Wittenberg Gate

Attorney's Last Visit With Terri Schiavo

You must read this:

Attorney's Last Visit With Terri Schiavo from the Empire Journal. It is Schindler Attorney Barbara Weller's account of her time with Terri on the day her feeding tube was removed.

Bloggers' Best for Terri Schiavo, Part Four

Here are some links I have found or were sent to me. Send Me your Terri Schiavo links or messages for inclusion here.

Please don't just read these posts and messages and shake your head. Contact your representatives and pray for Terri's safety. Pray also that anyone in a position of power will have a heart that is tender toward her.

Here is a list of things you can do. Here is another one.

Links:

• BlogsforTerri is posting an urgent message from Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, asking the public to keep up the pressure to save his sister's life.

• Kathryn Judson of Suitable for Mixed Company wrote Nightmares Old and New, in which she wonders how it is we came to this.

• Hyscience puts out the call for supporters to stand with Terri at her Pinellas Park hospice and also makes a good suggestion for a message to write on your signs.

• In National Review Online, Andrew C. McCarthy writes Torturing Terri Schiavo, in which he wonders where the outcry is for Terri from those human rights activists who wail when a terrorist prisoner is sent to bed without his supper. (HT Michelle Malkin)

• Amanda of Wittingshire says, As You Eat Remember.

• The Coming Death of Decency, a column by Dr. Tony Beam.

• From Barbarians at the Gate we have A Sad Friday, which among other things challenges the notion that Terri death by starvation would be a painless death. I suppose it would be painless if she had no awareness, but if they're wrong about that...

• From Catholics in the Public Square, read The Dark Effects of the Schiavo Case, by Oswald Sobrino, on the effect cases like this one have on the public view of our judicial system.

• Leo Wong sends us a beautiful Cross for Terri Schiavo.

• Journalistic Jargon sends us Man Finds Legal Way to Kill His Wife!

Messages from readers:

• If all else fails. But, all else hasn't failed. Terri hasn't had therapy for 10 years. WHY? I would like to know WHY!! I have been doing research and I understand that Terri was doing some walking and some talking after the couple received money from the lawsuit. Her husband withdrew therapy after just two years of her unfortunate head injury. And is it true that Terri was planning to leave her husband? There are to many questions that need answering and we need to keep this woman alive!!! Gail McCafferty, Bangor, ME.

• To the family I want to say how sorry I am that you are having to go through all of this, but keep on fighting, for it is not in vain.  Her husband must have something to hide by her recovery, that's why he is trying so hard to kill her. It should be considered murder to take away her feeding tube. Terri can see, hear, breath and do so many things on her own, to starve, and dehydrate her would be inhumane. My prayers and emotions are with you. I stand in support of Terri's LIFE 100%  Kara

• Pls help to keep this innocent woman alive.Maybe the part of her brain that controls her reactions does not function.But this does not mean she does not feel anything at all. It does not permit anybody to remove the tube and let her die.Pls let her stay alive. thanks, Nick

• I would like to reach out to this young woman with mercy, love, and understanding.  I do not think these people think.  They are taking matters of God, unto themselves. They have become foolish, and only anger him in it.  This is murder, and I am appalled that there are such wicked and merciless people who would let her die an agonizing death! I work in Health care and this Michael (a nurse) knows he is only going to cause her much senseless pain.  And you know what?  He will have a day when the great Lord, show him no mercy!!!  My heart and prayers are going out this minute to him, and so are a lot of other people's. If this doesn't stop there will be judgment upon her aggressors!  Do they really dare to hurt his little one, when he said Do not!!!  Yes, I believe that he hears many weeping for her.  Woe to them that continue. They can do the right thing. Damn, their court orders!!! Her blood will be on their hands!

• It is such a no-brainer. Do no harm. Husband Michael should not be guardian of Terry; how can he be a guardian and do harm by starving her to death. I can’t understand why Michael does not give over guardianship to Terry’s parents who want her to live. Do no harm, Michael. The judge is WRONG to allow removing the feeding tube. Marilyn Schaefer, Warren, New Jersey

More Terri Schiavo posts can be found here, and more links here.

Lawyer Says Terri Cried When Told

From Hyscience comes an account of Schindler attorney Barbara Weller's interaction with Terri Schiavo today when she informed Terri of what was happening.

Attorney Barbara Weller was with Terri earlier today. She told the media that, during her visit with Terri, she explained to her what was happening. According to Weller, Terri began to cry and could not be quieted. She tried to coach Terri to say "Let me live" but she simply was having too much difficulty.

Read the whole thing here.

Terri Schiavo Updates and Links

News on the Terri Schiavo case is happening fast and furiously today, one day before the order to remove her feeding and fluids tube takes effect.

U.S. Supreme Court
There has been an emergency motion to the United States Supreme Court to grant a stay on the execution of the court order to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. You can read the whole motion here. Among other things, the motion alleges that Terri has been denied due process by never having her own advocate, in the judge acting as both judge and health care surrogate during a part of the judicial process, and in a certain other violations of Florida law, including the judge never visiting Terri to make a personal assessment of her state.

United States Legislature
The House of Representatives passed their version of the Incapacitated Persons' Protection Act earlier today. Within the last hour, the Senate has passed a similar bill. Now the process of working out differences in the language of these two bills must happen. This bill would not necessarily save Terri's life, but it would guarantee her (and others like her) due process by providing her with independent counsel and a hearing before a federal court. This has been remarkably fast action for both houses of legislature, and a very hopeful development.

Florida Legislature
A bill to block the withholding of food and water from patients in a persistent vegetative state unless they have left written instructions to do so has easily passed in the Florida House, but a similar bill was defeated in the Senate with a vote of 21 to 16. It's not dead yet, but it is doubtful that a compromise bill that will pass both houses will be passed in time to help Terri.

The White House
President Bush issued the following statement on the Terri Schiavo case:

The case of Terri Schiavo raises complex issues.  Yet in instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws, and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life.  Those who live at the mercy of others deserve our special care and concern.  It should be our goal as a nation to build a culture of life, where all Americans are valued, welcomed, and protected - and that culture of life must extend to individuals with disabilities.

Around the Net for Terri

Here are some links to blogs and articles about Terri. (I'll be adding to this as the evening goes on.)

Ever wonder what it would be like to visit Terri? Here is the account of someone who did just that.

Mike Bennett, writer of theJesusfreak critiques Michael Schiavo's defense of his actions in More on Terri Schiavo.

GMRoper writes an open letter to Judge Greer.

BlogsforTerri is doing an excellent job of getting the latest developments in Terri's case up soon after they happen. Check in often for updates.

The Schindler family's site, TerrisFight.org has late developments and copies of court documents.

David Limbaugh muses about Terri's case in his column, Prayers for Terri. Link to it from here.

Don't miss a National Review Online article by the Rev. Robert Johansen. In it he adresses the issues surrounding the diagnosis of Terri Schiavo as PVS, that is, in a persistent vegetative state. This very thorough article, Starving for a Fair Diagnosis, makes the case that Terri's diagnosis was made by a neuroligist who is oriented toward a right-to-die stance and without the benefit of tests that are considered a minimum in the field of neurology. He states that he knows of over fifty neurologists that assert that Terri's testing and treatment have been inadequate. (Thanks to Baillie for the tip.)

Bloggers' Best for Terri Schiavo, Part 3

In an effort to keep up public attention on the Terri Schiavo situation, we are continuing the Bloggers' Best for Terri Schiavo while motions on her behalf are in the courts. If you contributed to parts one or two of the linkfests, please feel free to contribute a new work this week for part three, by emailing them to me at this email only. If you don't write a blog and want to contribute, send your comments in an email and I will include them.

Please, everyone, take the time to write letters or emails or make telephone calls on Terri's behalf, even if you have already done so. It is the least we can do, and it is having an impact. Use this link for contact information courtesy of the folks at Blogs for Terri. If you wish to contribute to the legal fees of the Schindler family as they fight for their daughter's life, visit TerrisFight.org for donation information. (Remember that Michael Schiavo has been using the $1.7 million fund a jury awarded him for his wife's care to pay for his legal actions to end her life, while the family that is defending her has no such resources.)

Note: More information on Terri Schiavo here. Links to other sites here. 

Are You Here for Terri Schiavo Information?

If you are here looking for information on the Terri Schiavo case, here are some links to help you.

On this site, I have reindexed the posts to make it easier to find information.

• You will find posts that are mostly Dory's writing here.

• You will find posts that are mostly links to other sites here. (This will include the Bloggers' Best for Terri Schiavo round-ups.)

Other sites to find information include:

• Blogs for Terri (with links to many other blogs)

• Blogs for Terri Aggregator (This site can help you find posts on other pro-Terri blogs.)

• Terri's Fight (The Schindler family operates this site. Good site for documents and videos.)

• Pro-life Blogs (all pro-life issues, including Terri)

Keep It Up!

If you are tempted to let up a little bit on Terri Schiavo's case because of a lessening of the tension after Friday's three-week stay on her starvation, remember it is only three weeks. The Schindlers have only three weeks to gather the information they need to convince a court to give Terri another chance to live. If you need motivation, go read this from GM's Corner. (Have the tissues ready.) The go write those emails, make those phone calls, and use your blogs to lobby for life.

Beyond the Gate

Bloggers' Best for Terri Schiavo
We're making a difference! I want to encourage writers to keep writing about the Terri Schiavo case, so I will keep the Bloggers' Best linkfest going. Send me a link to a new piece (since Friday) and I will link to it in Bloggers' Best for Terri Schiavo, Part 3.  If you have contributed to the previous round-up, you may contribute again. Please DO NOT send your link to my regular email address. Please use this one. If you don't write a blog, you may email articles or comments and I will include them.

In the News!
Bloggers have made the news  in the Philadelphia Inquirer, because we are thought to be having an impact on Terri Schiavo's case. The article mentions bloggers in general and specifically BlogsforTerri.

Victory??
In The "Victory" of Hunter S. Thompson, Jeff, one of the writers at Digital Brown Pajamas, looks at Thompson's suicide and the Terri Schivo case and makes some observations about our culture's attitudes about life and death.

Let's Go Fishing
Violet is writing poetry again over at Promptings. I love it when she does that.

Beyond the Gate

Columnist Changes His Mind on Terri Schiavo
Blogs for Terri lead me to this column by John Grogan, a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist, as he explains why he has changed his mind about the Terri Schiavo case. (You need to subscribe to read the aricle, but subscribing is free and easy.) I appreciate this author's balance. He doesn't accuse anyone, he merely evaluates the facts and finds himself wanting to err on the side of life and let those who are devoted to her care, care for her.

Florida Department of Children & Families Asks for 60 Days
Florida's DCF has asked Judge Greer for a 60-day stay on Terri's starvation and dehydration so they can have time to investigate possible abuse against Terri. They do not name a suspected abuser.
LaShawn Barber has blogged on this and leads us to a news source here.
UPDATE! They got it! (Well, some of it!) I just heard on Fox News that a stay has been issued until March 18th! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Update 2: The judge's order is now available online here. (HT BlogsforTerri)

Do You Write a New Christian Blog?
Nick Queen is now serving the Christian Blogosphere with his new project showcasing new Christian blogs. You need to sign up to be included. Check out the details here. This week's showcase is here.

Thou Shalt Not Covet
Oh, yes I shall. It's spring over at Wittingshire, and here at Wittenberg Gate we're preparing for yet another snowstorm, due Monday, which follows the storm we had yesterday.

Note: More information on Terri Schiavo here. Links to other sites here.

Bloggers' Best for Terri Schiavo, Part Two

Part One of the Bloggers' Best for Terri Schiavo can be found here. Since entries continue to come in, and I don't want the newer posts to be missed, I have started a new Part Two post here. Entries will be added in the order received, under the date they are added.

If you have not yet contributed a link from your blog, or, if you do not write a blog, but want to contribute something, please send your contributions here. (Not my regular email, please.) Send the title of both your blog and the post, and the links to each. One contribution per person/blog, please.

Updates on Terri: I understand that two rulings have come down on her case today. The first allowed Michael Schiavo to move ahead with his plans to starve her. The other was an emergency stay granted by Judge Greer to delay the starvation one day until another court case is decided. Thanks to Mike Bennet of theJesusfreak for sending me the link to the stay article. His comments on it can be found here.

Update 2: There seems to be confusion about whether or not the stay was issued. TerrisFight.org has the court document image on file here. The stay is until 5 pm Wednesday.

Note: More information on Terri Schiavo here. Links to other sites here.