Terri Schiavo, AFA

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Dear ZAROVE,

I know you have been following the Terri Schiavo case in Florida. There is now a new twist, a new effort being made to starve Terri to death.

In 1990, Terri collapsed. No one knows why. Her brain was deprived of oxygen for approximately five minutes. She has been fed intravenously since then.

In 1995, her husband moved in with Jodi Centonze. In 1997, they announced their engagement. (Despite the fact that he was still married to Terri.)

Last year, when a judge ordered the tube sustaining Terri removed (meaning she would die a slow death from starvation), the Florida legislature passed a law allowing Gov. Jeb Bush to have doctors reinsert a feeding tube that provides Terri with food and water—and life.

In another act of judicial activism, Judge Douglas Baird has ruled the law unconstitutional. Judge Baird is tormenting Terri and her family with the cruel and unusual punishment of imposing a death sentence on her by starvation.

What many people don't know is that Terri's husband is aggressively pushing to have the state withhold food and water from Terri so that she will slowly die of starvation. He stands to collect an inheritance when Terri dies. As long as Terri is alive, he cannot get the inheritance. He has not divorced her.

During this sordid affair, he continues to live with his lover, waiting for the day Terri will die and the inheritance will be his. Terri's parents have repeatedly said they desperately want to care for their daughter. Her husband is opposed to giving the parents the right to care for their daughter. You see, if there is no death, there is no inheritance.

Contact Gov. Jeb Bush today and encourage him to continue to stand strong for Terri's right to life.

Send your letter now! And please forward this email to at least one friend. Sincerely,

Don

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman American Family Association

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), May 11, 2004

Answers

Let's pray for her.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), May 11, 2004.

Zarove,

Thanks for the info. This is a sad story - I will surely pray for God to have mercy on her and for justice to be done toward her uncaring husband.

God bless,

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 11, 2004.


I will offer up my prayers too Zarove.

-- Andy S ("aszmere@earthlink.net"), May 11, 2004.

In addition to prayers, folks, perhaps letters to the Gov would be a good thing?

Its a truly shocking story, one must say.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), May 12, 2004.


Good idea Ian! Part of prayer is action, isn't it?

In fact letters to the judge might be good too. Wish I was a Florida resident so I could mention my vote.

-- Andy S ("aszmere@earthlink.net"), May 12, 2004.



Ian, good idea. lol. I had read over the story and was mulling over it before I posted, and I had forgotten about that part at the end to write to the governor! Isn't Gov. Jeb Bush a Catholic convert? Perhaps we could appeal to his faith.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 12, 2004.

is there a website or email address?

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), May 12, 2004.

AFA: http://www.afa.net/

Though I doubt you can read Gov. Jeb Bush by email. Imagine all the messages he would've gotten over the Florida voting thing a few years ago! Besides, they listen better to real mail.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 12, 2004.


Ian,

I found the article here: http://www.afa.net/activism/IssueDetail.asp?id=128

Email and address info here: http://www.afa.net/activism/TakeAction.asp?id=128

Once I heard a woman speak who had worked in a congressional office. She said that emails are at the bottom of the rung as far as weight of correspondence, and especially form letter emails. She said form letters by paper mail are better, but what they will consider most is a personal letter that is unique (not form), because then they know you really care and put the time in to send your personal opinion.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 12, 2004.


Emily,

i propose sending a handwritten fax.

i have Jeb's fax number: 850-487-0801

one question -- is 850 the state code for Florida

-- so if i fax Jeb from outside the US, i use: 00 1 (international code for US) followed by 850 etc etc .....

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), May 12, 2004.



timeline

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/8604962.htm

Timeline in the Terri Schiavo case

Associated Press

The timeline in the case of Terri Schiavo, who has been at the center of a seven-year legal battle between her husband and parents over the husband's attempts to remove her feeding tube:

_ Feb. 25, 1990: Terri Schiavo collapses in her home. Doctors believe a potassium imbalance caused her heart to stop, temporarily cutting off oxygen to her brain.

_ Nov. 1992: Terri's husband, Michael, wins malpractice suit that accused doctors of misdiagnosing his wife; jury awards more than more than $700,000 for her care, Michael receives an additional $300,000.

_ Feb. 14, 1993: Terri Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, have a falling out with Michael over the malpractice suit money and Terri's care.

_ July 29, 1993: Bob and Mary Schindler file petition to have Michael Schiavo removed as Terri's guardian. The case is later dismissed.

_ May 1998: Michael Schiavo files petition to remove Terri's feeding tube.

_ Feb. 11, 2000: Circuit Judge George W. Greer rules feeding tube can be removed.

_ Jan. 24, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal upholds Greer's decision.

_ March 29, 2001: Greer rules feeding tube to be removed April 20.

_ April 18, 2001: Florida Supreme Court refuses to intervene in the case.

_ April 20, 2001: U.S. District Judge Richard Lazzara grants the Schindlers a stay until April 23 to exhaust appeals.

_ April 23, 2001: U.S. Supreme Court refuses to intervene.

_ April 24, 2001: Feeding tube is removed from Terri Schiavo.

_ April 26, 2001: Circuit Judge Frank Quesada orders doctors to reinsert Terri's feeding tube; the Schindlers pursue lawsuit against Michael Schiavo, accusing him of committing perjury by saying his wife did not want to be kept on life support.

_ April 30, 2001: Lawyers for Michael Schiavo file emergency motion with appellate court asking it to order removal of Terri's feeding tube.

_ July 11, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal sends case back to Judge Greer.

_ July 18, 2001: Schindlers ask Greer to let their doctors evaluate Terri before making a final decision on removing the feeding tube.

_ Aug. 10, 2001: Greer denies the Schindlers' evaluation request, as well as their request to remove Michael Schiavo as guardian.

_ Sept. 26, 2001: Schindlers' attorneys argue before 2nd District Court of Appeal, citing testimony from seven doctors who say Terri can recover with the right treatment.

_ Oct. 3, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal delays removal of feeding tube indefinitely.

_ Oct. 17, 2001: 2nd District Court of Appeal rules that five doctors can examine Terri to determine whether she has any hope of recovery. Two doctors are picked by the Schindlers, two are picked by Michael Schiavo and one is picked by the court.

_ Feb. 13, 2002: Mediation attempts fail; Michael Schiavo again seeks to be allowed to remove Terri's feeding tube.

_ Oct. 12, 2002: Weeklong hearing begins in the case. Three doctors, including the one appointed by the court, testify that Terri is in a persistent, vegetative state with no hope of recovery. The two doctors selected by the Schindlers say she can recover.

_ Nov. 12, 2002: The Schindlers' attorney says medical records suggest Terri's condition may have been brought on by physical abuse, and asks for more time to get more evidence.

_ Nov. 22, 2002: Judge Greer rules that there is no evidence that Terri has any hope of recovery and orders feeding tube to be removed Jan. 3, 2003.

_ Dec. 13, 2002: Judge Greer stays order to remove feeding tube on Jan. 3 until the 2nd District Court of Appeal reviews the case.

_April 4, 2003: Schindlers' attorneys ask Second District Court of Appeal panel to "err on the side of life" and overturn Greer's ruling.

_June 6, 2003: 2nd District Court of Appeal upholds Greer's ruling.

_July 15, 2003: The 2nd District Court of Appeal refuses to rehear the case.

_Aug. 22, 2003: The Florida Supreme Court declines to hear case.

_Sept. 2, 2003: Schindlers take case to federal court seeking judicial intervention.

_Sept. 17, 2003: Judge Greer sets Oct. 15 date for removal of tube.

_Oct. 3, 2003: Attorney General Charlie Crist says he won't get involved in case.

_Oct. 7, 2003: Gov. Jeb Bush files a federal court brief urging Terri Schiavo be kept alive.

_Oct. 10, 2003: U.S. District Judge Lazzara rules he does not have jurisdiction to intervene in case.

_Oct. 13, 2003: Protesters and Schindler family begin 24-hour vigil at Pinellas Park hospice where Terri Schiavo lives.

_Oct. 14, 2003: 2nd District Court of Appeal again refuses to block tube removal; Schindler attorneys declare legal options exhausted.

_Oct. 15, 2003: Doctors remove feeding tube; Bush pledges to search for possible legal options to resume feedings.

_Oct. 17, 2003: Two state courts reject the Schindler's request to reinsert the feeding tube.

_Oct. 20, 2003: The Florida House of Representatives votes to give governor the power to issue a stay in the feeding tube dispute.

_Oct. 21, 2003: The Senate and House agree on legislation allowing Bush to intervene. He signs the bill, then issues an order to reinsert the tube. Morton Plant Hospital begins rehydrating Terri Schiavo, six days after her feeding tube was removed. A judge rejects a request by her husband's attorney to temporarily restrain the governor's order.

_May 6, 2004: Circuit Judge W. Douglas Baird rules the law allowing Bush to intervene is unconstitutional. The governor's attorneys file an appeal.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), May 12, 2004.


Ian,

I don't know much about the international phone number codes. What you said sounds right, but I'm not sure.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 12, 2004.


Zarove

"_ Oct. 12, 2002: Weeklong hearing begins in the case. Three doctors, including the one appointed by the court, testify that Terri is in a persistent, vegetative state with no hope of recovery. The two doctors selected by the Schindlers say she can recover."

can you elaborate on this event?

in particular, the fact that the court doctor agreed that the lady had "no hope of recovery".

is the court colluding with the husband?

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), May 12, 2004.


Ian, I pulled the info off a news site, so I cant emaborate,you can find the address in the post, but I cna look into it.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), May 12, 2004.

this is what the Catechism says about this kind of issue:

"2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected."

i'm clealry a layman and no expert but, as she has been poorly since 1990 and is still alive, then it would appear that there is "the ability to impede death". this means that a euthanasia in this circumstance is not permitted.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), May 13, 2004.



PS to be ABSOLUTELY CLEAR -- i am in NO position to judge the husband. i have seen stories that he is after the money. however, i also know that we can, in easy times, be so sanctimonious (and i feel a little like that right now); but until you "walk the mile" in that other guys shoes you never know how it feels or how you would react.

i pity him, whatever his motives. and i am just so glad that this has not happened to me. i have no idea how i might react -- even though its seems clear to me as an unaffected third party observer how i would like to react.

herein we see the power of prayer. herein we see the Intecessory value of the Blessed Virgin. herein we trust in God to see us through the abyss.

a young 14 yr old child had an abortion in the UK recently. her school told her to. they said her parents would disapprove. the parents found out and were furious. they would never have approved of an abortion. it's all legal. the school never had a duty to tell/ involve the parents. a baby is dead. the mother cannot be blamed.

thank the Lord that we have pro-lifers in high-office. Jeb Bush -- a GOOD MAN.

-- Ian (ib@vertifgo.com), May 13, 2004.


-info bump

Florida Supreme Court Shoots Down Terri's Law

Governor Bush Files for Rehearing

Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation

-- Daniel Hawkenberry (dlm@catholic.org), October 08, 2004.


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