Jackson on Schiavo

Never thought I’d say this, but…

Go Jesse Jackson!

Excerpts:

"I feel so passionate about this injustice being done, how unnecessary it is to deny her a feeding tube, water, not even ice to be used for her parched lips," said Jackson… "This is a moral issue and it transcends politics and family disputes."

Meanwhile, CNN.com reports that Jackson is lobbying Florida lawmakers to reconsider the bill to resume feeding Terri. There are also reports that some lawmakers may have changed their votes, which could get the measure reintroduced and passed as early as tomorrow.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

11 thoughts on “Jackson on Schiavo”

  1. He and Sean Hannity just had a civil conversation, dealing mostly with the possibility of getting the Florida Senate to reverse itself tomorrow (assuming Terri’s still alive, which doesn’t look horribly hopeful). Either way, good for both of them!

  2. Nat Hentoff’s article in the village voice on Terri Schindler is a must-read. Here’s how it starts:

    For all the world to see, a 41-year-old woman, who has committed no crime, will die of dehydration and starvation in the longest public execution in American history.

  3. I’m very thankful that these folks are speaking out now but . . . where were they a month ago? Those of us who have been following this situation for some time know that the facts have not changed. So why are these people going on national TV now when they could have made their statements weeks ago? Months ago? Why the rush at this time?
    Lord God, please pardon my cynicism. But it seems rather odd that so many folks are speaking on this matter – in very high-profile ways – in what could be the 59th second of the last minute of the final hour for Terri. Had these people spoken out in late January, had the major news channels (rather than only EWTN) given voice to the viewpoint now being expressed instead of paying it lip service while barely hiding their disdain for it, considering us the *unenlightened fringe* . . . well, I guess I can only speculate at the outcome. But I’m sure things would have been quite different.
    I will continue to hope & pray for Terri. I know there will be justice in God’s time but I’d sure like to see some in mine! (I pray that’s not a selfish thing to hope for.)

  4. It’s so hard to say. Maybe they’re opportunists, maybe they’re slow to awaken, maybe some of both.
    The ineyard owner gave the same wages to those who only worked the last hour of the day, to those that gave a full day’s labor.

  5. Oh no, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Ralph Nader and Jesse Jackson all praised on this blog in the last week…what on earth is the world coming to? I’m starting to lose the faith. Are the end times approaching? Should I be preparing for the rapture?
    And this morning I saw a bird flying upside down. Is that sign?

  6. A strange coalition Terri Schiavo has built here…Jesse Jackson and Ralph Nader alongside pro-lifers. Its a good thing to see. Enjoy it while it lasts.
    Incidentally, Jesse Jackson was pro-life before he dove headlong into presidential politics. I hope he recovers his “Roots”.

  7. Good point, Naomi. I wasn’t desparing, just frustrated with the MSM. I truely rejoice that Jackson & others who have not exactly been pro-life are expressing these views. I hope & pray they continue!

  8. +J.M.J+
    I’ve been wondering why Jackson got involved in this case. My long-held cynicism toward politics and politicians makes me wonder whether he’s just self-aggrandizing. But then I think to myself, Whom would he be trying to impress?
    The public? When recent “polls” seem to show that anywhere from 60-80% of them think the legislature should stay out of it and her tube was rightfully removed? (the exact opposite of what Jackson now wants) Granted, those polls are very problematic for a number of reasons, so I don’t trust them, but a politician with his finger to the wind would still pay attention to them, no?
    So whom could he be trying to impress? Fellow liberals? Hardly! So many of them have have seized upon this issue as a stick for beating conservatives, accusing them of trying to institute “theocracy” and asserting that only the “religious right” gives a cr*p about this issue. If anything, the Rev. Jackson’s involvement now puts the lie to their rhetoric!
    So whom else could he be trying to impress? Conservatives? Somehow I doubt it; why would he want to impress them?
    And another odd thing about the Rev. Jackson’s involvement is that this matter does not involve any African Americans. This totally goes against his M.O.
    So I’m left with the definite possibility that he really, sincerely believes that it is wrong to starve Terri. That’s why he’s stepped into a situation which puts him at odds with many on his own side and has nothing to do with race.
    In Jesu et Maria,

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