Eastertide, Terri and John Paul

Today is the second Sunday in Eastertide. Few days ago the parents of Terri Schaivo lost their case of putting back the life saving tubes on their daughter and Terri passed away. In Terri Schaivo's case the main issue was whether or not to prolong the life of a patient who has suffered irreversible brain damage. The U.S courts ruled that there are no basis in prolonging the life of Terri Schaivo. Sixteen years of being attached to the life support systems and without any prospect of recovery is long enough. The question of longevity or quality of life was also put to the fore. In my perspective both should be an experience for all people.

The basic ethical standard used in our contemporary world is premised on beneficiality--this means that if a person acts what amount of good will his/her action bring. On the one hand it is calculating the good an action may bring and on the other having in mind the evil that it may bring. Ethical decisions are influenced by many factors. The family members of a Filipino woman a mother of 7 children who was in coma decided to let go of life support systems because the doctors pronounced that the impact of her cardiac arrest was irreversible. It takes a fortune to sustain the woman with life support system. In a matter of two weeks, the woman died. Terri Schaivo live for 16 years on life support system, but the Filipino woman live for two weeks only.

The news of the ailing Pope John Paul II finally covered the Terri Schaivo's case. Last night he died in his room in Vatican. He's 82 years old when he died and he served the Roman Catholic Church for a long time. For centuries the attitude of the people about the pope especially the Reformed Christians has changed a lot. The pontificate which is the highest post in the Roman Catholic Church is seen as an exemplar of Christian values and advocate for peace, love and unity among peoples and nations. I doubt if Pope John Paul II was really a stunch anti-communist advocate, as what Bill Clinton and George Bush (father) former U.S. presidents had mentioned in their tribute to the demised pope.

It is approriate to talk about death in the context of Christ's resurrection. I believe that the reality of the Risen Christ is in the world today. The tremors of people's struggle for emancipation from traditional coercive systems are indications that soon the victory against the powers of evil will come to fulfillment. The Christian faith articulated by the poor and oppressed will one day bear fruit and justice will roll down life waters and the young men and women will be filled with the spirit and will prophesy of the coming of the new age.