Who or what is "the Vatican"?

[hedgehog]

So often we see the phrase " the Vatican said today" presented as if it was Holy Writ when all it is is someone's off-the-cuff opinion or at the very least a point of debate. Supposedly "the Vatican said" Terri Schivo's feeding tube should be replaced. Many good Catholics would question that statement. No Church law requires heroic measures when there is no chance of recovery.

[DemBones DemBones]

1. His Holiness Pope John Paul II has spoken about the issue of

denying nutrition and hydration to anyone and said it was immoral to do so.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Moreover, I don't think any statement attributed to the Vatican

can be characterized as "off-the-cuff opinion." When a statement issued by the Vatican supports an action that is a matter of life or death, you may be sure it was approved by a high-ranking Vatican official if not the pope himself.


The Catechism says we may refuse "over-zealous" treatment but also says

"Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted."

Nutrition and hydration are surely ordinary care, not over-zealous treatment.

[ElectroPrincess]

3. That's not a black and white issue as I know many devout

Catholics who stop taking in food or water and therefore, died of dehydration before the CANCER ate away the little that was left of their physical body.

I'm saddened that "The Vatican" felt a need to *specifically* weigh in on this ... hey folks, it's not like we don't have enough controversy to endure from other faiths.

Reminds me of a Right Wing Libertarian acquaintance of mine (who knew I was Catholic) prance up to me and announce, "The Pope said that Timothy McVeigh should NOT be executed. Was it because McVeigh was Catholic or did The Pope believe in his cause?" I explained to my RW acquaintance that The Pope does not believe in Execution ... at all ... for anyone. Period. End of Story. The Pope (Vatican) has always been consistently Pro-Life - unlike the leadership that guides us American Catholics.

[hedgehog]

4. I think the problem here is that many of us have never seen

what is involved with a feeding tube. THe nurses I know who have worked with the very ill would never use a feeding tube to extend someone's dying. They would consider it something to use only for someone who wil get well. Consider this case; someone who has just had a diagnosis of cancer but has a good chance of beating it has a heart attack. Would you give CPR? Of course. Five years later, it turns out that nothing is working and the cancer has spread, the person is taking drugs only to stop pain and is clearly dying and is prepared to die. Would you give CPR now? Of course not. As noted above, there are many gray areas.