A Prayer For Terry

There is perhaps nothing more difficult in life than having to decide the fate of a loved one who has become incapacitated. Ideally, all the various family members can come to an agreement without resorting to name calling, finger pointing, wild accusations, and outside intervention. And usually in such circumstances, everyone can eventually agree that, in the light of overwhelming medical evidence, it's time to let that person go with whatever dignity they still have left.

However, in the case of Terry Schiavo, fate is not providing her with a simple exit. That poor woman, on top of everything else that has happened to her in the last 15 years, has now become some sort of political football to be tossed about by political demagogues.

When Terry's husband and her parents could not come to an agreement, the courts became involved. That was bad enough, but the state's judicial system eventually decided that she should be allowed to die.

Not satisfied with this outcome, the the Florida state legislature and governor Jeb Bush began sticking their noses into what should have a private family affair. Ultimately the courts slapped them down as well, saying it was none of their damn business. Even the United States Supreme Court twice decided not to get involved.

Thus it was on Friday afternoon that Terry's feeding tube was removed. Finally, it seemed, her ordeal would come to an end. But such was not to be case, as now the Republicans in Congress have decided to save her by pushing through a bill turning the whole mess over to the federal court system. President Bush, not one to pass up an opportunity to grandstand, flew back from his Texas ranch yesterday just so he could sign the bill into law. Sure, he could easily have done that without leaving Crawford, but this way was much more dramatic.

And why have they done this? Why would the Republican party, which once upon a time proudly stood for a less intrusive federal government, get involved in a matter that the state of Florida had finally--after much debate and legal wrangling--reached a conclusion on? Simple: It was a golden opportunity to appease the Christian Right.

At this writing, a federal judge is pondering whether to order the feeding tube reinserted. And regardless of what he eventually decides, the losing side is certain to appeal, and the case will drag on further.

Yes, Terry Shiavo deserves our prayers.... Prayers that God will protect her from the opportunistic politicians trying to save her.