First published March 30, 2007
We love receiving emails and phone calls from our friends and viewers! Just this week I heard from a priest who received our message regarding our documentary, Turning the Tide: Dignity, Compassion and Euthanasia, which will premiere on S+L this Sunday, April 1st at 9:00pm ET (and rebroadcast on Wednesday April 4th at 9pm ET). The documentary features several people who, because of personal experience, claim that if Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide were to be legal, they would be the targets. They also speak on behalf of the most vulnerable: the elderly, the terminally ill and the disabled.
One of these people is Bobby Schindler, Terri ’s brother. For those who may not recall the Terri Schiavo case of two years ago, she was a young woman, who due to mysterious circumstances (to this day, no one knows what happened to her), had a “collapse” when oxygen could not reach the brain, which led to brain damage. You will recall that some people claimed that Terri’s collapse was due to her alleged struggles with an eating disorder. Some claim that her husband, Michael Schiavo is to blame for her “passing out” that morning, some 16 years ago. Skip ahead 14 years, after receiving virtually no therapy and no treatment (she was basically warehoused in various nursing homes and hospices), by court order (and the wishes of Michael Schiavo), she was dehydrated and starved to death. She died on March 31st, 2005.
The email I received, expressed concern that Bobby Schindler was in Turning the Tide, because, this email claimed, Terri Schiavo was not euthanized: She was in a vegetative state, showing no brain activity, and therefore she was already dead.
At first, I was a bit confused; hearing from a Catholic priest who said that what happened to Terri Schiavo was not Euthanasia. But in reading his explanation, it all became clear. The issue with Terri was whether she was already “dead” and simply had to be “let go”. For her brother Bobby and her family, she was clearly not dead. She was responsive and had brain activity. For Michael Schiavo, she might as well have been dead, had no ‘quality of life’ and had expressed a desire in life not to be kept in such a state.
But let’s not be confused. The position of the Church is very clear. Our priest friend is right. When someone is already dead, ie. if they require extra-ordinary care, as in a respirator, without which they would not be alive, then, in effect, they are already dead. Disconnecting them from this machine is not euthanasia, it is not murder. It is letting them die a natural death.
I don’t think there is much of an issue here. We don’t need to see brain activity to determine if someone is dead or not. If the lungs and heart are working on their own, as in the case of Terri, then, the person is alive. The only care Terri required was a feeding tube, so she could eat. In the absence of the feeding tube, she could have been fed by hand, like we feed infants or other people who cannot feed themselves. Despite what the laws in most states say, this is not extra-ordinary care, or medical treatment. This is feeding. It is ordinary, basic care.
And what of brain activity? Who says that those with no brain activity should be killed? Besides, as you will see very clearly in Turning the Tide, Terri was responsive; she follows the doctor and her mother with her eyes. She follows a balloon with her eyes and she turns her head when asked. She even vocalizes in response to her mother’s voice and to music.
So, what happened to Terri Schiavo? The courts decided that her husband could determine her fate, despite the fact that there were others, namely her parents and her siblings, who would have gladly brought her home and cared for her, and since she was considered a “non-person”, with no brain activity (which could be disputed), they detached her feeding tube and starved her to death. That is not a natural death. That is euthanasia.
We love getting your emails and phone calls. Please continue to do so. You can also add your comments to this blog.
And let us know what you think of Turning the Tide. We love that you are watching. But we love it more when you write to tell us about it.
PEDRO
First published March 23, 2007
This is a Lenten Reflection that we aired as part of the S+L Magazine in 2004. These couple of days, I’ve been thinking about loss and life, growth and God’s Grace, mercy and plan, so since it’s Lent, I thought it would be good to remember these words.
-Pedro
This morning my son came into our room, upset because something he had built had broken. That little boy used to be me – trying so hard to hold on, grab on, cling on to moments – trying so hard to stay a child forever – to not have to ever change… “It’s ok”, my wife, Sheri, said to him, “you can fix it. You can re-build it”. “No!” he cried, “it was hard work”. It was hard work.
And so it is… we work so hard to figure out who we are, where we fit in, in this world, and where we belong. We work so hard to figure out the rules but they keep on changing — the world keeps on changing — we keep on changing, no matter how hard we try to stay the same…
“Father, take this cup away from me… but not my will, but yours be done.”
Growing up was full of endings and beginnings: winters and springtimes, leaving home, going to university, finding work, getting married having children… Children who continually take me right back to where I started… Children who continually remind me that I am not perfect, that I need help — that I need God…
“Father, into Your hands I commend my Spirit…”
And every day life is full of mini-struggles: mini-desert experiences, mini-agonies in the garden, mini-crucifixions, mini deaths — deaths that are oh so necessary to bring forth new life.
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
And how can we teach our children this? How can we help to make it easier for them? Just when they begin to feel at home, we uproot them by send them to a new school. How can we help them feel safe and at the same time help them accept that change is inevitable — change is necessary…
“It’s ok”, I said, “you needed to put it away anyway.” “But it was hard work!” he said, crying now. “You need to take it apart so you can build new things,” Sheri said.
It’s the taking apart that is so painful, so scary. And I am just now beginning to understand that I am not ever me at any given moment — rather, I am always changing. This is what is hard to teach: that life is change, change is growth, growth is love, love is God, and God… God is life.
“It was hard work,” he said, again and again, crying as we held him. That’s all we could do: help him feel safe — giving him a bit of strength for the journey that is to come.
“It was hard work,” I said, “Come, let’s build a new one” and with that, despite the little death that had just happened a new life was begun…
First published March 16, 2007
If you didn’t give up going to the movies for Lent, here are two suggestions:
I just saw a great film: Bridge to Terabithia. What can I say without giving it away? It is a wonderful, fun, meaningful tale of friendship and hope, faith and despair, kindness, compassion, loss and growth. It is not a religious film. I don’t even know if the author of the book or the film makers intended it to be so, but it left me feeling the same way I do after a meaningful spiritual experience. I felt the same way after watching another film many years ago: Before Sunrise. In it, two strangers meet on a train in Europe and spend the night together while waiting for the next train. But don’t get me wrong: they don’t ‘spend the night together’ in the way that expression is often used. Instead, they talk and walk and get to know each other. One may think that doesn’t make for much in a film, but for me, it was very much the kind of experience that makes us grow. Plus, it’s a film with no profanity, no nudity and no violence. Imagine that!
I recommend everyone to go see Bridge to Terabithia or wait for the DVD to come out. It is a definite must for all kids ages 11-13. But parents, make sure you go with them; there may be lots to talk about afterwards. If you liked Narnia and How To Eat Fried Worms, you’ll love this one.
Another film that just came out in the U.S. and England is: Amazing Grace. This film tells the story of William Wilberforce, the Member of Parliament who was responsible for putting an end to slavery in England. It is also the story of the hymn, since Wilberforce was inspired by the song’s author and former slave trader John Newton. I just found out that the film opens in Canada on Friday, March 23. I’m not sure if it will show in many theatres but it is distributed by Odeon Films. Go check it out.
Amazing Grace is one of those films that was made with the purpose of spreading the Gospel. Although it isn’t part of the Hollywood Machine and doesn’t have a blockbuster budget, this is part of the trend started by Mr. Gibson with the Passion of the Christ. Movies like this provide a chance for Hollywood execs to make money while the Good News is still spread. But that means that we, you and I, have to fill the seats. So, when Amazing Grace is released, go see it the first weekend it is out. That will ensure that it will continue to stay in the theatres and that other faith-related films will continue to be made.
Happy movie-viewing!
PEDRO
First published March 2, 2007
Hope many of you had a chance to watch the Catholic Focus episode on the permanent diaconate the other night (if you missed it, it’s on Saturday, March 3rd at 7pm E-T). Can I say that it was a real pleasure to host that episode? Perhaps I need to explain myself.
When I was growing up in Panama I was very involved in my Parish. (Remember my last blog entry when I mentioned my first meaningful spiritual experience, which led me to be part of a youth group and a youth choir?) I was in Church from around 3pm on Saturday, practicing for Mass, we played the Saturday 6pm Mass and then returned the next morning for the Sunday 10am Mass. I did this every weekend for four years, until I left to come to Canada.
One day, one of the most active parishioners, a doctor, announced that he was going to Mexico for a year to further his studies. I didn’t really think much of it. It’s not like he was my best friend or anything. His sister was in the choir and sometimes he played with us. Mostly I remember him singing the psalm. He would get up there with his guitar and intone the psalm from the ambo with his guitar. He also taught me to play the congas (but that’s another story). The year went by and he returned and the next thing I know, he is putting on vestments for Mass. But he was married! He then proceeded to assist the priest during the Mass. I didn’t really know he was assisting, it sure looked like he was concelebrating, especially when he read the Gospel and he preached the homily. I was confused. Then I found out that he had been ordained a deacon and that deacons could be married men. Ever since that day, the permanent diaconate has been in my heart.
Fast-forward to the present day. I’m in my parish, St. Elizabeth Seton in Newmarket, minding my own business, and there are two new deacons. They are married men. I remembered that guy in Panama. So I thought I’d find out more about the permanent diaconate. That’s how I met Deacon Bert Cambre, Director of Deacons for the Archdiocese of Toronto, who was one of the guests on the show.
I truly believe that the permanent diaconate is the Church’s best kept secret. Most people have never heard of this program. And there are many men out there (you could be one of them) who would make great deacons. Not only does the deacon get to assist with the liturgy and sometimes proclaim the Gospel and preach, but they get to minister to the most needy in the community. But they are not just chaplains, or counselors or pastoral care workers – they are ordained ministers of the Church. That means they’ve received the Sacrament of the Holy Orders. How cool is that!
So… I hope that perhaps a seed has been planted in your heart. Many parishes now are in the midst of a “Called by Name” program, in which we are invited to submit the name of someone whom we think would be a good priest, brother, sister or deacon. These names are given to your pastor and then he approaches these people to talk about a possible religious vocation. While it may seem unwelcome (I don’t want anyone submitting my name to no pastor!), you can always say you’re not interested. But from what I hear, most people have considered the call, but for many reasons have been hesitating. So this is a good and gentle kick in the pants. Plus, don’t underestimate the Holy Spirit. If you are being called and not paying attention, this is a good way to get your attention.
I am not going to submit any names to my Pastor, but I am committed to letting every married man know about the Permanent Diaconate Program. While it doesn’t exist in every diocese, it does exist in many. Just contact your diocesan office and find out. It may be the thing for you.
PEDRO
deacon pedro 