[Apologetics] The Passion of Terri Schiavo

[Stephen Korsman]

The Passion of Terri Schiavo
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From: Human Life International 
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Sent: Monday, March 28, 2005 1:24 AM
Subject: Emailing: The Passion of Terri Schiavo



            From Washington Dispatch.com

            Commentary
            The Passion of Terri Schiavo
            Commentary by Joseph Starrs
            March 25, 2005




            Reading through the countless news stories and e-mails surrounding the tragic saga of Terri Schiavo, I found this quote from the Most Reverend Thomas Wenski, Bishop of Orlando, Fla., most compelling:



            "And so, Holy Week, the annual remembrance of Jesus' passion and death, begins with the Passion of Terri Schiavo. Terri's agony has already begun and barring some miracle the denouement of Terri's drama will be her death. This week in recalling Jesus' Passover from death to life we celebrate the fact that the misterium iniquitatis [mystery of evil], is overcome through the misterium cruces - [mystery of the Cross]. From the cross Jesus cried out and his cry is echoed today by all those held captive to a world of pain and sin. As Terri shares in his passion, she will share in his Resurrection. Like Jesus did, Terri Schiavo cries out, though with muted voice: 'I thirst!' "



            Indeed.  If it is true that we are witnessing Terri's "denouement" during these holy days, then the poignancy is all the more painful and gut wrenching. So many of us are numb. We are on a first name basis with Terri.  We know her parents, Bob and Mary, like they are old friends.  We see the pain and fatigue in their eyes. Those of us who are parents want to scream at the television, "All they want to do is take care of their little girl! Let them care for and love her!"



            Much of the world sees Terri's suffering and is repulsed and offended.  Many misguided people believe that quietly letting Terri "slip away" is the compassionate and honorable thing to do.  The chorus of the compassionate cry out, "What kind of Neanderthals will insert themselves in this family matter? Let Terri's husband do what any loving husband would do?" But my question is, how is killing ever compassionate?  What is "loving" about starving a human being? Are we as a people that far gone that we can no longer see beyond ourselves?  Since when does starvation offer a painless passing to the next world?   Returning Terri to the ones that truly care for her -- her parents -- would be the "loving" thing to do.  Why is this so complicated?   



            I am the father of five daughters.  They speak of Terri in the same way they speak of their good friends, Katy or Gabby. They have been praying for Terri for weeks and I dread the moment when I will have to tell them that she is gone.  Explaining that she will be in the arms of a loving God is the easy part.  Explaining how and why she got there. I don't know what I am going to say.



            For Terri and her family, countless believers offer the sustenance of prayer on their behalf.  We can worry about the courts, the laws, the lies and everything else later. We can hope and pray for a miracle -- we should pray for a miracle.  Regardless of what happens we know this: He who clutched the wood of the cross, now clutches the hands of Terri. He who suffered the painful road to Calvary, now eases the suffering of a painful death from dehydration and starvation. 



            While, at this point, Terri's cruel death seems imminent, we must ask ourselves what we, as a people, will gain from this tragedy. What good can come from such a deplorable situation? Most importantly it should serve as a wake up call to all those individuals who are 'personally' pro-life but choose not to 'push their beliefs on other people.' That, my friend, is an excuse to stay in the garden of apathetic wallflowers. If we don't express our beliefs and stand up for them, things like this happen. If we don't stand up for the rights of all human persons -- no matter their condition, no matter their mental state, no matter if they are born or preborn - those rights will be equally trampled upon until death. We see this happen by the thousands on a daily basis to those children lost under an abortionist's knife, and now we are seeing it happen to Terri Schiavo. I guess the question is, who is next?



            Christ's suffering and ultimate sacrifice were cruel and unthinkable, but they obviously produced wonderful fruit - eternal salvation. As that example teaches us, we must seek to find a silver lining in all tragic events. We must not let Terri Schiavo's imminent death be in vain. This situation should serve as an impetus for an awakening of all people. These events should help to open people's eyes to the undeniable right to life of every human person, regardless of their perceived condition. We should channel the pain and outrage we feel into constructive actions. If you never have before, let these events lead you to get involved to help build a true Culture of Life. Let Terri's tragedy guide you to make a real difference for life. 



            And so, this week, we mark the final excruciating steps on Christ's road to Calvary.  As water offered to sooth a parched palate and cracked lips is tossed to the ground by the guards, the onlookers shrink back amidst the frenzied crowd. The sense of helplessness grows by the moment. As water is offered to similar cracked lips to a suffering woman in Florida, armed guards haul people off in handcuffs - even children. Don't shrink back into the crowd. Helplessness will only grow if we allow it to.



            Joe Starrs is the director of American Life League's Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church.  Mr. Starrs studied at and received his degree in Catholic theology from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio; he did further studies at the John Paul II Institute on Marriage and Family Studies in Washington, D.C.  



            © Copyright 2004 The Washington Dispatch

           
     
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