Bush issues statement on Terri Schiavo; pro-life groups vow not to give up

Washington D.C., Mar 17, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Yesterday, on the eve of the scheduled starvation of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo, President George Bush issued a formal statement speaking out against the act.

The president said that although, “The case of Terri Schiavo raises complex issues… in instances like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws, and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life.”

He added that, “Those who live at the mercy of others deserve our special care and concern. It should be our goal as a nation to build a culture of life, where all Americans are valued, welcomed, and protected - and that culture of life must extend to individuals with disabilities.”

Pro-life groups and lawmakers are racing against the clock to beat today’s 1:00 pm deadline before Schiavo’s feeding tube is scheduled to be removed. Sources say that once it is taken out, it will take between 7 and 10 days to end her life.

Late Wednesday, the House of Representatives managed to pass a bill, which may have blocked the removal of the feeding tube, but Thursday, a narrower bill passed the senate which many doubt will make it to law on time.

Pro-life groups are not giving up the fight however. The National Right to Life issued a statement Thursday urgently calling on constituents to immediately “contact their Senators and Representative and urge them to do whatever is necessary to resolve the differences between the chambers and get a bill that will save Terri Schiavo to the President's desk before it is too late."