Italiano Cabinet Does the Right Thing, Italiano President Doesn't
The Italiano Cabinet passed an emergency decree that would save the life of Eluana Englaro. Premier Silvio Berlusconi reported that the Cabinet approved the decree at a meeting on Friday morning saying that food and water can't be denied to patients. After the vote he had this to say: "I believe I represent the sentiment of the majority of Italians." He went on to say: "If we did not do everything possible to avoid the death of a person whose life is in danger, who is breathing on her own, I would feel guilty of neglecting to help someone in danger."
The decree said: "pending complete legislation on euthanasia, food and water when it comes to means of sustaining life or providing for the physiological goal of easing suffering" cannot be suspended for people unable to take their own decisions."
Meanwhile, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has declared that the decree approved unanimously by Berlusconi's cabinet was unconstitutional.
In response, the Cabinet held a 2nd meeting Friday. At that meeting the cabinet approved a draft bill that mirrored that of the decree rejected by the left-wing Napolitano, a former communist. This bill has been sent to the Italiano Senate. Berlusconi has vowed it will be passed within 3 days.
The Italiano constitution states that emergency decrees can become law if they are adopted within 60 days by parliament, but any decree passed by the legislature has to win the president's approval. There are some limits on what the Italiano president can or can't do to stop the law from going into effect. If it is passed in the original form without amendments by either house then the president has no choice but to promulgate it.
As I have pointed out before, including in a couple of posts today, this is the Italian equivalent of what happenned to Terri Schiavo. Terri Schiavo’s brother, Bobby Schindler had this to say: "We are very disappointed to hear that President Napolitano is reluctant to sign the decree that would spare Eluana from a horrific death.”
He went on to say: “It is incumbent upon any official to protect and safeguard the value and dignity of all life, regardless of a person’s physical limitations. Eluana is not dying and only needs food and water – the most basic care – to live. This at the very least should be provided for her and we are asking for everyone to contact the Embassy of Italy in the US at (202) 612-4400, and communicate to the President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano that he should IMMEDIATELY sign the decree which would prevent Eluana’s inhuman dehydration death.”
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Update: 7 February 2009, 1:45 am I just came across another article about this on Life Site News. (Italy’s Communist President Refuses to Sign Passed Temporary Measure to Save Eluana Englaro) & what I read wasn't encouraging. According to the report President Giorgio Napolitano’s refusal to ratify the measure "has “frozen” the measure and although there is a procedure in place in Parliament to override his decision, it will take 20 days to implement, by which time Eluana will have been successfully dehydrated to death."
It still isn't too late for Napolitano to sign the measure & save Eluana's life. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to work on his heart to change it so he will sign it before it it too late.
Archbishop Pietro Brollo of Udine had this to say on Wednesday, “The only duty society has towards this young woman is to help her to live.”
In a statement the Archbishop said: “Udine is ready to embrace Eluana Englaro, a daughter of this land. Upon learning of her arrival, I ask first of all that this woman be guaranteed care, hydration, nutrition and every means that someone who is sick, particularly someone who is very incapacitated, is due by those who have the professional duty in conscience to provide a cure.”
posted by Al @ 11:27 PM
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