The title of this entry may be confusing. One who is not familiar with the very unnecessary tragedy of Terri Schiavo might think a human judge put a stay on an act of cruel and unusual punishment. The inhumane torture of Terri Schindler Schiavo was ordered by George Greer at the behest of George Felos and Michael Schiavo. A Judge did put a stay on it...but that Judge was God Himself. He is a Judge each of us will face one day. Terri Schindler Schiavo died one year ago today.

There was a loving family who simply wanted to take care of Terri for the rest of her life. But Greer, Felos, and Schiavo would not hear of it. Because Michael and his family suddenly remembered alleged statements made by Terri (after he won a lot of money in a malpractice lawsuit related to Terri's collapse), Greer ruled that this could justify starving and dehydrating her to death. This is something that is not even done to convicted criminals. But Greer ordered an innocent person to go through this.

One year ago this morning, Terri's siblings and Fr. Pavone of Priests for Life were with Terri at her bedside. This was the last they would see of her before her death. They were ordered out of the room so that the man who petitioned the secular court for Terri's torture and death could be with her during her final minutes of life. Her last moments of agony on this earth were spent with the man who caused this very unnecessary pain and suffering.

Fr. Pavone provided an eyewitness account of what Terri looked like at the end. Despite claiming that Terri looked "beautiful," George Felos, the attorney who argued in favor of starving and dehydrating Terri with the intent of bringing about her death, prohibited cameras or tape recorders in the room. He said this was for "privacy reasons." Yet, Felos routinely discussed Terri's medical details with the media.

It is truly sad that any human being could ask for or order this kind of barbaric treatment of another human being. It is just as horrifying that so many people supported this action. But, such things have been brought to us by the Culture of Death. For years, society has accepted abortion. It should be no surprise that society would accept brutal mistreatment of a born human being.

If we look at the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Chapter 25, verse 45, we know that denying food and drink to the least of God's people is the same as denying these things to God Himself. Of course, there is more than just food and drink. Read Matthew 25. We must pray for those who did this to Terri. But we must also ask ourselves where we have denied these and other things to God. We must be mindful to avoid neglecting God's people in the future.

Imagine a mother knowing that her child is dying of thirst. Almost any mother would do what she could to give her child a drink. Greer forbid Mary Schindler from doing just that. He further ordered the police to arrest anyone attempting to give a drink to this innocent woman. This is the kind of heartlessness we can expect when the Culture of Death has saturated and enveloped society.

Terri was released from her painful and unnecessary torment on this earth one year ago today. During these last thirteen days, it is no doubt that her family and friends relived very painful memories. They watched their daughter/sister suffer at the hands of other human beings. We must always remember Terri Schindler Schiavo. We must remember that society's acceptance of this mistreatment has paved the way for many other innocent people to suffer in the same way.