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President Bush Signs Law to Save Terri Schiavo - Case Before Federal Court

PINELLAS PARK, Florida, March 21, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - US President George W. Bush signed into law early this morning a measure allowing the Schindler family to appeal their daughter's, disabled Terri Schiavo's, death by dehydration and starvation. The measure, a bill jointly agreed upon by the US Congress and Senate at 1 am Monday morning, allows the appeal of life and death decisions such as Terri's, to the federal courts.

A federal judge began hearings at 3 pm today. No decision was known by press time. However, an ambulance was standing by the hospice where Terri resides, to take her to a local hospital for re-insertion of her feeding tube in the event the judge rules to stay the removal order. Terri's feeding tube was pulled Friday after her husband succeeded in his bid to have her killed, with the assistance of Florida Judge George W. Greer.

"The life of Terri Schiavo and others in her threatened situation must be protected from those who would hasten their death," said Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition. "Food and hydration can never be considered extraordinary measures. Terri is not in the death process unless her husband and the courts decide to deliberately put her to death," he continued. "Campaign Life Coalition applauds President George Bush on his action in this case." Hughes added, "In cases like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws and our courts should have a presumption in favour of life."

"I am very happy that Congress intervened on behalf of Terri, but horrified that it had to go that far," said CLC spokesman Gillian Long. "I thought everybody knew that it's not ok to starve people to death. I'm very frustrated with the reporting on this case," Long continued. "It seems very clear to me that this is not about 'living wills' or the 'right to die.' This is about a man who is living with a woman and having children with her, while trying to kill his wife. If she were living in their family home instead of confined to a hospital bed, Michael Schiavo would go to jail for starving his wife to death. Michael Schiavo has abandoned his wife wholly and completely. Yet no one is asking why he is still allowed to make decisions for her."

President Bush applauded the efforts of lawmakers in Washington. "Democrats and Republicans in Congress came together last night to give Terri Schiavo's parents another opportunity to save their daughter's life," Bush said, addressing an event in Arizona, according to wcfcourier.com. Bush flew back to Washington from his Texas ranch early this morning to sign the legislation before traveling to Arizona. "This is a complex case with serious issues, but in extraordinary circumstances like this, it is wise to always err on the side of life."

Florida Governor Jeb Bush added his appreciation for the federal effort. "They're not overruling any decision in asking federal to review the decision. I think that's more than appropriate," Bush said, adding that Florida lawmakers meanwhile continue their efforts to save her.

The Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, added their denunciation of Terri's starvation Monday. "Who can, before God and humanity, pretend with impunity to claim such a right? Who - and on the basis of which criteria - can establish to whom the 'privilege' to live should be given?"

"Who can judge the dignity and sacredness of the life of a human being, made in the image and likeness of God? Who can decide to pull the plug as if we were talking about a broken or out of order household appliance?" the paper added.

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Vatican Issues Third Intervention Against Forced Euthanasia of Terri Schiavo
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/mar/05031104.html

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