Category Archives: End of Life

Remembering Terri Schiavo

March 31, 2010

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo, after a judge ruled that her feeding tube had to be removed. Her family fought for her to be kept alive but ultimately lost a very public battle.

 Bobby Schindler, Terri’s brother, writes today that:

It is difficult to believe this much time has passed since that horrible day – an event which will be forever seared into my memory. 

I wish I could say things have changed for the better since my sister’s death, or that people with cognitive disabilities are now better protected in response to the horror she had to endure. 

Tragically, however, the rights of the brain-injured, elderly and others are still being violated. 

Bobby goes on to talk about the offensive Family Guy episode where they parodied a musical about Terri’s death. Jill Stanek has more here.

Now with the signing of the healthcare bill into law, it is very likely that rationing will occur, especially to those who are special needs children or for adults like Terri who need more care than others. We must continue to fight for the rights of all peoples – from the unborn to natural death.

To commemorate the 5th anniversary of Terri’s death, her family is hosting a benefit concert on April 11th in Indianapolis, IN featuring country music legends Randy Travis and Collin Raye. There’s still time to buy your tickers to support the foundation! Go here for more info: http://www.lifeandhopeconcert.org/.

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Fox’s “The Family Guy” Mocks Terry Schiavo on Eve of 5th Anniversary of Her Death

March 22, 2010

We all know how trashy and offensive many of today’s prime time programs can be.  Indeed, the Family Hour is gone as we know it, despite the incredible success of shows such as Touched By An Angel. 

But last night, Fox and prime time television sunk to a new low when Fox Network’s “The Family Guy” dedicated its show to a mockery of Terry Schiavo on the eve of the 5th Anniversary of her death. 

Here is the video with a viewer discretion advisory:

family-guy-peter-assment

Terry’s Family Responds

Five Years Later, Terri Schiavo Mocked on FOX Prime Time

As Her Family Prepares to Honor Terri’s Life and Struggle Five Years After Her Death with a Country Concert in Indianapolis, FOX’s The Family Guy Goes Ugly!

March 22, 2010 (St. Petersburg, Florida) – The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation is expressing shock at the March 21, 2010 airing in prime time of Fox’s The Family Guy, which featured satire about Terri Schiavo, the deceased Florida woman, who was starved to death in 2005 after a lengthy court battle.

The horrific sketch was titled “Terri Schiavo: The Musical.”

In this sketch, Schiavo is mocked and the memory of the suffering she endured ridiculed – portrayed as someone on a number of mechanical life support systems.  She is referred to as a vegetable.  Both inferences are false regarding Terri’s case!  The sketch ends with characters calling for pulling the plug.

Terri’s brother, Bobby Schindler stated: “My family was astonished at the cruelty and bigotry towards our beloved sister, and all disabled people that we witnessed in this show.  My first thought was how this attempt at satire must have been enormously difficult and painful for my mother.

“After further thought, I realized that using my deceased sister as fodder for satire also validates what our family has been saying for many years. There is growing, deep-rooted prejudice against people with brain injuries and other cognitive disabilities. This sort of bare-faced bigotry is dehumanizing to those with disabilities and cruel to those who work tirelessly to ensure that people with disabilities are provided the proper care, protection and respect. People are not vegetables.”

Terri Schiavo was not kept alive on mechanical life support. She made use of a feeding tube after some doctors determined it safer for her than swallowing food and fluids on her own.

“The depiction of Terri in The Family Guy episode on March 21 is not only inaccurate,” states Schindler, “it seems to take the position that certain people are simply not worthy of receiving medical care because they are viewed as burdens on the health care system.”

Schindler also believes it is not a coincidence that this terrible prime time skit took place 10 days prior to the five year anniversary of Terri’s death (3/31/05), and just weeks before the foundation’s first ever Terri’s Life and Hope Concert featuring Randy Travis and Collin Raye, slated for April 11th in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Foundation is calling on all disability rights organizations and pro-life organizations to join us in admonishing the producers and writers of The Family Guy.  It will also begin pursuing the sponsors and advertisers of The Family Guy, urging them to stop advertising in this program.  

The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation was established by the surviving family members of Terri Schiavo to protect the rights of people with disabilities.  It has communicated and supported with more than 1,000 families since Terri’s Death – families who have loved one’s living with brain injuries.

Want to Show Support for Terry? 

If you live in the Indianapolis area you might be interested in showing your support to Terry Schiavo by going to a charity concert dedicated to her by her family and friends taking place Sunday, April 11, 7pm at the Murat Theatre.  The Terry Schiavo Life and Hope concert features country legends Randy Travis and Collin Raye.  More info here.

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Culture of Death Knocks on Congress’ Door, Catholics Called to Action – Day of Prayer and Fast

March 13, 2010

Last week was a crazy and confusing week given the latest twists and turns emanating from the final days of the health care battle.  Pro-government run health care forces are doing all they can to play parliamentary games to try and pass pro-abortion, pro-euthanasia, government imposed health care on the American people, despite the peoples’ fairly obvious objection — over and over again. 

SMS has covered the health care debate ad nauseum.  This is because of the tremendous life-altering impact health care “reform,” as proposed by pro-abortion/euthanasia forces in Washington, mainly President Obama and his allies in Congress, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, will have on the American people and our culture.  Obama, Pelosi and Reid are trying to pull out every trick in the book to force the American public, the taxpayer, to fund elective abortion on demand and sign up for policies that lead to rationing of care, as well as force doctors to perform abortions and engage practices that ration care. 

A new study out by the New England Journal of Medicine says that almost 1/3 of Doctors say they would leave the health profession if the Obama Democrats version of health care passes.  Yet we see little of this in the national media.

The USCCB issued a Call to Action that will appeared in many bulletins on Sunday urging Catholics to call their Represenatives and Senators and once again  make our voices heard in defense of the sanctity of life, from conception to natural death.  It also declares that a conscience protections clause must be in the final bill, protecting the rights of doctors, nurses and other pro-life medical professionals who refuse to engage in life ending practices or counseling on abortion or euthanasia.

You can read the Call to Action and bulletin insert here.

Additionally, SMS is asking our supporters to pass the word in joining Bishop Paul Loverde, Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, VA in his call for Monday, March 15th to be a national day of prayer and fast to protect the sanctity of life in any health care legislation that comes from Congress. 

Learn more about the fast here.

Make no mistake, the health care bill that will be voted on this week will include taxpayer funding for abortion, will lead to rationing of health care and is devoid of sufficient protections for pro-life doctors, nurses and medical professionals.  The culture of death is knocking on Congress’ door.  Given that no life-protecting measures are in the bill to be voted on next week, SMS urges our supporters to call their Representatives and Senators and tell them to vote NO! 

Call your Congressman at 202-225-3121

Call your Senator at 202-224-3121

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Stupak Digs In As Nelson Sells Out on Abortion Funding in Health Care Bill

December 20, 2009

Senator Ben Nelson has sold out the unborn and has announced that he is ready to support Senator Harry Reid’s abortion funding health care bill.  If passed, Senator Reid’s health care bill will lead to the largest expansion of abortion since the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision allowing abortion on demand.  (One has to wonder what that decision would have been if the Court had been shown sonograms.) Nelson’s fascade came to an end when Reid offered money to Nelson for his home state of Nebraska. In return for this scam, Nelson has watered down his bill which will allow federal funding of abortion, but, oh, states can opt out of the government exchange if  they want.  This move undercuts the pro-life, pro-Hyde Stupak-Pitts Amendment.  But as Senator Nelson caves, Congressman Stupak is digging in, calling the Nelson abortion funding compromise, “unacceptable.”

Senator Ben Nelson

Senator Ben Nelson

 

Here is how the following days will play out.

The manger’s amendment released by Senator Reid now appears to have the 60 votes necessary to end debate and pass the health care reform bill in the Senate. The first in a series of cloture votes (vote to end debate on an amendment or bill) is expected around 1 am Monday morning.  If all goes as currently projected, the Senate would pass the health care bill sometime next week.  If the Senate passes its bill, there will then likely be a House-Senate Conference to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate language.  The House and Senate would then have to approve the modifications made in the conference.  In a statement released today Pro-life Caucus Co-chair Bart Stupak (D-MI) said “While I and many other pro-life Democratic House members wish to see health care coverage for all Americans, the proposed Senate language is unacceptable.”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responded immediately to the Nelson abortion funding Amendment. Statement here.

For more information please visit:

www.stoptheabortionmandate.com, National Right to Life Committee, and Americans United for Life

How ironic that as we ready for the coming of our Lord in this Advent season, that during Christmas week, the week of the birth of our savior, the United States Senate is going to pass a health care bill that provides federal funding for the taking of  innocent human life.  

St. Michael Society is encouraging all of our friends, followers and supporters to please pray to our Holy Mother to continue to give Congressman Bart Stupak, and other supporting Democrats, the will and the courage to stand their ground and defend innocent human life against a wave of pressure.  We also pray to Our Holy Mother for the protection of the unborn and for a culture of life in the face of an America that continues to head further and further down the road toward a culture of death. 

Finally, we encourage all to call their Senators and Representatives and tell them, no to a health care bill that leads to a massive funding of abortion, essentially an abortion industry pay out, and no to government run health care that leads to rationed care and euthanasia.

Senate: 202.224.3121

House: 202.225.3121

 

 

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Pope Calls for Allowing Terminally Ill to Live their Suffering with Dignity

December 14, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI makes a loving and strong case today for allowing the terminally ill to live their suffering with dignity.  The Pope also demonstrates the need to care for and support the terminally ill, reminding us that suffering is a part of earthly life that leads to everlasting life. 

As the health care debate rages in the United States, this message is so important to understanding the end of life issues currently being debated.

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Sen. Mikulski’s Healthcare Stance is No Life

December 10, 2009

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) this week tried to brand the largest expansion of abortion since Roe vs. Wade as pro-life.  In the process she hijacked the term “whole life” in her Senate floor speech and Jason Jones, founder of http://www.iamwholelife.com/, a grassroots organization that defends all life, “From the child in the womb to the child in Darfur, from the embryo to the elderly,” reacted:

“Sadly, Sen. Mikulski’s statement demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding on her part about what it means to be Whole Life…Any legislation that compromises the dignity of the human person, including the sanctioning of abortion, as Sen. Mikulski’s does, is No Life.”

Here is what the Pro Abortion Mikulski said, “Rick Warren talks not about pro-life but whole life principles. Now i think that being able to see a doctor or an appropriate health care professional saves lives, and I view this vote on health care reform as pro-life or whole life as anyone can cast.”

“The greatest threat to human dignity in the United States is the destruction of human life in the womb; not a lack of ‘health care reform,’” responded Jason Jones, www.IAmWholeLife.com. “There is no social justice when the life of an innocent child is taken by abortion; abortion destroys a whole life and protects no one.”
To read the complete statement please visit here.  To learn more about the I Am Whole Life movement please visit http://www.iamwholelife.com/.

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“I am Whole Life” Makes Waves

November 30, 2009

There is a new pro-life movement out there called “I am Whole Life” and it’s taking the world by storm.  What does it mean to be Whole Life?  Fresh from its site, www.Iamwholelife.com, the campaign seeks to promote a respect for the intrinsic dignity of the human person regardless of ability, age, status, ethnicity or sex.  To be Whole Life means to acknowledge that “issues that appear to be separate such as human sex trafficking, political violence, famine, abortion, female genital mutilation, euthanasia, pornography, embryo destruction and many others are actually related threats to the dignity of the human person.  The Whole Life ethic recognizes that a threat anywhere to human dignity constitutes a threat to human dignity everywhere.  The Whole Life ethic is dedicated to promoting and defending human dignity in all its stages. In the United States the biggest threat is abortion, other places it may be female genital mutilation, famine, forced sterilization, or lack of civil rights.”

img_PledgeTop

People are encouraged to sign the pledge and join as members of the Whole Life community.  They can share their Whole Life video testimonials right next to celebrities such as Eduardo Verastegui (actor), Angela Baraquio Grey (former Miss America 2001) and Jason Jones (American movie producer, humanitarian, and grassroots activist).  The site also has a section that recommends movies, books, articles, and websites which inform and inspire people to live Whole Life.  High school and college students are also invited to submit YouTube videos showing how they are Whole Life for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship contest .

For more ways for you to get involved with the Whole Life movement, please go here.

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Historic Christian & Catholic Manifesto on Hot Topics Released Today

November 20, 2009

Christian leaders, both Catholics and Evangelicals, said in no uncertain terms today that they will not be silenced when it comes to issues of grave moral concern including abortion, same-sex marriage and stem-cell research.

The leaders will be releasing a manifesto today called the Manhattan Declaration, as reported in the New York Times. It states:

 “We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other antilife act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent.”

Cross Christian ethics are under attack. You may think the First Amendment protects these rights or that conscience clause language (which President Obama has already started the procedure to rescind) makes sure doctors and other medical professionals are not discriminated against or lose their jobs for refusing to do abortions or other life-ending procedures.

 They don’t, which is why it’s come to this.

 The Catholic Church and Christian leaders are not imposing their views on anyone but if forced to comply with laws that are contrary to moral absolutes, be assured will not yield.

 Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council said this today:

Without question there will be critics yelling ‘separation of church and state.’ This is silly: we are imposing our denominational views on no one. We are bringing our faith to bear on public policy because we see the efforts of the Left as a frontal assault on human dignity, the American family, and the future of our children. For this reason, we will not retreat an inch and will make the case for life, marriage, and religious liberty in the public square.

 What an encouragement for all Catholics and Christians today who are struggling in their fight to uphold traditional morals and values in a world that has seemingly ignored all sense of right and wrong.

 It is our hope that the U.S. Congress reads and considers this manifesto seriously since the healthcare reform bills are in direct opposition to the sanctity of life in many regards.

 View the entire 4700 word manifesto here: http://demossnews.com/ManhattanDeclaration

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The Consequences of Flip Flopping on Stupak, Public Option

November 17, 2009

As America attentively awaits the U.S. Senate to take up debate on health care reform, the battle over whether or not the federal government should use health care to fund abortion is intensifying.  While pro-life groups have much to cheer about in demonstrating a liberal Congress voted for the pro-life Stupak-Pitts Amendment preventing federal funding of abortion, as expected the abortion industry is hard at work energizing its base to ensure abortion industry allies on the Hill yank Stupak-Pitts from the final bill that goes to the President. 

Indeed, President Obama, the abortion industry’s President, who was most clear about his commitment to abortion during the campaign and in his first acts as President when he overturned the Mexico City policy, is already signaling through his aides that he prefers to sign a health bill that provides abortion funding, i.e. strip Stupak-Pitts.  This despite the fact that countless polls now show the American people, including many Democrats and many folks who consider themselves “pro-choice” do not support federal monies being used to pay for abortions. 

Ms. Pelosi, a Catholic, also seems dug in on making sure the public option, where the government controls all health care and takes over 1/6th of the American economy, remains intact.  For RedState and centrists Democrats a vote for a bill that strips Stupak or maintains the public option would be committing political suicide in 2010.  Polls also show the American public does not want government run healthcare either because they know it leads to rationing care.  

For Catholics, and many others, this bill contradicts many of our basic tenets – even with the Stupak-Pitts amendment. Catholics need to be FOR the Stupak Amendment but AGAINST the overall bill. Conscience protections are weak in the House bill and non-existent in the Senate bill and euthanasia is permitted. These are not pro-life provisions and neither is rationing.

In many ways Stupak-Pitts and Pelosi’s digging in on the public option has boxed those centrist Democrats who voted for Stupak-Pitts and those who are rightly uncomfortable with the public option — an option that pro-lifers need to be adamant in opposing as it leads to rationed care.  This presents a major problem for Speaker Pelosi.  If she does not side with her abortion industry and government-run health care friends, she risks backlash.  Yet, if she puts the arm to the 29 House Democrats who voted for Stupak-Pitts, and sheds the blue dog label from centrist House Democrats, she risks losing numerous House seats in November. 

The risk for the 29 Democrats who voted for Stupak-Pitts is if they vote for a health care bill that either weakens or does not include Stupak-Pitts in its current form, they will position themselves as flip-floppers heading into an election year.  The risk for the blue dog, centrist Democrats, is if they vote for a public option, they are likely signaling an intent to retire from Congress.  This may be one reason why Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is struggling to move a Senate bill.   

The one resounding theme that commentators of all stripes agree with coming out of the 2009 elections in New Jersey and Virginia is that voters are in a ”throw them out” mentality.  Incumbents are not very popular and that anti-incumbent sentiment is likely to grow as we roll into and through 2010.  And, it will be up to pro-life groups, Catholics and limited government proponents to hold each of these 29 Democrats, and the blue dogs accountable for flip flopping.

The question for Speaker Pelosi and the pro-Stupak, anti-public option blue dog Democrats is are they ready and willing to run in 2010 as incumbent, flip-floppers.  If they do, we can expect major GOP gains in the 2010 elections.  Ball’s in your court, Ms. Speaker. 

SMS Editors

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Paying for Assisted Suicide in Health Care Bill

November 2, 2009

 Assisted Suicide

Suicide Doc Jack Kevorkian

Suicide Doc Jack Kevorkian

 

Relevant Concerns from the House Health Care Reform Bill, H.R. 3962

  Summary

 Two sections of H.R. 3962 promote end-of-life planning that will include assisted suicide in states where it is legal. One provision mandates the dissemination of end-of-life planning materials to all individuals insured through the Exchange.  The other authorizes federal Medicare reimbursement for end-of-life planning.  Information provided under both provisions will include assisted suicide options in those states where it is legal. 

  

 Provisions in H.R. 3962

 

Section 240, authored by Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN), requires insurance companies to “provide for the dissemination of information related to end-of-life planning to individuals seeking enrollment in Exchange-participating health benefits plans offered through the Exchange” and shall present “(A) the option to establish advanced directives and physician’s orders for life sustaining treatment according to the laws of the State in which the individual resides; and (B) information related to other planning tools.”

The Hill amendment states that the material in this section “shall not include advanced directives or other planning tools that list or describe as an option suicide, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.”  Unfortunately, this section is meaningless in the states that have legalized assisted suicide.  In such states (see below) the term “death with dignity” is used to describe what is commonly known as assisted suicide, and the law defines “death with dignity” such that it is statutorily not considered assisted suicide.

Language in the Hill amendment as offered and passed in Committee anticipated this complication and included a prohibition on providing materials that promoted the intentional “hastening of death.”  This language, intended to cover scenarios in which the term assisted suicide is redefined, was stripped out the bill by House leaders prior to reintroduction of the bill.

 

The outcome of the Hill language will be that the federal government will require insurance companies to distribute end-of-life planning material that could include information about assisted suicide in the states where it is legal.  A vote to approve this language is a vote to encourage assisted suicide. 

Section 1233, included at the request of Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) adds “advance care planning consultations” as a new optional Medicare-covered benefit. The consultation must be between a physician (or other health care professional) and the patient, and may be conducted every five years or more often if the patient’s condition worsens. The pro-life community has raised serious concerns about the potential for coercing seniors to make end-of-life choices that are cost saving, but not life-affirming. 

With regard to assisted suicide, language in the section specifies that “Nothing in this section shall–…encourage the promotion of suicide or assisted suicide.”  However, as is the case with the Hill amendment, this reference is without substantive meaning in states that have legalized and redefined the term “assisted suicide.”

The outcome of the Blumenauer language is that Medicare will pay for end-of-life consultations that include assisted suicide options (under the euphemism of “death with dignity”) in states where assisted suicide is legal.

Operative State Laws Nullifying Assisted Suicide References

Both Oregon and Washington have legalized what is commonly known as assisted suicide.  In those states assisted suicide is referred to as “death with dignity.”  In crafting state laws, Oregon and Washington redefined the act of assisting in a suicide as “death with dignity,” explicitly stating that such action is not legally considered assisted suicide.

The Oregon law reads, “Actions taken in accordance with ORS 127.800 to 127.897 shall not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing or homicide, under the law. [1995 c.3 s.3.14]”

The Washington law reads, “Actions taken in accordance with this chapter do not, for any purpose, constitute suicide, assisted suicide, mercy killing, or homicide, under the law.”

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