Saying No to the Culture of Death

As a Catbolic, I am also very familiar with Scripture, and have an understanding of what is really required in the field of ethics. I have pointed out in another post that what passes for ethics for students in university is a far cry from what is really ethical. The Schindler vs. Schiavo case is a classic example of how the civil judicial system in our time is no better than the judicial system that failed the weak within society at the time of Isaiah, and the eventual sacking of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. What is meant by true justice? Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah and see how they apply to our own time:

"Take your wrong doing out of my sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, helped the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow" (Isaiah 1:16-17)

Can it be said that a society that turns its back upon those who require a certain form of medical assistance is a just society? I think not. Isaiah continues to speak to us about our own behaviour towards those who are weak within our own community:

"Your princes are rebels, accomplices of thieves. All are greedy for profit and chase after bribes. They show no justice to the orphan, the cause of the widow is never heard." (Isaiah 1: 23-24)

 It may seem odd that I have chosen these Scripture passages in the context of ethics and protecting the weak within our society. However, I have recognized certain parallels between ancient times and our own time. Human nature, being what it is, so very weak and foolish, constantly repeats the same mistakes, and that includes turning away from God. When the brain injured, such as Terri Schiavo, remain unprotected by a judicial system that is supposed to protect all and sundry, then it is time to seek again what God said to the ancient people about turning away from Him. This is why I am writing on this subject by bringing to mind what was said and written by the ancient prophet Isaiah. The judicial system of Florida, and the United States of America is somewhat lacking because the judges are more interested in saving their political future than they are in protecting the rights of the innocent. Judicial activism has brought about a reversal of the civil rights that belong to all.

As an Australian citizen, one might wonder why I am following the situation so closely, and why I am making comments on this particular situation. The reason that I am choosing to go down this path happens to be that I have seen how the Australian court system in recent times has been following its counterpart in the USA rather than sticking to the Westminster judicial system of precedent. This means that judicial activists within the court system here in Australia are also trampling over the rights of Australian citizen by delivering judgements that take away from Australian citizens their real civil rights. This has been the trend since the Roe vs. Wade decision. What we saw after that decision is being repeated again after the successful judicial murder of Terri Schindler-Schiavo.

Terri's murder was permitted because the judicial activists in Florida had an agenda, and Terri became a part of that agenda - to allow for the judicial recognition of euthanasia on demand. Now that these activists have had their first success there are many more cases to follow. Already we await with interest the progress of Scott Thomas, yet another case where there are suspicious circumstances concerning the brain injury that he sustained. His wife wants to transfer him to a hospice where she has already lined up the staff to withdraw his feeding tube. There is a possibility that the wife in this case knows precisely how Scott sustained his head injury and her intentions make it clear that she has ulterior motives - will the judge continue to allow Scott's mother the right to be Scott's guardian? We shall just have to continue to watch this case.

There are other very unhealthy developments in the USA. These developments have come about because of the ageing population and I might add they are a result of Medicare fraud. For example, Florida Suncoast Hospice defrauded Medicare to the tune of over $14,000,000. This fraud occurred during the period in which George Felos was chairman of the board of the hospice. Why is it that Florida Suncoast has not been pursued through the courts to have this money returned to the government? In the meantime, in several states disabled people have to re-apply for necessary equipment, including feeding tubes, and if some civil servant says that the person does not deserve the opportunity to continue with the treatment, then that person is being forced into a situation of being starved and dehydrated to death. What kind of protection does that give to the weakest members of our community?