A man was clearly convicted of a heinous murder. A jury of his peers, guided by the dictates of Colorado law and their consciences unanimously approved the death penalty. An Adams County district judge overturned the death penalty because the jury's decision was in some small degree informed by reading Bible passages. Yesterday, the morally-confused Colorado Supreme Court upheld the judge's decision. My question: what if jurors had consulted Bible passages that convinced them the murderer deserved clemency? Like the recent US Supreme Court decision written by Anthony Kennedy regarding the juvenile death penalty, though, it's not as much the substance of the issue that was decided as much as the reasoning that led the majority of … [Read more...]
A Two-Pronged Tragedy
I had all but resolved to let the Terri Schiavo story go over the weekend. But here we are again, now facing a two-pronged tragedy. First of all, there's the painful tragedy of Terri's dehydration and starvation, all too graphically described by Nat Hentoff in today's Washington Times. Some who disagree might choose to listen to Hentoff rather than to me, unless it has been deemed that he has also joined the "radical religious right-wing" conspiracy. The other tragedy is the one of near anarchy brought forward so clearly by Captain Ed, that his post is essential reading today for those of the center-right persuasion: especially supporters of Terri's right to live. I agree with Ed that Randall Terry has begun hijacking this case for … [Read more...]
“Dear Terri”
This is beautiful: please read "Dear Terri." No doubt the USMC Vietnam veteran and grandfather speaks for many. … [Read more...]
Frist Responds on Schiavo
Here's the text of the official statement coming from U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's communications director regarding Senator Frist and Congressional action in the Terri Schiavo case: "Bill Frist has helped save hundreds of lives in operating rooms throughout the world. For him a woman's life...every life...is precious. "Before addressing the Senate concerning Terri Schiavo last Thursday, Senator Frist carefully reviewed medical information, records, video tapes and sworn affidavits that were in the court records. He spoke with physicians involved in the case. He noted that some doctors have concluded she is not in a persistent vegetative state and could improve with therapy. "The suggestion by some that Senator Frist … [Read more...]
Good Friday
Hopefully you've been reading Bob's Holy Week postings at The Daily Blogster, but it's not too late to catch up if you haven't yet. For the accounts of Christ's crucifixion, read Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, or John 19. It wouldn't be a good use of space to reproduce the entire texts, and I don't have the time to comment on them to the extent that they deserve. However, I am going to leave this devotional thought, an old hymn text penned nearly 300 years ago by the great Isaac Watts. "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died; My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of … [Read more...]
Congratulations, Dane
This may be way off topic for most readers of my blog, but I thought I'd throw in this quick tidbit. Former Indiana University basketball star and current assistant Dane Fife, 25, was just named the youngest NCAA Division I head coach when he was hired yesterday by Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne (IPFW). Serious basketball fans will remember Dane from the 2002 NCAA Final Four when he was one of the key contributors to a scrappy underdog Hoosier team that shocked Duke and Oklahoma to make it all the way to the finals against Maryland. Why do I make note of Fife's hiring? Because we both share the same hometown of Clarkston, Michigan. He's the youngest of three sons to Clarkston High School basketball coaching legend Dan Fife - his oldest … [Read more...]
The Christian and Michael Schiavo
An important and timely reminder from Adrian Warnock, even as Terri Schiavo rests on the precarious balance between torturous suffering and consummate death: have we been looking at her estranged husband "through cross-centered eyes"? A very convicting thought and one worth reading and spreading abroad. On the one hand, we fight Michael's agenda with fervent determination; on the other, we pray for his immortal soul. As I read Adrian's devotional thought, I also was reminded again of the stark and symbolic likelihood (barring some unforeseen miracle) that Terri will die on Good Friday. Not that we ultimately can compare her suffering to that of Christ's - how can we even comprehend the metaphysical pain and horror of what it meant for … [Read more...]
Sorry, Governor
I've been loath to comment on the intraparty Republican squabble brewing over Governor Bill Owens' compromise budget agreement with the Democrats. But things are heating up, reports the Rocky Mountain News today. Apparently the governor is unhappy with the House Minority Leader's public opposition: "When the next volume of Profiles in Courage is written, there won't be a chapter about Joe Stengel," Owens said. "I was amazed. He knew exactly what was in it. There were no surprises." Sorry, governor. I have to state my firm conviction that what you are doing is neither fiscally nor politically sound. I say that as a conservative and as a Republican, respectively. The former tells me that approving this deal means $1,500 more in … [Read more...]
Reflections
Thinking about a poignant, powerful, complex case that has engaged and deeply moved so many Americans, some words of reflection. I do not want to believe in America in 2005 that: A man could express so little interest in his legally-recognized wife except to ensure that she's dead. A judge could stubbornly cling to the claims that a woman wants to die based on the flimsiest of evidence. People could be arrested for bringing an innocent, helpless, dying woman water to drink. The media would be arrayed against those who urge caution in "erring on the side of life," distorting facts at every turn. That an innocent brain-damaged woman has less standing before a federal court than a convicted murder with a death sentence or an … [Read more...]
Keep Reading, Keep Praying
Due to time constraints, I'm just going to post a few links on Terri Schiavo, must reads for this morning: Blogs for Terri has all the updates on the case and a list of Florida state senators you can contact to make the last-minute plea. Now that the Appeals Court has rejected the Schindlers plea under the clear directives of Congress, Hugh muses if Judge Kennedy will cite the Groningen Protocol as precedent in a potential US Supreme Court decision. Ray, the Informed Christian, reminds us that regardless of the outcome for Terri, we need to take to heart one of the key lessons already learned: get the courts under control! Finally, Joe Carter at Evangelical Outpost prompts social conservatives to take a more somber, … [Read more...]
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