Vatican says Schiavo must be kept alive

Vatican City, Mar 21, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The Vatican has once again spoken out in favor of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo, who has been without food and water since her feeding tube was removed Friday.

A Florida federal judge ruled this morning that he saw no reason to renig the decision of a lower court and reinsert the tube, which has been feeding Schiavo for 15 years.

Javier Lozano, a member of the Pontifical Council for Health said that the act “is euthanasia”, and amounts to nothing more than a ruthless way to kill a person.

He added that, "The end of life is a question only in the hands of God. This is our belief. It is not something that must be in the hands of politicians or in the hands of physicians... but in the hands of God only."

While the Catholic Church is not in favor of keeping a person alive at all costs—using medical intervention, which could prolong the person’s agony--the Vatican is quick to point out that Schiavo is not on life support, but merely requires food and water.

One year ago, Pope John Paul II wrote that, "The administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural way of preserving life... not a medical procedure."

Following today’s court ruling, Schiavo’s parents filed an appeal with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia to try and continue fighting for their daughter’s life.