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Papal Euthanasia...WHAT?
Intensive care specialist Dr. Lina Pavanelli has concluded that the ailing Pope's April 2 death was caused by what the Catholic Church itself would consider euthanasia. She bases this conclusion on her medical expertise and her own observations of the ailing pontiff on television, as well as press reports and a subsequent book by John Paul's personal physician. The failure to insert a feeding tube into the patient until just a few days before he died accelerated John Paul's death, Pavanelli concludes. Moreover, Pavanelli says she believes that the Pope's doctors dutifully explained the situation to him, and thus she surmises that it was the pontiff himself who likely refused the feeding tube after he'd been twice rushed to the hospital in February and March. Catholics are enjoined to pursue all means to prolong life.
Read entire article here
What stupidity exists in the world! Can anyone else see that this woman is taking everyone else for a ride, smearing the reputation of a perfectly noble and honest man based on nothing but her own medical "surmises"?
John Paul II could and has been accused of many things -- being too bold, being 'out of his place'-- but the one thing he cannot be accused of is hypocrisy! Which is what Dr Pavanelli, unfortunately, is accusing him of.
Anyone familiar with the life and career of John Paul II knows that he HAS NEVER BEEN inconsistent with his faith. His decision to stay on as Pope, despite the Parkinson's, stemmed from a desire to serve, no matter how hard it was for him, down to the last breath.
Euthanasia presupposes a desire to avoid suffering. John Paul II was a man who did not fear suffering, or he would have resigned much earlier and lived out his life in relative peace and popularity with his achievements as Pope.
Instead, he stayed on to do battle with a world that did not and often does not understand the Christian message, trying to engage the youth and believing in a new hope for a world grown tired and cynical. Will people at least hear and try to understand his message before they try to defame him?!
So to the journalists of Time and Dr Pavanelli, I would say, stop smearing the name of a good and heroic man, stop robbing people of the role model they hold dear, one of the few left with principles in our day. And don't talk about what you don't understand, to further your own agenda.
Posted by: Evelyn on September 24, 2007 08:04 PMSeriously, hardly a big deal. Dying man in agony, probably delerious, refusing another tube jammed into his body when given a choice, and slipping into a coma before changing his mind, is about all they have here. Only reason it's big news is because it winds up the cranks.
Posted by: Tatterdemalian on September 25, 2007 12:29 PMCatholics are enjoined to pursue all means to prolong life.
Not strictly true. While shutting off food and fluids is verboten, it's ok to pull the plug on artificial respirators, etc. when the person is in a persistent vegetative state.
Posted by: Mark on September 26, 2007 08:42 AM