Would the OCC Support Withdrawing Food and Water from Terri Schiavo?

Dear Advocates for Life, Those of us who went to Oregon Catholic Conferences Advocacy Day (Monday, February 21st) were disappointed that only HB 2020 was mentioned in the Advocacy for Life Issues. Now, we are more concerned with, why we weren't told that the previous Thursday, Feb. 17th, Bob Castagna went before the Sentate Judiciary, speaking for all Catholic Oregonians, in support of Senate Bill 248. Maybe the following will explain why. FIRST - Words about the Dignity of the Human Person before an explanation of SB 248. In a speech last year, Pope John Paul II affirmed the inherent dignity of every human being: “Even our brothers and sisters who find themselves in the clinical condition of a ‘vegetative state’,” he said, “retain their human dignity in all its fullness.” They are not “vegetables,” but fellow human beings in need of our love and care. The Holy Father added that these patients have “the right to basic health care (nutrition, hydration, cleanliness, warmth, etc.).” He reminded us that providing water and food, even by artificial means, is “morally obligatory, insofar as and until it is seen to have attained its proper finality, which in the present case consists in providing nourishment to the patient and alleviation of his suffering.” " There are times when even such basic means may cease to be morally obligatory, because they have become useless or unduly burdensome for the patient. Deliberately to remove them in order to hasten a patient’s death, however, would be a form of euthanasia, which is gravely wrong." SENATE BILL 248 "Modifies power of guardian to withhold or withdraw artificially administered nutrition and hydration for protected person." "A guardian may consent to the withholding or withdrawing of artificially administered mutrition and hydration for a protected person only under the circumstances described in ORS 127.580 (1)(a), (b), (d), (e) or (f) and if the protected person has a medical condition specified in ORS (1)(b), (d), (e), or (f) and, if the protected person has a medical condition. ORS 127.580 Oregon Revised Statutes that are part of SB 248 ADVANCE DIRECTIVES FOR HEALTH CARE 127.580 Presumption of consent to artificially administered nutrition and hydration: exceptions. (1) It shall be presumed that every person who is temporarily or permanently incapable has consented to artificially administered nutrition and hydration, other than hyperalimentation, that are necessary to sustain life except in one or more of the following circumstances: (a) The person while a capable adult clearly and specifically stated that the person would have refused artificially administered nutrition and hydration. (NOT ALLOWED BY CHURCH) (b) Administration of such nutrition and hydration is not medically feasible or would itself cause severe, intractable or long-lasting pain. (ALLOWED BY CHURCH) (c) The person has an appointed health care representative who has been given authority to make decisions on the use, maintenance, withholding or withdrawing of artificially administered nutrition and hydration. (not part of SB 248) (d) The person does not have an appointed health care representative or an advance directive that clearly states that the person did not want artificially administered nutrition and hydration, and the person is permanently unconscious. (WHAT DO YOU THINK?) (e) The person does not have an appointed health care representative or an advance directive that clearly states that the person did not want artificially administered nutrition and hydration, the person is incapable, and the person has a terminal condition. (WHAT DO YOU THINK?) (f) The person has a progressive illness that will be fatal and is in an advanced stage, the person is consistently and permanently unable to communicate by any means, swallow food and water safely, care for the person’s self and recognize the person’s family and other people, and it is very unlikely that the person’s condition will substantially improve. (WHAT DO YOU THINK) go to www.leg.state.or.us for info and audio testimony. Senate Bill 248 does not reflect the words of our Holy Father. We will not succeed to make a Culture of Life, by making concessions. We must think with the Mind of the Church then, even if we fail at the Legislature, we haven't failed before Jesus Christ. VOCAL asks the Oregon Catholic Conference to pull support of SB 248 as it stands. If there are amendments that agree with Church teachings, we will be happy to support the OCC. This endorsement could be causing scandal to the Catholic Church. I don't want to be part of this. We believe it would have been better to say nothing at all, than support this poorly written law. There were six good pro-life Senate and House Bills passed over by the OCC. We are a voice for those who have no voice. If we don't speak up, who will? Jesus said, 'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. REV. 3:16-17 God Bless, Carolyn Wendell “We shall be called to account not only for every idle word, but also for every idle silence.” St. Ambrose V.O.C.A.L. Voice of Catholics Advocating Life PO Box 458 Sublimity, OR 97385 Member of Catholic Media Coalition "In Line with the Church, on line with the World."