MUCH hope, and they have helped many over the years to stay away from divorce, or to reconcile as they did.

Now, today, there is another article on the web, citing both Stephen Baskerville's latest Crisis article and quoting Judy Parejko, by Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His ending thoughts in his article say very clearly what many of us also wish to say to our Catholic priests... why are we not hearing TRUTH from the pulpits?

Our Liturgy (Mass) has three cycles, and over the years, I have really looked and listened. The Gospel reading comes up ONCE in the three year cycle, Ordinary Sunday 27, Cycle B. On those Sundays, I wait with baited breath for the subject to be brought up in the Homily, sadly, not once. I take a poll of family members and friends, and simply ask them what the topic was that day, and again, sadly, they tell me that it is anything BUT the topic of the Gospel. Which Gospel is it? Mark 10:2-12 with the option of adding verses 13-16 most often read and used as the topic for the homily.

While pastors and priests have forsaken preaching the subject from the pulpits, many have gone astray. Scripture says "My people perish for lack of knowledge". How important does Jesus Himself, the Author and Giver of Life think this topic is? He PERSONALLY is quoted in four specific places in the New Testament on the subject... Matt 5:31-32 , Matt 19:3-9, Mark 10:2-12, and Luke 16:18. God Himself is quoted as HATING DIVORCE in Malachi 2:16 from the entire section of verses 13-16. And finally, in 1Cor 7:10-11 Paul tells us that the Lord Himself tells us to remain single or be reconciled. Many try to dismiss this with later verses in that section, however, no place does Paul refute what the Lord says... he simply says that we are called to live in peace.

Finally, there is a petition asking our Bishops to help. You don't need to be Catholic to sign it, and I implore you to read it and consider it. God bless!


"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just."
Thomas Jefferson

"Right is right, even if no one is right.
Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is wrong."
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Our vows:
The groom says:I (...), take you (...) to be my wife.
I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad,
in sickness and in health.
I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

The bride says:I (...), take you (...) to be my husband.
I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad,
in sickness and in health.
I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.

Eastwood and Schiavo

The article begins with:

"Euthanasia is enjoying its greatest renaissance in the Western world since Nazi Germany. Together with so many other social ideas first popularized in modern times by Nazis and Communists from abortion to easy divorce, euthanasia's time may have come."

He is right, and the Nazis used the media to spread their propaganda, just as those in favor of these ideas do today. That media includes tv news, newspapers, magazines, docudramas, and mainstream movies. And just as many bought the garbage... er, enlightened thinking... then, they do today, also.

Joseph A. D’Agostino is the author of the article, which continues:

Doctors in the Netherlands are euthanizing disabled infants even without parental consent, and Britain's Labour government may be about to legalize widespread euthanasia there. Our own state of Oregon has a physician-assisted suicide law. Hollywood's elite, ever on the cutting edge of evil, gave its implicit imprimatur to exterminating the unfit to live by granting Academy Awards the other day to two movies that feature euthanasia, Million Dollar Baby and The Sea Inside.

He goes on to discuss today's real life drama playing itself out in Florida involving disabled Terri Schindler Schiavo and her .... husband. (He gave up the right to that role when he had his first adulterous relationship, but especially when he began to co-habitate with Jody for the past ten years, resulting in two children so far.)

....and if Michael Schiavo gets HIS wish, he will be allowed to murder his wife with court approval.

D’Agostino ends his article with a reminder to Michael from St John Chrysostom:

As for Mr. Schiavo, we remind him of the words of St. John Chrysostom. In a commentary on Ephesians, after discussing St. Paul's injunction that wives must obey their spouses, he admonished husbands, "Thou hast seen the measure of obedience, hear also the measure of love. Wouldest thou have thy wife obedient unto thee, as the Church is to Christ? Take then thyself the same provident care for her, as Christ takes for the Church. Even if it shall be needful for thee to give thy life for her, and to be cut into pieces ten thousand times, and to endure and undergo any suffering whatever, refuse it not. Though thou shouldest undergo all this, yet wilt thou not, no, not even then, have done anything like Christ."

It's bad enough when a man kills another man, especially when he's vulnerable. A few decades ago, a man deliberately killing a suffering woman would not have been celebrated in life or in fiction. Except in Nazi Germany.

Amen, Mr Joseph A. D’Agostino! Amen!

"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just."
Thomas Jefferson

"Right is right, even if no one is right. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is wrong."
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

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Sunday, March 06, 2005

It's called CONTROL~~It's called POWER

Many years ago, I became involved in a precious and rather mysterious group known as
"The Adoption Triad".

Though this group will ultimately involve many in the extended realm of families,
the only REAL members of this group are

the Adoptive Parents,
the Birth Parents,
the Adopted Child that they share.

Ultimately, siblings share an interest that can, will, and should include them in this Triad, but not at the same level as those intimately involved. That is why it is called 'Triad'. Three.

No one else should matter. Yet the laws that the various legislatures have passed often pit one against the other, and definitely never recognize the fact that eventually, that 'child' becomes an ADULT. (More from me in the future on this topic)

A few states have begun to reform their laws, but even in those states, there are MANY hoops to jump through.

One is Money.
They charge a lot of money to obtain information that belongs to NO ONE else but to the members of this group, but especially to that 'child'.
And then, they offer to 'search' for the other members of the group and charge MORE money to do so.

Another is the staff workers that have total power and control over any future contact.
An example is in the article below:

March 6, 2005
Modern Love: I Gave Him Up at 16. Could We Try Again?
By MEREDITH HALL
The grief and shame of losing a son at 16 had stayed with me all my life as a fiercely private sorrow.