Mae Magouirk Update
Updated information here. It appears that some aspects of this case are still being sorted out, including the motives of all the parties involved. Never-the-less, Ms. Magouirk appears to have been rescued just in time from a cruel death. For ongoing updates, please check in with Blogs for Terri.

Mae Magouirk Rescued
Breaking news reported by Blogs for Terri.

THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF THE FRIENDS OF TERRI, MY AUNT MAE MAGOUIRK HAS BEEN AIR LIFTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM MEDICAL CENTER ... and receiving IV fluids, nourishment and some of the finest medical care available in the United States! Praise be the name of the Lord GOD... Thanks to Terri's friends... It would NEVER ever have been possible without bloggers who love life , and the truth!! I am racing from my home to UAB now and will type a detailed update after I see my Aunt Mae! Thanks guys, your calls, emails, blogs and prayers did it ALL!!! I so love you guys!!!!!!!!!! Ken Mullinax, nephew of Mae

Pray that Ms. Magouirk recovers from her ordeal and receives continued protection from imposed death.

Another Disabled Woman in Grave Danger
From Fr. Rob Johansen at Thrown Back:

85 year-old Mae Magouirk of LaGrange, Georgia, is currently being deprived of nutrition and hydration at the request of her granddaughter, Beth Gaddy. Mrs. Magouirk suffered an aortic dissection 2 weeks ago and was hospitalized. Though her doctors have said that she is not terminally ill, Ms. Gaddy declared that she held medical power of attorney for Mae, and had her transferred to the LaGrange Hospice. Later investigation revealed that Ms. Gaddy did not in fact have such power of attorney. Furthermore, Mae's Living Will provides that nutrition and hydration are to be withheld only if she is comatose or vegetative. Mae is in neither condition. Neither is her condition terminal.

Additional information at Blogs for Terri.

Pope John Paul II Laid to Rest

Image link from Catholic Forum

Pope John Paul II was laid to rest in Rome after a solemn Mass attended by many world dignitaries and many more common people. (I'm watching the replay on C-Span this evening.) The homily was delivered by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who concluded by saying:

None of us can ever forget how in that last Easter Sunday of his life, the Holy Father, marked by suffering, came once more to the window of the Apostolic Palace and one last time gave his blessing urbi et orbi. We can be sure that our beloved Pope is standing today at the window of the Father's house, that he sees us and blesses us. Yes, bless us, Holy Father. We entrust your dear soul to the Mother of God, your Mother, who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the eternal glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

So much has been written about JPII these last few days, it has been impossible to capture it all. However, here is a summary of quite a number of reflections by National Review Online.

The Splendor of Truth

Image link from Catholic Forum

A fundamental trait of Pope John Paul II was his persistence in upholding objective truth as opposed to passing conventional wisdom. Thomas Hibbs writes on this in his article at NRO.

During his tenure as pope, John Paul has repeatedly turned his attention to contemporary confusion and insincerity, particularly regarding human rights, not in totalitarian regimes, but in the advanced, western, liberal democracies. He detects a "surprising contradiction" concerning rights. Instead of continuing a trajectory of expansion of rights and greater inclusion, there is a contraction of the scope and application of rights. Instead of curbing oppression, these new formulations introduce the possibility of new and more sinister forms of tyranny. In The Gospel of Life, he wrote,

The criterion of personal dignity-which demands respect, generosity and service-is replaced by the criterion of efficiency, functionality and usefulness: others are considered not for what they "are," but for what they "have, do and produce." This is the supremacy of the strong over the weak.

How did this come about - this strange reversal, this "surprising contradiction," in which the modern proclamation of human dignity and the promise of expanded human rights give way to an indifference or even hostility to those most vulnerable among us?

It depends on how you ask the questions.
During the last couple of weeks, we were constantly bombarded with claims that polls showed overwhelming opposition to congressional & presidential involvement in the fate of Terri Schiavo, or even the possible restoration of hydration and nutrition to her. Not surprisingly, the questions asked often inaccurately stated Terri's condition or other facts in the case.

Now, results of a Zogby poll have been released which contradict those earlier claims.

The Zogby poll found that, if a person becomes incapacitated and has not expressed their preference for medical treatment, as in Terri's case, 43 percent say "the law presume that the person wants to live, even if the person is receiving food and water through a tube" while just 30 percent disagree.

Another Zogby question his directly on Terri's circumstances.

"If a disabled person is not terminally ill, not in a coma, and not being kept alive on life support, and they have no written directive, should or should they not be denied food and water," the poll asked.

A whopping 79 percent said the patient should not have food and water taken away while just 9 percent said yes.
............
The poll also lent support to members of Congress to who passed legislation seeking to prevent Terri's starvation death and help her parents take their lawsuit to federal courts.

"When there is conflicting evidence on whether or not a patient would want to be on a feeding tube, should elected officials order that a feeding tube be removed or should they order that it remain in place," respondents were asked.

Some 18 percent said the feeding tube should be removed and 42 percent said it should remain in place.

"Be not afraid!"

Image link from Catholic Forum

So much is being said about Pope John Paul II's impact on the world and on individual souls. His growth to maturity in Poland at the time of Nazi oppression, followed by Communist oppression, steeled his spiritual character for his call to service in the Church, climaxing in his world changing papacy.

JPII catalyzed the spirit of the people living under Communism and lead to the mostly peaceful manor in which that deeply flawed system fell in much of the world. His challenge to the whole world, in particular our 'liberal' western societies, lives on. As President Bush said today:

Pope John Paul II left the throne of St. Peter in the same way he ascended to it -- as a witness to the dignity of human life. In his native Poland, that witness launched a democratic revolution that swept Eastern Europe and changed the course of history. Throughout the West, John Paul's witness reminded us of our obligation to build a culture of life in which the strong protect the weak. And during the Pope's final years, his witness was made even more powerful by his daily courage in the face of illness and great suffering.

The Holy Father not only challenged societies to live up to what they should be, but also for individuals to have hope, to overcome weakness and sin, and to draw closer to God.

His Holiness Pope John Paul II, 1920-2005
Pope John Paul II passed away in Rome at 9:37 p.m. (2:37 p.m. EST) today. His service as the Vicar of Christ from 1978 until today was one of the longest and most vigorous in history.

More on a Sad Day
I heard the news this morning from Laura Ingraham on her Radio Show. God bless Laura for her passionate and persistent coverage of Terri Schindler-Schiavo's situation.

There will be many heroic persons remembered in this fight for life, but none more so than Terri herself, who fought on so valiantly for thirteen days denied water & food, after years of being denied proper treatment and therapy. Her mother, father, sister and brother have shown an incredible loyalty and love that has been such an inspiration. Those who've supported Terri and her family, the lawyers, the nurses and other witnesses and those who strove to get the truth out through the family's web site.

Those in public office and public advocacy in the state and federal legislative and executive branches who tried to make a difference. Because he has been so vilified, I want to single out TOM DELAY for his leading role. At the same time, as a reminder not to put people into ideological boxes, I need to commend Jesse Jackson, Ralph Nader, Senator Tom Harkin and others. Organizers in the prolife and disability rights movements persistently tried to defend Terri.

I've mentioned Laura Ingraham, who along with Sean Hannity and others courageously defied the conventional wisdom in the media and my fellow bloggers on the Internet who strove to get the truth out.

I'll probably go into other aspects of this in coming days. In the meantime, pray for Terri and her family, that the truth come out and justice be done without malice, and for our society to get beyond shallow thinking to protect the dignity of every human life at every stage and in every condition.

Terri Schindler-Schiavo (1963-2005)
Terri died this morning of court ordered dehydration/starvation. I won't say that she 'passed away' because, in fact, she was pushed. Pray for Terri in eternal rest, pray for her family and pray for all of us. The work of Terri's fight will go on.

Example of Grace in Suffering
Pope John Paul II is using a feeding tube for part of his nutrition.

The statement Wednesday said John Paul spends "many hours" seated in an armchair, celebrates Mass in his private chapel and has work contacts with his aides "following directly the activities of the Holy See and the life of the church."

It said the pope continues "his slow and progressive convalescence" and that public audiences remain suspended.

How Much Time Left?
Today brought A federal court setback and frustration of Jesse Jackson's efforts to win State Senate support for saving Terri Schiavo. Fr. Frank Pavone is saying on Hannity and Colmes that Terri's situation is not peaceful as some (i.e. George Felos) have claimed.

Meanwhile, a doctor says, if action is taken soon, it is not necessarily too late to rescue Terri.

Maryland House Votes for Embryonic Stem Cells
The Maryland House of Delegates has voted to spend $23 million per year on embryonic stem cell research, despite objections that such research is unethical and less effective than promising alternatives.

"No research should ever be done at the expense of another life, yet that is what embryonic stem cell research does," the Baltimore Sun reported Democrat Anne Healey saying.

Healey and others said state money should only be used on adult stem cells, which are more ethical and have already produced dozens of treatments and cures.

Possible Hope in the Florida Senate?
I haven't often agreed with Jesse Jackson on anything, but I'll stand up and applaud him if he can pull this off! Rev. Jackson reports that he has persuaded two state senators to switch their votes toward supporting a bill to save Terri Schiavo. (One more vote would still be needed.) More details here from Blogs for Terri.

Let's pray they can act in time for Terri!

She Still Fights to Live!
Bobby Schindler and Brother Paul O'Donnell on Hannity and Colmes tonight spoke of Terri's interactions with visitors today. Statistically, it is very late and Terri's fate does not look good, but she once said, "Where there's life, there's hope." We shouldn't give up on her.

Nat Hentoff describes the real facts behind Terri Schiavo's case, as opposed to the Old Media spin.

As a Feb. 28 letter to the Washington Times by Daniel John Sobieski asks: "Who's next? Alzheimer's victims? The elderly in nursing homes? The handicapped? . . . Will we be allowed to do to people what is illegal to do to dogs?" The courts and the ignorant coverage by most of the media of this crucial case have until now appallingly failed Terri Schiavo and the community of the disabled.
And who knows how many more innocent victims in the years ahead?

Meanwhile, Wesley Smith describes how the Internet has changed the dynamics in the fight for the lives of the vulnerable.

Terri Schiavo's story is a tragedy, and, for many, an outrage. But it holds a glimmer of hope for those with views that have traditionally received short shrift in the media--a category that decidedly includes those fighting to reverse the presumption of death enshrined in all too many state laws covering cases like Terri Schiavo's. Thanks to the new online media, these cases will never again be one-sided.

Easter
At this time when evil appears to be triumphing, we take heart in Jesus Christ's victory over death for all of us.

Link from www.truecatholic.org, artist not listed.

Brothers and sisters:
If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
Col 3:1-4

Letter to President Bush...
...I faxed early this morning.

Dear President Bush

The situation involving Terri Schiavo has implications well beyond the tragic situation of this disabled woman and her family. The rule of law and the fundamental culture of our civilization are on the line.

I stood on the Mall on January 20 and heard you boldly proclaim a goal of spreading democracy around the world. Yet, at this dark hour, many are wondering about the fate of democracy here at home.

Those that are seeking to end Terri’s life hide behind words about ‘states’ rights’ and ‘family matters’ while using unbridled judicial power to impose a profound cultural change threatening the dignity of human life. They have blatantly defied Congressional subpoenas and the legislation you signed into law early Monday morning. If this cultural coup is not faced down decisively, the lives of the disabled and frail, and indeed of all of us, will be left vulnerable.

I recall from my civics classes that it is the responsibility of the Executive Branch to enforce the law. This week I have been hearing a growing number of lawyers and scholars voicing the same responsibility and citing law and principle to back up their assertions. Most interesting is a section of Dr. Steven Krason's Book, "The Public Order and the Sacred Order" and an accompanying letter of introduction which states:

The immediate situation of Mrs. Terri Schiavo needs to be addressed; her right to life and other rights must be upheld by an immediate, definite exertion of executive power. Moreover, this case has long-run implications of the highest order for our constitutional regime. The usurpation of the power of the courts has been substantial for two generations. If this egregious assault on one innocent woman’s life is not stopped by the forceful exercise of executive power—the only way she can now be saved—then the usurpation will have reached a new level and will be more threatening and destructive in the future. This case, in some sense, can define the future of the American constitutional order.

The link to the letter and the chapter, which I understand have already been sent to Governor Bush, as the same principle applies at the state level, is

http://www.ngovoice.com/krason01.htm

Mr. President, you’ve given America and the world so much hope for the advancement of democracy and human dignity, but your moral authority is now on the line. Like the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation, this is another defining moment in your Presidency to which you were called.

I urge you to promptly use your Constitutional executive power to protect Terri Schindler-Schiavo, and my prayers are with you as you face this grave moment which will determine the fate of our society.

Thank you for your attention.

"I want to live!"
So much has happened. More court rejections. The Schindlers' lawyers have brought the evidence of Terri expressing her wish to live last week to Judge Greer. Straight Up with Sherri provide links to media accounts that appeared last week which I'm repeating here:

http://www.theempirejournal.com/0319054_terri_schiavo_says_she_w.htm

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43383

http://straightupwsherri.blogspot.com/2005/03/terri-speaks.html#comments

See Sherri's link above for many e-mail addresses of media and public officials.

Good Friday, 2005 A.D.
"We Thirst." PDF flyer from Defend Life.

Another Long Day
Several bad court decisions regarding Terri. Waiting again on the Federal 11th Circuit Court.