THE PASSION OF TERRI SCHIAVO
Editor's Note: Vince Haley is a very good friend of mine. I thought this piece was well done and worthy of being posted in its entirety. He wrote it this afternoon after returning from Good Friday services at the Cathedral of Saint Matthews in Washington, DC.
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By Vince Haley
For Christians, Good Friday is the day to recall the Passion of Jesus Christ -- the last hours of Christ on earth.
It is also a day when Christians worldwide are painfully reminded that the contradictions of the human heart that led to Christ’s death are timeless. There is no better proof of that than the very real passion play that has been unfolding in Florida – quite literally the Passion of Terri Schiavo.
Christians often say that the Lord works in mysterious ways. This Christian agrees but I would add that the Lord sometimes seems to be quite happy in using a 2 x 4 upside the head to get our attention.
Christ went to his death as an innocent. Terri Schiavo is facing death as an innocent.
Christ was sentenced to death by the legal authority of his day. Terri Schiavo is facing death by the judgment of today’s legal authorities.
The Roman puts Christ to death in the most horrific way known to them – death by crucifixion. Terri Schiavo is being denied food and water, thus ensuring a slow starvation, a horrific death.
Christ was silent in the face of the questions and accusations posed those who would judge his fate. Terri Schiavo is silent in the face of the opinions and questions of those who will judge her fate.
Christ was transferred from legal jurisdiction to legal jurisdiction. He went from the high priest Caiaphas to Pontius Pilate the Roman Governor to Herod the provincial leader, as nobody wanted to take ultimate political responsibility for the explosive case against Jesus Christ. Even the Roman Governor, who had it within his power to set Christ free, or at least prevent his execution, washed his hand of the case. Pontius Pilate did not want to face the political consequences of setting Christ free.
Terri Shiavo’s case has gone from local judges to the Florida Supreme Court and then to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Florida Governor and Florida state legislature have intervened, as has the U.S. President and Congress. But these four politically accountable branches of government have limited themselves in their self-defined political boundaries, perhaps because they don’t want to face the political consequences.
When asked by the Roman Governor whether Christ should live, the mob said to crucify him.
When asked by public opinion polls whether Terri Shiavo should be allowed to live, it seems that a majority of the public cries out to move on, or at least that is what the media tends to portray.
When Pontius Pilate asked the mob whether he should free Christ or Barabbas as a part of a Roman practice of freeing a prisoner at that time of year, the mob shouted for the release of the vicious murderer Barabbas, and wanted nothing to do with the freeing of the innocent Jesus.
In this month, the U.S. Supreme Court made two life and death decisions. In the case of Terri Shiavo, an innocent, the Supreme Court turned its back on her case and refused to intervene to sustain her life. In the case of a vicious 17 year old murderer who had broken into the home of his victim, covered her head in a towel, wrapped her up in duct tape, bound her hands and legs with electrical wire, and then dumped her over the side of a bridge and left her to drown, the Supreme Court decided that this murderer should be released from death row.
Near his death, Christ cried out that he was thirsty and the Roman soldiers mocked him by offering him vinegar to drink. Near her death, Terri Schiavo’s mother wants to put ice chips on her daughter’s lips. Yet, even this act of mercy is disallowed by Florida authorities.
For those Christians and non-Christians alike who contemplate the death of Christ, the life and death of Terri Schiavo will not soon be forgotten. As this piece is written, Terri Schiavo still lives. If she dies from starvation in the coming days, there will be a political cry of “remember Terri Schiavo” that will echo across the ages for many Americans. Blame will be assigned, as will the roles in Terri’s passion play. As Lincoln quoted in his Second Inaugural: “Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh."
And many Americans will say woe unto those political leaders who washed their hands of Terri Schiavo.
(Vince Haley lives and works in Washington, DC and attends the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Matthew’s.)
For Christians, Good Friday is the day to recall the Passion of Jesus Christ -- the last hours of Christ on earth.
It is also a day when Christians worldwide are painfully reminded that the contradictions of the human heart that led to Christ’s death are timeless. There is no better proof of that than the very real passion play that has been unfolding in Florida – quite literally the Passion of Terri Schiavo.
Christians often say that the Lord works in mysterious ways. This Christian agrees but I would add that the Lord sometimes seems to be quite happy in using a 2 x 4 upside the head to get our attention.
Christ went to his death as an innocent. Terri Schiavo is facing death as an innocent.
Christ was sentenced to death by the legal authority of his day. Terri Schiavo is facing death by the judgment of today’s legal authorities.
The Roman puts Christ to death in the most horrific way known to them – death by crucifixion. Terri Schiavo is being denied food and water, thus ensuring a slow starvation, a horrific death.
Christ was silent in the face of the questions and accusations posed those who would judge his fate. Terri Schiavo is silent in the face of the opinions and questions of those who will judge her fate.
Christ was transferred from legal jurisdiction to legal jurisdiction. He went from the high priest Caiaphas to Pontius Pilate the Roman Governor to Herod the provincial leader, as nobody wanted to take ultimate political responsibility for the explosive case against Jesus Christ. Even the Roman Governor, who had it within his power to set Christ free, or at least prevent his execution, washed his hand of the case. Pontius Pilate did not want to face the political consequences of setting Christ free.
Terri Shiavo’s case has gone from local judges to the Florida Supreme Court and then to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Florida Governor and Florida state legislature have intervened, as has the U.S. President and Congress. But these four politically accountable branches of government have limited themselves in their self-defined political boundaries, perhaps because they don’t want to face the political consequences.
When asked by the Roman Governor whether Christ should live, the mob said to crucify him.
When asked by public opinion polls whether Terri Shiavo should be allowed to live, it seems that a majority of the public cries out to move on, or at least that is what the media tends to portray.
When Pontius Pilate asked the mob whether he should free Christ or Barabbas as a part of a Roman practice of freeing a prisoner at that time of year, the mob shouted for the release of the vicious murderer Barabbas, and wanted nothing to do with the freeing of the innocent Jesus.
In this month, the U.S. Supreme Court made two life and death decisions. In the case of Terri Shiavo, an innocent, the Supreme Court turned its back on her case and refused to intervene to sustain her life. In the case of a vicious 17 year old murderer who had broken into the home of his victim, covered her head in a towel, wrapped her up in duct tape, bound her hands and legs with electrical wire, and then dumped her over the side of a bridge and left her to drown, the Supreme Court decided that this murderer should be released from death row.
Near his death, Christ cried out that he was thirsty and the Roman soldiers mocked him by offering him vinegar to drink. Near her death, Terri Schiavo’s mother wants to put ice chips on her daughter’s lips. Yet, even this act of mercy is disallowed by Florida authorities.
For those Christians and non-Christians alike who contemplate the death of Christ, the life and death of Terri Schiavo will not soon be forgotten. As this piece is written, Terri Schiavo still lives. If she dies from starvation in the coming days, there will be a political cry of “remember Terri Schiavo” that will echo across the ages for many Americans. Blame will be assigned, as will the roles in Terri’s passion play. As Lincoln quoted in his Second Inaugural: “Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh."
And many Americans will say woe unto those political leaders who washed their hands of Terri Schiavo.
(Vince Haley lives and works in Washington, DC and attends the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Matthew’s.)
9 Comments:
This is the most beautiful example of any reporting on Terri that I have seen. I am more clearly understanding that the evil force behind this is the same evil from the dawn of time. Thank you.
I am extremely disheartened by our so-called fair justice. I am from Canada but I am a Mother of children around the same age as Terri Shiavo. I cannot believe the assinine inadequacies of the government (they don't care about a life that is worth living with rehabilitation and therapy) and especially Terri's so-called husband Michael. If he loves her as much as he claims that he does,
why has he denied her the therapy and rehabilitation that she is entitled to? It certainly didn't stop him from getting on with his LIFE! Key word here! He had a choice for his life. He won't allow Terri to have a LIFE! What's the harm in giving her a full and complete chance?
Terri Shiavo has not commited a crime. Why has she recieved the death penalty??? AND, what is Michael Shiavo afraid of if she is given this chance? What is he trying to hide???
Disgruntled, disappointed by the powers that be and terribly hurt as a Mother that feels for Mr. and Mrs. Schindler. I guess they don't matter either, eh?
Quebec, Canada
I just read this in an article:
"Greer signed an order Wednesday afternoon forbidding the department from "taking possession of Theresa Marie Schiavo or removing her" from the hospice. He directed "each and every and singular Sheriff of the state of Florida" to enforce his order."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2270&ncid=2270&e=1&u=/krwashbureau/20050326/ts_krwashbureau/_bc_braindamagedwoman_seize_exclusive_wa
If that is not the scariest thing. One, I repeat, one judge ordering every Sheriff in the state of Florida to enforce his order. And this guy is not even elected by the people. The Courts ignore the will of the elected Congress (as was clearly intended by the 14th Amendment), but they allow themselves to judge the laws of others, write their own laws, and then demand enforcement.
Scary. Scary. Scary.
Somehow I thought judges judged, and the executive branch executed.
What's even more disturning is the fact that the law enforcement fell right in line with the judges "order."
Say adios to the rule of law and the deliberative will of the people. The rule of the men in black robes is here.
Anonymous,
"Judging" in this context just means looking at the law, and figuring out how the law applies in a specific context. I'm perfectly willing to admit that the law in Florida sucks. There's not enough bias towards life in this kind of situation, and there's not enough burden of proof for a relative claiming to know Terri's mind, and Michael Schiavo probably shouldn't be her legal guardian if he's living with another woman.
But that's the shitty law. And the judge has no choice but to apply the law. Everyone would be angry if judges could do otherwise. Don't be angry at the judiciary for doing its job well. Get the Florida legislature to change the law so this kind of situation can't happen in the future. Like you said, judges can't make the law.
Don't you think it's hard to be a judge in that position? Knowing that personally, you think the situation is awful and despicable, but that you have to apply the law as it's written? When that's your sworn duty? It's even worse because Judge Greer, in addition to having to enforce a law he surely found distasteful, is having his life threatened by people like you who think judges should make decisions based on their personal values, and not on the law.
And let's not even get to why electing judges is a crappy idea.
Please disregard this Papist nonsense.
It is unfortunate, but not unsurprising, that these Republicans have no respect for the laws of our country or for our traditions.
They are terrorists who will stop at nothing until they get what they want.
Regardless of the particulars of the case, it is important that the outcome reaffirm our federal union. From that, there can be no retreat.
The Republican death-threats against the judges who enforce the laws of our federal union are further evidence of their terrorist nature.
No terrorists in government!
Nice reply ispivey. It's amazing how many people have bought into the idea that only liberal judges "create" law. Conservative judges do as well, just look to the majority ruling in United States v. Morrison and United States v. Lopez. Rehnquist, Thomas, and Scalia all supported a rule that create a new construction of the commerce clause. But it's probably much easier to just buy in to conservative media claims that creating law is only done by liberal judges, and is inherently against the Constitution. I remember another President who was against the Judiciary's supposed "creation of law." Franklin D. Roosevelt, who I'm sure most people who read this site would unquestionably support...
As for Michael Schiavo, he claims that Terri did not want to live like this. Everyone's swept up in the fact that Terri must want to live. How do we know that? The courts ruled the Michael as the guardian was in the best position to judge, and he states that Terri would not want to live in this situation, that she would want the feeding tube removed. And yes, what is Michael trying to hide, please tell me. He was offerred $1 million by Terri's parents to sign over the guardianship, but he refused. Michael feels that Terri will never recover. So if he knows she will never recover, and he has an offer of $1 million to sign away the guardianship, really, what is the impetus for him not to sign her over. Maybe he's not hiding anything, maybe he's just trying to fulfill his wife's last wishes.
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Just for some clarification, I'm the second anonymous with the third post.
Ispivey,
Thanks for the thoughtful response, but I'm not sure that we even have to discuss the role of a judge and his/her responsibility to set personal opinions aside in this situation. There are plenty of examples in this case where Greer ignored the law. It is not difficult to make the case that even under the law, Terri was denied any sense of legal due process. A convicted terrorist would have more rights and protection under the law than she did.
Besides, the Florida legislature realized that the law was not a good law in this situation. And they *did* pass a law fixing it. But the courts said NO.
And then Congress passed a Terri's Law. And the courts said NO (well, they didn't even have the common courtesy to do that - they completely ignored it, esp. Sections 3 and 4).
I also don't believe that judges should be elected. But, because they are not elected, they should have distinct powers. Our country settled this question by dividing government up into three branches in state and federal government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. The legislative writes laws, the judicial interprets laws, and the executive executes the laws.
Nowhere is this made more clear than in the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers. The Anti-Feds feared that the courts would become too powerful, while the Feds remained confident that they would be limited in their power to interpret law. Well, it's beginning to look like the Anti-Feds had a point.
On what law did judges have the authority to demand (higher courts are included in this criticism because of their refusal to overturn lower judges)the obedience of the sheriffs throughout the entire state of Florida? Shouldn't that be the executive's job? And on what law did the judges prohibity anyone from trying to feed Terri by mouth? A nurse has said that she fed Terri jello and ice chips, and dozens have been arrested for trying to bring her water. Where is the law? This has nothing to do with removing/not removing a feeding tube. I believe the judge said no one could try to feed Terri by mouth because "she might choke to death." Oh, the morbid irony.
Ian,
I'm not sure exactly what you're arguing. Murder is wrong. Terrorism is wrong. Any complaints?
Anonymous2,
Interesting analysis of a few SCOTUS cases. However, I do believe that the cases you cited have nothing to do with the judicial branch creating law. Interpreting, or reinterpreting the Commerce Clause is not writting law. That is the purpose of the SCOTUS. However, demanding enforcement of their decisions is shaky ground. Once again, unless you want elected judges (which I don't), you're going to have to have limits on judges to avoid an Anti-Federalist like implosion in American government that is a deliberative representation of the will of the people, and not the rule of the few in black.
Regarding your comments about Michael. I agree, we should always assume the best about people. However, as I have done more and more research on this case, I have become more and more dissapointed (almost disgusted) with his motivations.
Either way, you have the burden of proof in the wrong place. We should err on the side of life. Michael should have to prove that she wanted to die. The parents should not have to prove that she wanted to live.
If I missed something, just point it out and I'll cover it.
Living Wills. I feel for Terry if this is not the outcome she would have wanted. At the same time, if she wouldn't want to live like she has had to live, then everything that's transpired would be what's suppose to happen. I'm going to have a living will drawn up. I can't speak for Terry, but I can say that I wouldn't want to live like that and I don't want my family fighting to keep me alive.
I am so very distraught, so very, very digusted, so,so,so... I cannot seem to find the words to describe what I am feeling at this present moment about the Terri Schiavo case.This is a sad day for the American people that life is no longer deemed valuable,and that we care more for souless animals than human kind. How can! How can! I ask, those we have entrusted in these offices make such an insensitive, immoral, uncaring, decision? How can mankind choose to play God, and to say when someone is worthy of life or death. Oh, I forgot we've been doing it all the time,aborting a child because they have a birth defect. Are they are not worthy of life? Who are we America to decide who lives or dies? I know there must be laws, but did the law give Terri's husband the right to kill her, the judges, the Supreme Court to starve her to death. He no longer had any rights to make decisions for Terri as far as I am concerned. He gave up those rights when he committed adultery and had children. Something is not right here, something is not right. What really is Mr. Schiavo's motives behind all of this? It's as if he wants to make sure she's good and dead and burned up forever, no evidence left behind, something is not right lawyers. Where are the lawyers, the true judges out there, where are you? Can't you see something stinks? For the love of justice, who would go to such great lengths to totally get rid of an individual, even after, the very memory, not allow her a fighting chance. Not to allow her any,any,any type of help, no food, no water, not a drop of water! How diabolical, how sinister, how dark and evil can it get. Mr. Schiavo, judges, lawyers, go fourteen days without food and water and see how dignified that is. What is a dignified death? Suppose it was one of your family members, your sister, brother, wife, mother, father or yourselves? We don't feel, nor sympathize until it's me, myself and I. Can't you understand she was not on life support? Modern technology invented a device that would benefit an individual, help them to function better, the feeding tube was there to help her get the nourishments she needed. But when you took away the feeding tube and she had no nourishment in thirteen days, of course she was going to die? It was not like she was on life support, the feeding tube was the way she got her nourishment, justlike babies suck a bottle. You took her food away, can't you see? You took away her one of her basic needs. Mr. Schiavo, judges, lawyers, I end.
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