Picture of  Terri just after her brain injury.
Taken from her site at
  Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation.

There has been considerable criticism of Judge George Greer of the Florida's Sixth Judicial Circuit, regarding his order to allow Terri Schiavo to be starved to death, commencing  on the 18th of March. Because it is highly probable that Terri is not in a persistent vegetative state (although the courts have ruled she is), her death will be a most painful, gruesome and horrifying occurrence, lasting up to 16 days, which would be no different from any other conscious person being starved to death in a similar way.

So, just who is Judge Greer? As he is a committed Christian of many years standing, what are his beliefs? From a biblical perspective, is Judge Greer wrong in ordering that Terri be killed? These are questions that we will look at in this article.

If you are not a Christian, you might wonder who/what is a Christian anyway. The word Christian means Christ-One. A Christian is therefore a person who is one with Christ; a follower of Christ and His teaching. A Christian believes that Jesus is the Son of God. A Christian believes that the only way to know God, is through knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. A Christian believes in heaven and hell. 

Certainly from a secular, non- Christian perspective, there has been considerable criticism of Judge Greer. There have even been calls for his impeachment. *Petition online list at least 36 reasons, some that they say are based on Florida law, where Judge Greer has erred and therefore he should be impeached. Wesley J. Smith an American attorney, who is a highly respected book author on life and death issues, has offered his opinion by saying  **"Judge Greer's performance has been so deficient that he should be removed from the case forthwith, if not impeached."

Judge Greer is in a difficult situation, because he is not permitted to talk about Terri outside of the courts. He cannot in a sense defend himself and his findings. However, he does give us a glimpse of his philosophy and the way that he rules in the court, in the following remarks, which are taken from the ***Florida Baptist Witness, August 19th, online edition.

“My job is to follow the law, not to agree with the law, but to follow it,” said Judge Greer, who said his conscience is not bothered even when he disagrees with the law. “That’s how our system operates. At my level, I just do what the law tells me to do. That’s what I’m supposed to do. That’s my oath.”

Let's look at what we would assume are Judge Greer's biblical beliefs. As he is an active member of the Calvary Clearwater Baptist Church, Florida, it would be proper to quote from their statement of faith, as the church's beliefs would be very much in line with Judge Greer's beliefs.

1. The Scriptures: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God and are the only  (my emphasis) sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule for all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

2. God: There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself all perfection and being infinite in them all; to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience. (my emphasis).

12. Sanctification: Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. Sanctification progresses through Divine strength which all saints seek to obtain by pressing after a heavenly life through obedience to all Christ’s commands. (my emphasis).

14. The Church: The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the Church which is composed of all His true disciples. In Him is vested supremely all power for the governing of the Church. In accordance with His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves with particular societies or churches to which He has given authority to administer order, discipline and worship . . . (my emphasis)

We can also look at a few of the Ten Commandments taken from Exodus 20 (the Old Testament), which seem to directly relate to Judge Greer's ruling regarding Terri.

Verse 13: "Thou shalt not kill." (The word "ratsach" (kill) is commonly believed to describe the premeditated killing of a human. It requires that the victim be a human being. Other translations translate "ratsach" as "murder" in this verse)).

Verse 14:  "Thou shalt not commit adultery"

Verse 15 "Thou shalt not steal"

Verse 16 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." (This forbids perjury while testifying in a courtroom. In ancient Israel, a person who lies in court receives the penalty that would be due a person guilty of the crime at question. The common meaning of this commandment is unchanged today.  The Westminster Larger Catechism includes the sins of passing unjust sentence.)

Before we can jump to a conclusion that the Ten Commandments do not apply to Christians, because they are from the Old Testament, we need to take note of what Jesus says:

Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not.

It would seem that Judge Greer has ignored his church's teaching and statement of faith regarding his treatment of Terri. He has ignored the bible (the Word of God) in his rulings regarding Terri Schiavo.

One of Jesus' most important commandments is:

Gospel of John 15: 12-13 This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down his life for his friends. 

It would certainly seem that Judge Greer has ignored Jesus' teaching to love one another (to show love towards Terri).

We must not beat around the bush. 

If we are honest about Terri's situation and her planned court ordered killing, it is actually Judge Greer, who has decided that she will be killed. It is his 'ruling' that has made this legalized murder possible. If Terri is killed, then the responsibility of her killing and the consequences of breaking one of the commandments, should, and would rest fairly squarely on Judge Greer's shoulders. There are times when legalized killing is permitted, as in war, but this is not the situation with Terri.

Michael Schiavo, Terri's husband, is living in an adulterous relationship. He has moved on from Terri and in moving on he has refused to allow her to have any rehabilitation whatsoever for many years now. It would be appropriate for Judge Greer to immediately remove Michael as guardian. It was appropriate for Judge Greer to remove Michael as guardian,  years ago, when Michael started his adulterous relationship. 

It would seem that Michael has stolen from Terri. He has almost definitely acted fraudulently. He did  this when he requested that the significant sum of money that was earmarked for Terri's rehabilitation be wound down and used for legal costs, so that instead of helping his wife, he could now kill her. Judge Greer was the person who allowed the money to be wound down so that Michael could use the money to get permission kill his wife! In a sense, Judge Greer is probably just as guilty as Michael in stealing from Terri.

It would certainly seem that Michael has lied in the courtroom (bear false witness against his neighbor, in this instance, his wife). Michael simply cannot have it both ways. Either he wants to care for his life and provide her with rehabilitation for the rest of his life (which in court, he swore to do), or he wants to kill his wife (which in court, he asked permission to do). Both statements are incompatible with each other. One of the statements seems to be perjury!

Recently Terri's family requested Judge Greer (I believe he was the judge, please correct me if I am wrong), to rule on Terri's Christian beliefs about having the feeding tube removed. The wording of the request was very much weighted towards how a Catholic would feel. However, as a Christian, Terri most certainly would not have wanted to have the tube removed. Judge Greer would have known this. He should have immediately accepted Terri's Christian beliefs as being valid.

Regarding the legal profession, Jesus said

Luke  11:46 And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! for you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers (Revised Standard Version)

Lu 11:52 Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering." (RSV)

I cannot speak regarding how American's feel about their legal profession. In Australia very few people feel that the legal profession is a system based on justice. It is not. It bases it's system on laws. Some laws are even labeled as 'bad' laws by judges in Australia. It would certainly seem in Terri's situation, that the legal system is not being fair or just towards her. The 'rule' to kill Terri, is certainly a bad rule/law.

Judge Greer, being a committed Christian of long standing is in the favorable position that he can understand that there is such a thing as repentance and forgiveness. It certainly would seem that he has made errors in his judgment. I do not know if it is to late for him to repent and change his ruling so that Terri can live. I certainly hope so.

Assuming that  Judge Greer does not feel that he has done anything wrong in ruling that Terri should be killed, it is quite appropriate for someone who has a ministerial responsibility towards him,  to speak to him. As Judge Greer is a committed Baptist, he comes under the spiritual authority, guidance and leadership of his pastor at his church. The senior pastor at his church is pastor Willy Rice. If pastor Rice feels that Terri should not be killed by a totally unjust 'ruling' of Judge Greer, he could certainly speak with him on Terri's behalf. Disciplining a church member is part of the Baptist church's statement of faith (see. 14. The Church, noted previously). Jesus explains how this discipline is to be carried out:

Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'

17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector".

Jesus treats sin very seriously indeed doesn't He.

It is quite important to emphasize here that we are not in a position to speak with Judge Greer. It is for his pastor to do this. It would be quite wrong for us to try and influence Judge Greer's ruling by either speaking with him or contacting him.

Should Judge Greer show love towards Terri? Yes he should. Regarding love, Jesus says:

Matthew 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment. 

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself".

St. Paul says

Galatians: 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

In 1 John, St. Paul also says

1 John  4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. ....

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

You could say that acting in love towards others  is one of the keys of being a Christian.

A question could be asked. "Is Judge Greer being loving towards Terri and her family and towards Michael? " The answer is definitely "No!"

Judge Greer is apparently not bothered in having Terri starved to death. Judge Greer is not bothered in causing Terri's parents, brother and sister, anguish and heartache, by allowing Terri to be starved to death, even though they are willing to give her quality care.. Strangely enough Judge Greer is  not loving Michael either, because  by Judge Greer allowing Michael to kill his wife, he is not allowing Michael to love his wife at all. You can't love a dead person. Although Michael no longer wishes to see Terri rehabilitated, Terri's parents and brother and sister certainly do. For Michael to show love to his wife, Judge Greer should release her to the loving arms of her parents and brother and sister.

Conclusion

If Michael had removed Terri's gastronomy tube of a few weeks after she had come out of hospital, after suffering her brain injury, and she had died, Michael would most probably have been accused of murder.

What is different now, over ten years after Terri became brain injured? Nothing really, except that Judge Greer has decided that Michael can now legally kill Terri, by removing the gastronomy tube, and so not be held responsible for his actions, because his murderous actions will now be deemed legal and proper. Terri, is still Terri. She laughs. She smiles. She experiences pleasure. She experiences pain. She is still a human being worthy of being cared for. She surely does deserve to live.

Judge Greer has a big responsibility towards Terri, which can be summed up in the following scripture.

Proverbs 3:27: Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do so.

It is in Judge Greer's power to do good for Terri.

Let us all pray that Judge Greer can have the decency, grace, and dare I use the word, love towards Terri and her family, including Michael, to do everything in his power to release her into her parent's and brother's and sister's loving care.

I firmly believe that Judge Greer's pastor should immediately speak with him and ask him to repent. Pastor Willy Rice's email address is pastor@calvarybaptist.org. If you email Pastor Rice, please send me a copy of the email. Thank you.

If you want to know what you can do to save Terri's life, please email me at paulcopeland@saveterri.com. You can also visit my site at www.saveterri.com  for further information.

My other articles about Terri are:

In my first article on Terri, I shared my observations regarding Terri's gastronomy tube, (the tube that provides Terri with hydration and nutrition). The Case Against Terri Schiavo (part 1)

In my second article on Terri, I shared my observations regarding the suggestion (that is now a 'rule' of the court), that Terri is in a PVS (persistent vegetative state). The Case Against Terri Schiavo (part 2).

In my third article on Terri, I shared my observations regarding her alleged 'Death Wish'. The Case Against Terri Schiavo (part 3).

In my fourth article about Terri, I shared my observations about so called 'force feeding of Terri, The Case Against Terri Schiavo (part 4.)

In my fifth article I shared Michael's sworn testimony, which certainly indicated that Terri is not PVS, although Michael did not use these words.

In my sixth article I looked at the Planned execution of Terri.

As of this writing Terri's situation is critical. Judge Greer has decided that Terri's gastronomy tube can be removed on March the 18th. Although Terri's parents can appeal at another court, Judge Greer has made it quite clear that he does not want to keep granting stays. It would seem that Judge Greer has had enough.

The perceived injustices mentioned in my articles are only the tip of the iceberg, regarding Terri's plight and what would seem to be the totally unfair treatment that she has endured because she is disabled. . I will write another article soon. 

Links in this article

*Petition online

**Wesley J. Smith's opinion on Judge Greer's possible impeachment

***Florida Baptist Witness, August 19th, online edition

About the author:

Paul Copeland is 58 years young. He is happily married to Alison. Their children are Tim, aged 16, who is profoundly disabled and Alicia who is 22 and engaged to be married. Paul's family are Christians. He, is very concerned about Terri's welfare and has set up a site at www.saveterri.com, to alert folk about Terri's plight. Paul can be contacted at:

paulcopeland@saveterri.com

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