A Deo et Rege

The other night on MSNBC, a justifiably angry Pat Buchanan said the following:

What George Bush ought to do right now is send federal marshals in and
pick up Terri Schiavo and put that breathing tube back into her—excuse
me, the food and hydration tube back into her, as this is taken up to
the United States Supreme Court.  He took an oath, Chris, to defend the
Constitution of the United States.  He has got an obligation, as well
as these judges do, to defend that Constitution.  And that means to
protect this woman‘s life.

He later added:

The point is, the president of the United States—there‘s a woman dying,
sentenced to death because she‘s brain-damaged.  She‘s committed no
crime.  She‘s having food and water denied to her.  That is a violation
of human rights and the president of the United States has an
opportunity, as does the governor of Florida, to step in as executives
and act.

Go Pat! I agree.

See the Transcript
Thanks to David for originally pointing me to this

According to a recent poll President Bush’s approval rating has dropped in one week by 7 percentage points to its lowest point ever (45%). The approval rating dropped the most sharply among "men, self described conservatives, and churchgoers." The Republican National Committee says it’s not because of Terri Schiavo, but because the President is tackling tough issues. Yeah right. How many protesters are in front of the White House demanding energy reform? How many blogs are in a frenzy for Social Security reform? I believe the President could do a lot more to help Terri and it seems that I’m not alone.

Read the article on this at Salon.Com (note: you may have to view a brief ad)

Last Night as I was praying before Blessed Sacrament I found a wonderful prayer from the Precious Blood Prayer Book, entitled "To Obtain A Special Request." I can think of no more special request than Terri Schiavo. Please join me in praying to our Lord on this day when his Precious Blood was shed for us.

By the Voice of your Blood, O Jesus,

we would press you, solicit you, importune you.

Though you seem to reject our supplications

we will not leave your bleeding feet until you hear us.

So many graces, so many mercies have come forth from your Blood
that we shall not cease to hope
even to the end, in its efficacy.

Then, O Jesus,
by your Precious Blood

seven times shed for the welfare of all,

by each drop of that Sacred Price of our redemption,

by the tears of your immaculate mother,

we entreat you to hear our prayers.

[Save Terri O Lord, save her in your mercy]

O Lord, who during all the days of your mortal life

consoled so many sufferings,

healed so many infirmities,

encouraged so many who were disheartened,

you will not fail to have pity
on a soul
who cries to you from the depths of anguish.
No, it is impossible.

Another sigh from our wounded heart,

and from the wound in your own,

will flow to us upon a wave
of your Precious Blood
the graces we so ardently desired.

O Jesus,
hasten the moment
when you will change our tears into joy,

our sighs into thanksgiving.

Holy Mary,
source of the divine Blood,

we entreat you not to lose this occasion
of glorifying the Blood
which made you immaculate.

Amen.

Image of the Agony in the Garden from St. Charles Borromeo Church (Image Gallery)

Columnist Bob Novak has written an excellent article that deals with the explosive poltical debate that Terri Schiavo’s case has caused in Washington. His column also points out that even many liberals and Democrats came out in support of Schiavo. He reminds us that 47 Democrats voted for the bill to save her including nine members of the ultra liberal Congressional Black Caucus. In what may be some of the biggest political news of the year, he even suggests that Ralph Nader has his doubts about the removal of Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube!

Read A Feeding Frenzy in DC by Robert Novak (Chicago Sun Times)

Blessed Margaret was born blind, lame, deformed and hunchbacked. Her parents kept her walled in the side of a chapel, only allowing her to leave for mass and the Sacraments. They took her to be healed and when she wasn’t, they abandoned her. Considered an outcast and useless, she nonetheless became a lay Dominican and lived a life of charity and prayer. In the Catholic Church she is patroness of the disabled, the handicapped, and physically challenged people.

Blessed Margaret, pray for Terri Schiavo
And for all who invoke your aid

Information on Margaret from Patron Saints Index

Let’s see, adults who wish to remove the feeding and water tube to kill a disabled woman hold places of honor in our society and live as free people in no fear of the law while a child who tries to bring water to the dying and dehydrated Terri Schiavo is arrested. This seems like Bizarro World.

See the Photo (Yahoo! News)

WASHINGTON — The full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to quickly review a previous decision to not allow Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube to be reinserted.

Read more of this Breaking News (Foxnews)

It looks like things are not looking good judicially. It’s in God’s hands. Let’s keep praying and fighting the good fight politically. Terri can find no justice.

With the recent court decisions, Terri’s situation certainly looks grim. However, we should not put our trust in princes (or their appointees), but in God. I am going to offer up a day of fasting and prayer for Terri Schiavo today and I urge others to do the same. Time may be running out, but there is still hope.

Lord Have Mercy
Christ Have Mercy
Lord Have Mercy

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (Reuters) - Conservative Christian groups have
called for mass vigils outside the hospice caring for brain-damaged
Terri Schiavo but many of the few dozen who have shown up said they
were drawn for personal reasons unrelated to organized religion…

Continue reading Schiavo Protesters Not All Christian Conservatives (Reuters)

I’m glad to see some in the media recognize that this movement is made up of more than just Christians and conservatives, but includes compassionate people across the spectrum.

The media, whether out of malice, ignorance, or just plain incompetence (or perhaps all three), seems to be out of the loop on the whole Terri Schiavo case. It’s interesting how often the many uncomfortable and suspicious details of her case are completely ignored or downplayed by the media. Without reading the alternative news or the blogs, one could easily assume that Terri was practically in a coma or on a ventilator. One could also think that Michael Schiavo was unselfishly looking out for the best interests of his wife. I found an excellent article that explains alot about the Terri Schiavo case that hasn’t been reported in the national media. The article is old (January 2004), but it tells an important story, the story that you won’t see on CNN or hear about in the mainstream media. Please read:

Killing Terri Schiavo by Rev. Robert Johansen (Godspy Magazine)

The Senate is meeting at 5:00pm today to consider passage of Terri’s Law. Please keep this issue in your prayers, especially at 5:00. Here is a good one:

Heavenly Father, your cosmic gaze focused on dust and you fashioned in your image and likeness every man and women: give us, we beg you, a keen eye to recognize that image so that respect for all human life becomes our way of life.Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Committee for Pro-Life Activities National Conference of  Catholic Bishops).

Source for Senate information: Blogsforterri
Source for prayer: Prayers for Life

My letter to President Bush:

Date:	Fri, 18 Mar 2005 17:57:12 -0800 (PST)
From:	"Jonathan Bennett" <[]@yahoo.com>
Subject:	Terri Schiavo
To:	president@whitehouse.gov

Dear Mr. President,

I am 26, a Catholic, an Ohioan, and pro-life. AlthoughI disagree with you on several issues, I voted for youbecause I knew that you would, at the very least, workto promote life while President. I pray for you andyour cabinet regularly. 

I and 100,000 or so other swing voters in Ohio gaveyou the election. As one of this small group ofvoters, I ask you to use some of your "politicalcapital" to please save Terri Schiavo. How could theleader of the free world fail in saving the life of adisabled woman? Mr. President, she has few friends. Ikindly ask you to be one.

Sincerely,Jonathan Bennett

I notice how many people assume that those fighting for Terri are just right wingers or Catholics and Evangelicals (by the way, where are the mainline Protestant voices, anyone?). Aside from the many disablity activists who are fighting for her life (ignored often by the media), there is another person who breaks the stereotypical mold even more: the Jewish, liberal, atheist, Village Voice author, and pro-lifer Nat Hentoff. I don’t agree with all says, of course, but he has written some excellent stuff on Terri Schiavo. I recommend the following articles:

Was Terri Schiavo Beaten in 1990?
It’s Not Only About Terri Schiavo
The Culture of Death
A Woman’s Life Vs. An Inept Press 

We need to pray hard. It looks like the State is going to kill Terri.

Tomorrow is the day Terri Schiavo is scheduled to be killed. Yes, Judge Greer has ordered her starved and dehydrated on March 18th. Terri Schiavo is the among the least of the world: defenseless and voiceless and at the total mercy of a wicked husband, a capricious judiciary, and an indifferent population. The words of Jesus immediately came to mind:

Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from
me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or
thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not
minister to thee?‘ Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."   (Matt. 25: 41-46, RSV, emphasis mine)

I urge everyone to pray hard and for Catholics to offer up your abstinence this Friday on behalf of Terri. For more about the urgency of the situation, please visit: Terri’s Fight: Important Bulletin.

I haven’t blogged much about Terri Schindler-Schiavo, but it’s not because she hasn’t been on my mind. The whole situation makes me so angry because the people in power are failing this woman. Judge Greer should especially be ashamed. I honestly don’t know how this man sleeps at night after denying motions that would allow her to have a chance to live with her caring family instead of dying at the hands of her callous husband. Where are the political leaders taking a bold stand for her? What of "political capital?" Bush and Congress place high priority on bankruptcy reform and social security, but where are they when it comes to life? Sadly, it doesn’t seem to have the same priority. Since I haven’t blogged much on Terri, I would like to point out some excellent links on her struggle:

Myths About Terri (demonstrates Terri’s real state)
Merciless Judge Sends Terri to Ovens (documents the amazing failure of Judge Greer)
Blogs for Terri
Philly Columnist Changes Mind on Terri Schiavo (liberal "right to die" columnist, knowing "uncomfortable details" of her case, changes his mind)
Cardinal Martino Appeals for Terri Schiavo
Vatican Says Pulling Feeding Tube Pitiless
A Federal Law that Could Save Terri (and could save others like her; contact your congressman immediately)