> >Now, I admit I don't always have my facts straight, but in my following of
> >this
> >case, it was my understanding the the parents and the Catholic church
> >believed that God's will should prevail, meaning that they were leaving it in
> >God's hands the fate of both wee ones.
> >
> >Regardless of what did happen, it is a gross distortion of Stephen to suggest
> >that the religious authorities (who are you talking about here?) were
> >unanimous in CONCLUDING THAT BOTH SHOULD DIE.  Where the heck do
> >you get off making such a statement?
> >
> >Unless you can provide a statement that clearly indicates these religious
> >authorities all took a vote that very clearly stated "both kids should
> >die," I
> >would suggest you revise your statement.
> 
> It was a clear (unanimous among medical authorities AFAIK) that if the
> twins were not separated that both would die.

It was a high probability, not an inevitability.

> The religious authorities may not have stated it in these terms

There you go

> but they
> did not deny the medical implications 

Very true

>and recommended a course of action
> that would result in the deaths of both infants.  

No, they did not.  They recommended a course of inaction, medically 
speaking, that certainly raised the probability of infant death but did not 
guarantee it.

Now, a good question is -- did the state have the right to step in and
choose medicine over theology?  Medicine in the end seems to have won, 
because one of the infants survived.  We will never know what would have 
happened had the state left the parents alone.

On the other hand, what would have happened should both infants have died 
on the operating table?  What was the probability of that, and could the 
parents have been taking that into consideration as well? 

> The fact that they did
> not say the words "both infants should die" does not change this.

Change what?  You yourself acknowledged no church group took a vote that 
both kids should die.  I realize there is a bigger issue here (which Stephen 
very elegantly elaborates on -- see my response), but I'm attempting to 
clarify exactly what they decided.

To suggest they voted for death is asinine.

Perhaps I'm just grumpily nitpicking, but if it were me, I would want my
intent, my statements, and the intent and statement of my decision in a 
case such as this CORRECTLY reported.


************************************************************************
Jim Guinee, Ph.D.
  
Director of Training & Adjunct Professor
President, Arkansas College Counselor Association
University of Central Arkansas Counseling Center
313 Bernard Hall    Conway, AR  72035    USA                               
(501) 450-3138 (office)  (501) 450-3248 (fax)

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from 
their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and 
will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
  2 Chronicles 7:14

**************************************************************************

---
You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Reply via email to