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From CatholicFire

Suzanne Vitadamo To Speak in Madison Apr 8, 2006

News for Wisconsin and surrounding areas from Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation

( http://www.terrisfight.org/ )

Madison, Wisconsin

Suzanne Vitadamo will be the featured keynote speaker for the Saturday evening banquet. For more information please visit Wisconsin Right to Life.

From the WISCONSIN RIGHT TO LIFE SITE:

Inspiration & Passion For The Value of All Human Life

Featured keynote speaker for the Saturday evening banquet, Suzanne Schindler Vitadamo, sister of Terri Schiavo, will motivate us to continue the crusade to protect all human life.


Related Tags: Terri Schindler Schiavo, Suzanne Schindler Vitadamo, Madison Wisconsin, Wisconsin Right to Life

A Year Since Court-Ordered Death of Innocent Terri

As a nurse since 1972, and a nursing assistant before that, I have been caring for many different people with head injuries and strokes, cognitively and developmentally disabled caused by many different things (some genetic, some from birth, some from accidents such as falls, vehicular crashes, etc).

I have also cared for many dying patients over the years.

There is a huge difference between the two.

Disabled people do not deserve to be murdered by starvation and dehydration. They deserve the best care that we can give them, meeting them at the level that they are at, and trying to assist them to any level higher that they can achieve, regardless of how long it takes.

Terri Schindler Schiavo was not dying when court orders were issued to remove her G-tube and worse, to not give her anything by mouth. One year ago today, that court order was carried out. Terri died after 13 days of dehydration, 13 days of starvation, in spite of the fact that her parents and siblings wanted her to live, and fought hard for her to be able to do so.

The world watched while she was being killed. The world also watched while the Holy Father was dying a 'natural' death.

There is a difference.

While her family wanted her alive, her unfaithful husband, who had already been 'intimate' (his testimony under oath in deposition and court testimony) with at least three women, including one, Jodi, with whom he had already had two children. While he tried to convince the world that this was what TERRI wanted, others who knew her strongly denied it.

Terri was not brain dead, nor was she a vegetable. A human being can become disabled, but they can NEVER become anything less than a HUMAN BEING. Terri was a disabled woman who had every right to life. She had a right to be fed and given liquids.

JPII spoke out against killing Terri, as did other Vatican officials. As did several Bishops in the USA. While JPII's statements are powerful, Bishop Vasa's was direct, short, and to the point. Bold sections are this writer's emphasis.

The Catholic Church teaches that hydration and nutrition are simply water and food. These must always be provided as long as the food or water itself or the method of delivery is not unduly burdensome to the PATIENT. There does not appear to be any indication from Terri that the provision or the method of provision of food and water is burdensome to her.

The one 'burden', which so many seem so determined to lift from her, is that one thing that allows Terri to continue to be a living breathing human person, life itself. Life itself cannot be the burden from which we in the Catholic Church seek to deliver the faithful. This is the Assisted Suicide attitude.

Life is a grace and a blessing and yes the living of that life does entail some burdens, sometimes great burdens, but the solution can be neither murder nor suicide - these are offenses against life itself and the Lord who gives it.

Terri is alive. She is kept alive by the same things that keep me alive - Food, water, air. Her disability deprives her of the ability to ingest these things, it does not deprive her of the ability to digest them. She may well die in the future from an inability to digest food but it would be murder to cause her death by denying her the food she still has the ability to digest and which continues to provide for her a definite benefit - life itself.


Related Tags: Terri Schindler Schiavo, Death by Court order, Disabled, G-tube, Tube feeding, Bishop Vasa

Georgia Senate defeats Fonda resolution

Actions have results. They often have consequences. Sometimes those consequences are short-lived.

Sometimes, however, the actions are so heinous that the consequences continue regardless of repentance and penance, regardless of how much 'good' one does later.

Sometimes people use the freedom we have in this country to serve others. Occasionally there are people whose familiarity is so well known to all of us for one reason or another that they will live on forever in our minds, in our history.

Some things people are remembered for are never able to be reconciled. It is why parents remind their children to protect their good name. It is why Scandal is so very evil.

Awhile back in Texas, there was a woman on Death Row, Karla Faye Tucker who became well known for having changed tremendously while in prison. It was part of the reason so many did not want her to be executed in the end.

I had also hoped, not only because of her conversion, but also because I am not pro-death penalty, that her sentence would be commuted to Life.

Karla Faye Tucker will forever be remembered as 'The Pick Ax Murderer" in Texas, but she will also be remembered for her conversion. She was forgiven by the Lord when she repented. She was forgiven and visited by the brother of her female victim.

She did good things in prison.

Yet nothing she did in prison would ever change the fact that she had been responsible for the murder of two human beings; had been been convicted, sentenced to death by a jury of 12. She would never have been released from prison, even if the death penalty had been commuted by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Instead, they turned her down 16-0, and this decision was upheld by the Supreme Court.

You can find other examples in all of history of this.

Our actions have consequences. Our choices affect others.

One that really bothers me is someone that used her own fame and her father's name to commit what I consider to be Treason.

Had she been tried, and found guilty, she, too would be in prison. Or possibly, sentenced to death.

Treason:

Article III, Section 3, of the federal Constitution sets forth the definition of treason in the United States. Any person who levies war against the United States or adheres to its enemies by giving them aid and comfort has committed treason within the meaning of the Constitution. The term aid and comfort refers to any act that manifests a betrayal of allegiance to the United States, such as furnishing enemies with arms, troops, transportation, shelter, or classified information. If a subversive act has any tendency to weaken the power of the United States to attack or resist its enemies, aid and comfort has been given.

The Treason Clause applies only to disloyal acts committed during times of war. Acts of disloyalty during peacetime are not considered treasonous under the Constitution.


Treason: Giving aid or comfort to the Enemy in time of war. We were at war.

The evidence of her crime was plastered all over the world, but especially in the nation of our then enemy, North Vietnam.

Those who try to justify actions like hers claim that it was not a DECLARED war. Regardless, our guys, and many of our girls, were serving over there. Many were dying, many more were injured, and our nurses were seeing things that many wish they had never witnessed.

Our POW's were suffering, too, for many years. They were suffering and imprisoned while 'Hanoi Jane' climbed up on the anti-aircraft gun and posed for the cameras, and still there when she returned home and told the world that our POW's were being treated 'humanely'.


In 1988, Jane Fonda apologized on 20/20.

The Wall Street Journal (August 3, 1995) published an interview with Bui Tin who served on the General Staff of the North Vietnam Army and received the unconditional surrender of South Vietnam on April 30, 1975. During the interview Mr. Tin was asked if the American antiwar movement was important to Hanoi's victory. Mr. Tin responded "It was essential to our strategy" referring to the war being fought on two fronts, the Vietnam battlefield and back home in America through the antiwar movement on college campuses and in the city streets. He further stated the North Vietnamese leadership listened to the American evening news broadcasts "to follow the growth of the American antiwar movement."

Treason: Giving Aid or comfort to the Enemy in time of war.

We were at war.

Alan Colmes on last night's Hannity and Colmes asked if the fact that she has done so much good should not erase her past actions.

Some actions have lasting consequences, and no matter HOW MUCH PENANCE one may do, it cannot take away the effects of what was done. Just as Karla Faye Tucker could not return her victims to life, and could not escape the consequences of her actions, Jane Fonda and others who aided the enemy during the Vietnam War cannot, either.

When I had learned that Georgia Senator Steen Miles was sponsoring a resolution to honor Jane Fonda for her 'charitable' work and contributions to Georgia, I was again reminded of her history, and I was angry.

Apparently others were also. After Jane Fonda had called from out of the country and asked that the resolution be withdrawn, Georgia Sen. John Douglas forced a vote because he and others wanted it on the record.

The resolution was defeated soundly by a vote of 38-1, with even Sen. Miles voting against it.

"I can think of no living American who is less worthy of this honor," Republican Sen. John Douglas declared. "She is as guilty of treason as Benedict Arnold and Tokyo Rose."

Our actions have consequences. Those consequences last forever. Even in the reality of repentance and forgiveness, even when amends are made, the results are there forever.

Jane Fonda can be appreciated by many privately perhaps. But she can never take back the fact that she gave aid and comfort to the enemy in a time of war.

To honor her publically from a gov't body for anything she has been doing, now or in the future is no different than it would have been for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to not only stay the death penalty, but to then go further, and release Karla Faye Tucker from prison after she had repented, asked forgiveness, and became a model prisoner.


Related Tags: Georgia, Jane Fonda, Consequences

Happy St Patrick's Day!

May God be with you and bless you,
may you see your children's children,
may you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessing,
may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.

And this one takes the cake!

I have now put my coffee across the room.

I have to quit making rounds of the Wisconsin blogs for awhile, or I will need ten inhalers, and three bottles of Windex...and possibly a new keyboard, to boot.

THIS Is what I found at Wigderson Library & Pub:


favorite photo of the day

I think a smaller warning label for Senator Stabenow would have been sufficient.

Ht: Charlie Sykes

see this site for the first dozen or so of the comments, too!

Thanks, James Wigderson!!

Watch out for those KEYBOARDS !!

Making some blog travels here of a few Wisconsin sites, and came across one that made a mess of Badger Blogger's monitor, so he had to get out the Windex and clean it off.

WEEELLLLL, I followed his links.... and I am on my way out to the kitchen to get my OWN bottle out. Coffee on the monitor is not pretty, but thank goodness it didn't go on my keyboard!

AFTER you check out Badger's, then you go here... TAM: Antioxidants in Red Wine.

But make sure that before you follow Atilla Girl's hyperlink to here, you read the comments, first!

I cannot wait til the next time I am working as Hygienist and tell my patients this bit of news. I think they may not notice any fear of dental offices in the future, don't you?

LOLOL

God bless! Thank you, Badger for the laugh, and also Atilla Girl!

And then there's Milwaukee.....

Mike, of Get Up and Get Moving also had news of two dissident groups that were going to be meeting in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Call to Action and Action Wisconsin.

Dad 29 pointed me back to Terrence, for an update. Apparently, it has been moved.

I tend to agree with Dad 29 about where these groups should be allowed to meet.....

Ya know, I really, REALLY had hopes for changes when I heard that Dolan had been named as Archbishop to replace Weakland.

Sigh...

God bless!

More on Fr Altier Situation

Terrence of The Provincial Emails has posted the difference in treatment between two priests in the Archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis on his blog.

He then takes us back to his archives of Feb 27, 2004 which makes for interesting reading, based on the required educational material in the Archdiocese (Virtus and Talk about Touching programs) , and Fr Bayly's shocking homily!

God bless!


Related Tags: Fr Altier, Fr Bayly, Archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis, Archbishop Flynn

Blogburst in Memory of Terri Schiavo

From BlogsforTerri, rather than mess it up, I have put Tim's entire post on this below. Terri's tube was removed on Mar 18, 2005, and for the next 13 days, she recieved not one drop of water or an ounce of the formuly/food she had been being fed with.

In these days of Lent, how hard has it been to give up anything, even chocolate, for 40 days?

Imagine having NOTHING for nearly two weeks. NOTHING.

Try going without a drink for 24 hours, not even rinsing your mouth. Try not eating anything for a day, 24 hours, on top of not having a sip of liquid.

Try it. See how long you last.... That is, no matter WHAT others may try to tell you, what Terri went through.

God bless

Blogburst in Memory of Terri Schiavo

Topics: Remembering Terri

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. Terri was 41.

It was nearly one year ago that Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube was removed for the purpose of ending her life. Nearly one year ago her legal guardian obtained a court order in public view to purposefully bring about her death by withholding the most basic of necessities. Yes, nearly one year ago Terri began 13 days without food or water.

We invite you to join us for a Blogburst in remembrance of Terri Schiavo beginning March 18th (or earlier). Over the 13 days we are asking our friends to write about Terri's life and death, link to her family's foundation (Terrisfight.org) and affirm the intrinsic dignity of human life.

Posted by tim at March 14, 2006 10:42 PM

March Madness Interrupted -- Cox Arena --UPDATE, All Clear

Cox Arena in San Diego has been evacuated as a result of a reaction from a bomb sniffing dog.

March Madness is taking place out there.


Pray for safety.

San Diego NCAA arena evacuated on bomb scare

Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:34 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Police evacuated a San Diego college arena on Thursday, hours before a first-round NCAA championship basketball game, after a bomb-sniffing dog signaled a potential problem at a hot dog stand.

Cox Arena at San Diego State University was cleared while police tried to determine if there was an explosive device in the hot dog stand, college spokesman Jack Beresford said.

He said it was not immediately clear how many people were inside the building at the time but that the teams had not yet arrived.

"A bomb-sniffing dog noticed something in a hot dog cart," Beresford said. "They got a hit on something that was in the cart itself.

© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.



The schedule that has been interrupted includes

Oakland
10 Alabama vs. 7 Marquette 2:40 PM
15 Belmont vs. 2 UCLA 4:45 PM
14 Xavier, Ohio vs. 3 Gonzaga 7:20 PM
11 San Diego State vs. 6 Indiana 9:40 PM



Cox Arena evacuated before NCAA tournament tipoff
The Associated Press

March 16, 2006, 1:16 PM CST

SAN DIEGO -- The arena for the first-round NCAA men's tournament game between Alabama and Marquette was evacuated Thursday after a suspicious package was found about two hours before tipoff.

The University of Illinois is scheduled to play Air Force at the arena tonight.

Two bomb-sniffing dogs detected the package inside a condiment container near a vendor cart outside Cox Arena. A bomb robot was sent to the scene, FBI spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said.

Fans and officials were told to gather behind a parking structure across the street.

Players and staff from Alabama and Marquette stayed at their hotels.

Copyright © 2006, The Associated Press

Update Given at 1:32 PM CST

All clear given. A suspicious box WAS found, but it was not serious, or dangerous.
The dog had sniffed out a Condiment Box. It was checked out, and found to be just that.

Thank the Good Lord.

God Bless!

Happy Birthday, Grandma N!

Happy Birthday to my sister in law, who is a new Grandma!

Spoil that new grandbaby girl! That is the JOB of Grandma and Grandpa!

Have a Great Day!

Myths....

Conde has a post to be read by many today... Myths of Cohabitation.

God bless!

New Group formed -- Dan O'Connell Society

I had another email yesterday from a friend asking what our thoughts were on an article she had come across. It is about the formation of a new group in the Archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota, called the Dan O'Connell Society (they need to fix their website to look more professional, however)...

My response was mixed, as I have seen so many of these types of lay groups 'go wrong', and felt that we needed to hope and pray that the same thing did not happen here.

Now, I was looking for something else, and got to the Hadley's blog, Our Word and Welcome To It, to find that they had written about the same concerns that I had expressed to my friend.

They also point the way to Conde's Custos Fidei and to Domenico Bettinelli's Bettnet
( DB was already quoted by the Hadley blog )

So, we pray, because I concur that there is definitely something going on up there!

God bless!

Related Tags: Archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis, Dan O'Connell Society, Dr David Pence, Catholic

Carlie's Killer Sentenced To Death

Carlie Brucia's murderer, torturer, rapist was sentenced to death, with strong words spoken by the Judge.

The Judge reviewed the case, listing the entire scenario, the excuses offered, and the evidence against Joseph Smith before having him stand and hear the sentence. He told him that his crime had more than passed the requirements for Joseph Smith to no longer be entitled to live. He ended with "And God have Mercy on your soul."

As I have said before, I have never been a proponent of Capital Punishment. I have always been grateful that our state has Life Means Life. I am having a very difficult time right now continuing to have that opinion, however, with all of the children murdered, tortured, raped by repeat offenders, as well as so many young women who have also been subjected to the same. Then you add the number of husbands murdering young pregnant wives, and I am tempted sorely to change my mind.

And then yesterday, the US Attorney General announced the arrest of men (and women...? at least one).. involved in a porn ring, internet chat room, including the live video streaming of the sexual molestation of an 18 month old child.... and I begin to wonder exactly what punishment is enough. Is there any?

I think of the priests, ministers, youth ministers, police officers, prison guards, and other men of stature, power, respect that we teach our children to trust, only to have them betray that trust, and I wonder.

Eventually, the Lord will have His say in this. Spouting words of repentance is not enough, if they are not heartfelt.

A murder in the fit of jealous rage is one thing, as inexcusable as it is. Life without the possibility of parole may be justice. But when you add to this cold, calculating intent as in the cases of these children, and as in the recent case where the young woman was murdered and tortured with clear tape wound around her... no need here to go into details... when one sees Judges giving parole and short sentences to those who we already KNOW cannot be cured by treatment... I begin to see the rationale behind Capital Punishment.

I think that the two cases that started this thought process for me were Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer. But the rash of child murders, young women being murdered, and young pregnant wives being murdered these past couple of years truly makes it difficult for me to continue to maintain my formerly strong opinion. And when I think of an adult sexually molesting a BABY, a TODDLER, and using live video to stream it to others across cyberspace, I am not only nauseated and disgusted, I am outraged. O'Reilly

Years back, my children's former sitter's baby girl was taken from her bedroom through a window and found, dead in a field near the family home. I watched the case of little Adam, whose murderer was never convicted, and see how both of the fathers of these children have gone on to help other families, and it makes me angry that their work does not end. In fact, it is increasing all the time.

When Pope John Paul II died, and then Cardinal Ratzinger spoke before the entire world at the Mass before they entered the Conclave to elect a new Pope, he was speaking Truth:

"Having a clear faith, based on the creed of the church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism, whereas relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and 'swept along by every wind of teaching,' looks like the only attitude acceptable to today's standards.
We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one's own ego and one's own desires."

O'Reilly spoke about it last night on the O'Reilly factor, and gave examples, available online at Fox News videos, under Opinions. It is his Talking Points Memo.

Bill's Talking Points

The failure to punish child rapists...



Related Tags: Carlie Brucia, Joseph Smith, Murder, Capital Punishment, Death Penalty, Florida, Moral Relativism

More on emails

Responding to a comment by Catholic Fire here, because for some reason, it would not post in comments. (Probably too long...? Or perhaps meant to be read by more than would take the time to read comments boxes...?)

Anyway, it will now be here:


I got a followup email from him ignoring much of what I had said to him.

Quote:

Did you check my website? Or can I at least send some of my articles? Or how about answering some simple questions?

The Catholic Church says that they know Jesus died for them but then tells you that you can merit graces through the sacraments. Doesn't that in itself raise a red flag? If Jesus died and said "It is finished" what do you think He finished? Hebrews 1:3 tells us that He purged us of our sins (believers of course) yet your Church teaches of a place called Purgatory. Doesn't that present a problem to you? As you can see I am only out to alert Catholics of the false teachings in their way of thinking for their own eternity's sake. You say that you are a member of "His Church" but theI bet that is because you believe Matthew 16:18 is as they tell you, but read it again, Jesus says upon that (Peter had just proclaimed Jesus as the Christ) Upon THAT is how HE (NOT PETER) will build His (Jesus again not Peter) church. How can you ignore these facts???

Ask most Catholics and they either don't know or don't care about what their church teaches- Truthfully
Where are you in this if you are really born again?

Just responding because I care, Are you following His word or your Catechism? There is a big difference!
End quote.

Now again, I am not disclosing Mr K's name or location because he did not have the warning notice on my blog at the time. However, I am also not posting his website(s).

My response to him:

Did you read my email? I have had this same discussion countless times with people I know. Many of them you probably also know personally.

I am not leaving His Church. I have already gone that route long ago, searching. I could not leave the Eucharist. Not a symbol, ("Mr K"). He did not tell those who left Him that He was kidding or speaking symbolically. It is not a wafer, or a cracker, but Body Blood Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. It is not a 'different Jesus', He is the One and Only Begotten Son of God, part of the Trinity.

Part of what I wrote to you is very important to me, and you ignored it.

It would not be proper to 'continue in person', actually. I do not meet with men privately for any reason, including to discuss my Faith, and honestly have no interest in maintaining email discussions privately. You are welcome to read my blog and in comments, to contribute your views on the various topics there. This keeps any discussion 'public'. But again, I do not engage in long apologetic type discussions designed to denigrate the Church or our beliefs, even there.


Yes, I did look at your website. I believe that if you read mine, you will see another huge difference in following Christ, in taking His Word literally. I had no idea when I responded to your first email of what I later read on your website, when I wrote my sixth paragraph to you.

But perhaps, since you believe that God works in His Word, as I do....perhaps He led you to my blog for a totally different reason than what YOU seem to think He did.

God bless,

WI Catholic


Jean,
It isn't that I have more patience, because I don't. My lack of patience is exhibited in the fact that after five years on yahoo clubs and groups, message boards, catholicity groups, forums, etc, I have learned that it is not reciprocal, and it is a tremendous waste of time, ending in frustration.

The assumption is made long before the person even attempts to know me:

That I MUST be saved, by that person.

That seeds MUST be planted by that person.

That my Church MUST be denigrated by that person.

And each person comes with the same arguments, thinking that this is the first time I have ever 'heard the message'.

But are they willing to be open to an honest discussion? No, because in their minds, they KNOW that they are correct, and I am incorrect and misled, duped, blinded.

We would get nowhere in any discussion simply because I know that I am not.

The sad fact is that I do know of this family, though I did not know the entire facts of this man's story until I did go to read some parts of his site. When I did read it, I had a moment of ...oops... with what I had written.

It dawned on me as I read his second email to me that perhaps my OOPS was exactly what God wants him to know.

And yes, I am praying for him. It always saddens me when it is a former Catholic. It is then that I wish he would come into long term contact with Jeff Cavins. and not only read his books, etc, but perhaps also do his Bible Study.


God bless!


Related Tags: Email Proselytizing, Christian, Catholic, "Love", Truth, 'Witnessing', Testimony

Schiavo blogburst

Then again, sometimes the emails one gets are of the kind that you are proud to pass on. This one came just four minutes ago.

God bless


we are having a 13 day blogburst commemorating Terri.
http://crystal.typepad.com/crystalclear/2006/03/and_so_we_shall.html

here is my blog post about it.
if you want to participate with a post please do! Please spread the word.

Crystal


Related Tags: Blogburst for Terri, Terri Schindler Schiavo, 13 Days to Remember

Cheryl Ford, RN and Dr Jan E Craddock to speak

Press Release Sarasota, Florida March 15, 2006 "Our Fight4Terri" authors to speak, sign books on anniversary The authors of "Our Fight4Terri" will speak and sign books at presentations hosted by Sarasota-Manatee Right to Life on the first anniversary of Terri Schindler Schiavo's death. Cheryl Ford, RN, founder of Fight4Terri.com, and Dr. Jan E. Craddock will discuss their medical and forensic research at 7pm Friday, March 31, at Fruitville Library, 100 Coburn Road (off Fruitville Road, 1/4 mile east of I-75 exit 210). Seating is limited to 80 persons. They also will sign their book and talk with patrons from 1 to 3 p.m. on the same day at Living Word book store, 5421 Fruitville Road, in the Sarasota Crossings shopping center at Honore (west of I-75 exit 210). Terri, who had sustained brain damage, died of dehydration on March 31, 2005, 13 days after her feeding tube was removed following a court battle won by her estranged husband, Michael, against her parents. The book -- which includes many of the court documents, affidavits, testimony and public records in the case -- says it reveals "new interpretations" of Terri’s collapse in 1990. The authors say they have "irrefutable medical evidence, analyzed and supported by forensic experts, of the criminal act which led to Terri's handicapped condition." They also say they documented subsequent abuse and neglect, and regulatory violations, suffered by Terri during her stay at a hospice. Some of this, they said, still has not been disclosed by the state. The authors worked with the Schindler family conducting research, publishing information and protesting attempts to remove Terri's nutrition and hydration. Ford and Craddock participated in the review of Terri's medical records and organization of more than 20,000 pages of research, with Craddock conducting a forensic analysis of the records. Ford runs her own healthcare company, which assists in clinical assessment of adult patients needing skilled medical care. Craddock, a dentist, has consulted on several malpractice cases in Florida. Further details on the book and the authors are available on the Web at http://www.fight4terri.com . For more information, contact chapter president Jim Styer at 941-377-1929 or jimstyer@comcast.net . Related Tags: Cheryl Ford, RN, Dr Jan E. Craddock, "Our Fight 4 Terri", Terri Schindler Schiavo, Sarasota-Manatee Right to Life, Florida

Emails

I have added a statement to my blog that gives notice to those who email me privately at this email addy. Please take note that any private email that is a result of my blog may be subject to being introduced here publically, with or without identification.

Because Mr K was not given that notice, I choose not to make all of his email public. At the same time, I do intend to blog about those who search the web and target Catholics.

From his words elsewhere: "For several years, I’d go to a particular website and debate with those there. Now my Ministry is writing articles. Every now and then, someone who is really interested in their salvation contacts me. Those are the ones that I feel blessed with an opportunity to help."

Mr K does more than that, apparently. He continues to seek out Catholics, now one on one, and wants to discuss. I did not contact him, in other words. He contacted me, based on my blog's title/profile.

Others do the same. In the past, these discussions are closed one sided proselytizing, with no real and honest discussion, simply aimed at a 'Catholic's salvation', 'proving' that we are a cult, and not Christian.

Without knowing my personal testimony, my personal story, my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, assumptions are made that I must be 'saved'.


Mr K has done just that:

The Bible tells us to reach out to the lost, and I am doing just that now. Won't you take the time to check me out?

I live in ____, so we can't be that far apart so that maybe we could continue in person to compare whose faith is the correct one.

He also sent along two websites that I can view if I choose to, and that can/will support HIS point of view. I answered his email without looking into these websites, not knowing, but suspecting that this was a former Catholic. When I answered his email, I also had no knowledge of his personal life.

After I sent my response to him, I went to one site, his blog, and found reference to Wisconsin Christian News, where I found his statement above in quotes. His blog, by the way, is simply a series of articles that he has written to prove to Catholics the falsehood of our Faith, and is not continued beyond those posted articles.

While I love and appreciate having discussions with my friends on our beliefs, on Scripture, and on our differences/similarities in Faith, I no longer do one on one 'prove it' kinds of discussions with those I do not know. I still find even here, in looking at his blog articles and his Q and A on Wis Christian News, that what Archbishop Sheen said long ago continues to apply:

There are not over a hundred people...who hate the Roman Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church.
- Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen



I have responded to his email as gently as I can, as follows:

I think that if you read my blog instead of simply 'coming across it', you could eventually tell that I know Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and Lord, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and that I am obedient to His Word. My life has been one of just that obedience.

I think that you are simply searching for someone to 'convert'. That conversion experience was mine long ago, and I have no intentions of leaving His Church.

I have Evangelical friends, Baptist friends, Non-denom friends, AOG friends and even a brother in law who know this fact and understand it. They all personally know me, and know that I am what you would call 'Born Again', and have been since I was a child.

I do not engage in intentional pre-planned and uninvited apologetical type discussions any longer. I have, in the past, on many yahoo groups, and in person, defended my Faith, only to find that the other persons are not really interested in discussing, but in proselytizing. Most arguments are based on the same things repeatedly. There are good websites out there for you to learn the Truth of what the Church REALLY teaches rather than what many think it teaches.

In personal life, as I come to know people, we often discuss our personal beliefs, our Faith differences, and in that way, I do continue to share my beliefs, my Faith, my core values.

I find that most people today pooh pooh Christ's words that speak about things that have happened in my life, and explain away His meaning in verses such as Matt 19, Mark 10, Luke 16:18, Matt 5. They justify following man's law on this topic, including my non-denom sister/brother in law.

I am aware of who you are. Long enough ago, I also lived in ________. I know/knew many K--s from the _ area, including M and L.

It would not be proper to 'continue in person', actually. I do not meet with men privately for any reason, including to discuss my Faith, and honestly have no interest in maintaining email discussions privately. You are welcome to read my blog and in comments, to contribute your views on the various topics there. This keeps any discussion 'public'. But again, I do not engage in long apologetic type discussions designed to denigrate the Church or our beliefs, even there.

I would simply point you to places to find your answers, and suggest that you begin with the Church Fathers, to anything by Archbishop Fulton J Sheen, to Marcus Grodi and Scott Hahn.

God bless!

WI Catholic (And no, I am not going to use my proper name. My blog has some personal information on it that would hurt certain family members-- as a result of divorce-- if I intentionally broadcast exactly who I am. Those who need to know already know who I am.)



Related Tags: Email Proselytizing, Christian, Catholic, "Love", Truth, 'Witnessing', Testimony

From Cheryl Ford, RN re "A Life That Matters"

From Cheryl Ford, RN:

Terri Schiavo's Family Reveals The Story Behind the Story in New Book

Clearwater, FL (LifeNews.com) -- More excerpts from the new book written by Terri Schiavo's family have come out. Written mostly from the perspective of Terri's mother, Mary Schindler, they tell the day of a family desperately wanting to care for the daughter and sister they loved but facing a daunting legal world that showed no compassion.

The book, titled A Life That Matters: The Legacy of Terri Schiavo--A Lesson for Us All, is due out in bookstores on March 28.

It challenges readers to hear the words and feel the emotions of the warm, intensely private family who never sought the media storm that enveloped them, or the devastating legal battle that broke their hearts.

The Schindlers describe Terri's life and upbringing and discusses her marriage to Michael Schiavo, who abandoned the marriage after Terri's collapse and eventually had two children with his girlfriend Jodi Centonze.

The family talks about their lack of experience in and understanding of the legal world that soon devoured their lives. "I felt I was living in a parallel world, where a different language -- legalese -- spoke a set of incomprehensible rules," Mary Schindler relates, according to an AP report.

"I felt no connection to this world, yet knew that Terri's fate would be decided by those rules, and not by anything that governed MY world, where humanity has less to do with the law than with the heart," she explained.

The Schindlers talk about not knowing what best course to take to prevent Terri's euthanasia death, but describe the inventive measures attorneys and supporters took to prevent Michael from taking her life as long as possible.

In the 272-page book, the family also describes the circumstances leading up to Terri's 1990 collapse, which the media attributed to a potassium imbalance.

Later, the Schindler family, relying on events and problems in the Schiavo marriage prior to the collapse and a bone scan showing signs of possible physical trauma, accuse Michael of possibly physically abusing Terri. They repeat those charges in the book.

An autopsy on Terri's body after she succumbed to the painful two week starvation and dehydration death, confirmed a potassium imbalance did not cause her collapse. Yet, it couldn't pinpoint the cause of the collapse that put her in an incapacitated state.

The book "may well change every assumption you have about Terri's too-brief life and prolonged, agonizing death," according to Warner Books, the publisher.

"Here the people who loved her and knew her best tell the story not only of the fifteen years Terri struggled to stay alive, but of a gentle child who brought happiness to everyone she touched," Warner says.

Michael, who recently married Centonze, has his own book hitting stores the day before, on March 27. Written with military history author Michael Hirsh, his 288-page book is titled, "Terri: The Truth."

Hirsh offered Michael his services after becoming angry that Florida Gov. Jeb Bush signed into law a measure approved by the Florida legislature allowing him to stop Terri's euthanasia death. After courts renewed their decision that Michael could take Terri's life, Governor Bush tried unsuccessfully to again prevent her from being killed.

Schiavo's book wastes no time in launching an assault at Terri's family and pro-life advocates who supported them and painting Michael as the victim.

"A religious zealot offered $250,000 to anyone who would kill me. My two babies were threatened with death," he explains. " I was condemned by the president, the majority leaders of the House and Senate, the governor of Florida, the pope, and the right-wing media, all because I was doing what Terri - the woman I loved -- wanted."

"I didn't respond to their attacks. I didn't confront their lies. Until now," he adds.

The book promises to explain why Terri collapsed and why Michael had an affair with Centonze for years before Terri died.

Both books are timed to come shortly before the anniversary of Terri's death, on March 31.

Leading up to the book release dates, both Michael and the Schindler family have national media interviews scheduled.

Michael will appear on NBC's "Dateline" on March 26 and on "Today" the following morning while members of the Schindler family will appear on "Good Morning America" on March 27 and 28 and will visit with Fox News' Hannity and Colmes on March 27.

Meanwhile, George Felos, the euthanasia advocate who was Michael's lawyer has a book planned. He is writing the philosophical "Beyond Schiavo: Searching for Death with Dignity" that will likely advocate legalizing assisted suicide.

David Gibbs, the final attorney for the Schindlers, is finishing "Fighting for Dear Life: The Untold Story of Terri Schiavo and What It Means for All of Us" which is due to hit stores in August.

Available NOW....
The book, Our Fight4Terri
Discounted for Fight4Terri supporters at: www.Fight4Terri.com
or, can be ordered directly from publisher at:
Trafford Publishing: Our Fight4Terri

Related Tags: Cheryl Ford, RN, Dr Jan E Craddock, DDS, Schindler Family, Terri Schindler Schiavo, "A Life That Matters", Pro-Life, Euthanasia

Welcome to the world, Lexi Marie!

My beaming brother just called. I greeted him with 'HI, GRANDPA!" He wanted to know who told me...

No one had to. He does not call very often, and today, when he did, knowing that my niece was due on the tenth, I guessed.

Born by C-Section about 1:30 PM today, Lexi Marie weighed in at 6# 15 1/2 oz, 19 3/4 inches long, and healthy.

She will be the spoiled first grandchild of my brother.... he has been waiting for a LONG time to be Grandpa~

Mom is doing well after being in labor for quite awhile (at least 12 hours) before the birth by C-Section. Sore, but happy. Dad is doing fine, just a little tired.

The Bells are RINGING with happiness!

OH, and before I forget... this is one of the Moms and babies we had asked people to pray for.

God bless!