Renewing a Culture of Life
December 28, 2005
Looking back at the year, we asked each of our commentators what they thought was the most significant story of 2005. Janet Parshall considers human dignity after the death of Terri Schiavo:
One of the biggest stories of 2005 had to be the death, or should I say, the murder of Terri Schiavo. Here was a disabled but altogether innocent woman who, despite her state of infirmity, was deeply loved and cared for by her immediate family.
Yet for years, her husband contended that Terri would not want to live in an incapacitated state. Leaving no legal stone unturned, he sought to have both her feeding and hydrating tubes removed.
We watched as Congress tried to intercede, reminding us that the proper role of government is to facilitate good and protect life. In the end, Michael won and Terri lost—both the legal battle and her life.
Terri’s case illustrated our culture’s diminished valuation of human life. May her story and her memory inspire us all to renew a culture of life—a society that sees the dignity in every human at every stage of existence and at every level of ability.
Originally published December 29, 2005.
