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About The Georgia bulletin (Atlanta) 1963-current | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1987)
; • >« t i 'i 4 W I Family's Plea To Remove Feeding Tube Stirs Debate PAGE 15 — The Georgia Bulletin, March 12, 1987 PROTEST— Carrying white crosses with the names of dead Central American civilians, demonstrators gather on the steps of the Capitol for a peaceful Ash Wednesday vigil. It was called by leaders of 19 Catholic and Protestant churches and agencies to mark the beginning of Lent with a call for an end to U.S. military intervention in Central America. Later, a Catholic priest and four other demonstrators were arrested for reciting prayers inside the Capitol. (NC photo from UPI) ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N Y. (NO - A petition by the family of a comatose woman in the Diocese of Rockville Centre to have her feeding tube removed has spurred a debate among church leaders over whether such a tube should be considered ordinary or extraordinary treatment. Florence LaSala, of Great Neck, N.Y.,82, has suffered three strokes since 1976, the most recent in 1983. Comatose for three years, she is in a nursing home. Her family has petitioned the state Supreme Court to order removal of the feeding tube, which the nursing home has refused to do. Judge Francis Becker was not expected to rule on the case until mid- March. Church teaching traditionally has held that ordinary treatments must be provided to dying patients but that treatments that are extraordinary are not required. Msgr. Henry J. Reel, pastor emeritus of St. Aloysius Church in Great Neck, where Mrs. LaSala was a parishioner for 25 years, said in testimony Feb. 18 before the court that the naso-gastric feeding tube in her case was "extraordinary means." "I made it clear to the court that neither the right-to-life, nor euthanasia nor starva tion were pertinent inthecase." Msgr. Reel told The Long Island Catholic, Rockville Centre diocesan newspaper. "In the circumstances of Mrs. LaSala s case there is nearly three years of total comatose condition, with no cognitive func tion and medical and neurological prog nosis that there is no possible return to such cognitive life,” he said. He also told the court that there is "ample evidence from her family and some friends of her expressed desire not to have her life continued by extraordinary means should she ever be in a permanent comatose condi tion." Responding to Msgr. Reel's testimony. Father James P. Lisante, diocesan pro-life coordinator, said in a statement that sup plying food and water is an ordinary means of life support. "Mrs. LaSala is not in imminent danger of death. She will only be in such danger if she is starved to death," he said, adding that most moral theologians would agree feeding tubes are ordinary means of care and an "everyday procedure." William May, a moral theologian at The Catholic University of America in Washington, told The Long Island Catholic there was "no clear magisterial statement" on whether tubal feeding morally can be withheld from a patient in a persistently vegetative state. In addition "division exists among Catholic theologians" on the issue, he said He pointed out that in 1985. the Pontifical Academy of Sciences was "very clear" in a statement that treatment might not be re quired for irreversibly comatose patients but care would be. Care often is defined as including food and water. Msgr. William B. Smith, dean of St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers. N.Y.. disputed the contention there is no clear magisterial statement on the issue. He said Pope John Paul II in 1985 has stated that the Vatican's 1980 declaration on euthanasia — which makes a clear distinction between medical treatment and supportive nursing care with the duties of feeding and hydration — does not "dispense from the valid therapeutic task of sustaining life nor from the administra tion of the normal means of vital support ." CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS To place classifieds, send check and write to: The Georgia Bulletin, 680 W. Peachtree St., N.W., Atlanta, Ga. 30308. Classifieds are 50$ per word with phone number equaling 1 word. Deadline Fri day before publica tion. We publish on Thursdays. WANTED TO BUY CASH FOR ANTIQUES, silver, glassware, art, bric-a-brac, jewelry, lin ens. Mr. Bruce 873-5048 or 662-4322. BUSINESS SERVICES , GOLF CLUBS: Many styles, low prices. T & M Golf. 921-4535. CONCRETE, RETAINER WALLS, Brick and Blocks. Residential or Commer cial. Free Estimates. Li censed and Insured. 945-3126. 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This Novena has never been known to fail. I have had my request granted. I)EK. THANK YOU ST. JUDE FOR PRAYERS AN SWERED AND YOUR CONTINUED HELP & SUPPORT. MFR. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved, adored, glorified and preserved throughout the world now and forever. Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the hopeless pray for us. Say this prayer nine times a day and your request will be granted by the 18th day. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. SN. THANK YOU MOST SA CRED HEART JESUS. THANK’S ST. JUDE FOR PRAYERS ANSWERED. (Julia ) THANK YOU. ST. JUDE. SEW St. Jude Thanks. SERVICES AVAILABLE EXPECTANT PARENT SERVICE. Available through Catholic Social Services. Call 888-7840 for help with medical care, liv ing arrangements, discus sion of options. Services FREE and CONFIDEN TIAL. INDIVIDUAL FAMILY and MARRIAGE PSYCHO THERAPY. Dr. Linda Klaitz, Ed. D., Karen Naso A.C.S.W. 1010 Huntcliff, Suite 2120, 587-1035. TV MASS FOR SHUT-INS. 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HELP WANTED POSITION AVAILABLE: Applicants are now being accepted for a part-time (24 hours per week) posi tion as a Coordinator in the Pro-Life Office of the Arch diocese of Atlanta, Catholic Center, 680 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta, Georgia 30308. The position requires a per son with a strong pro-life commitment. It involves some evening and weekend meetings and public speak ing. The hours are flexible. If you are interested, please submit a resume to Mrs. Marietta Pompilio at the above address or call 888-7821 for further infor mation. CATHOLIC SOCIAL SER VICES needs a competent secretary, 8:30 - 4:30, 5 days/week, (bi-lingual an advantage). Good benefits. Free Parking. Call Eileen at 881-6571. PART-TIME TRANSLA TOR (Vietnamese) want ed. Flexible hours. Contact Sister Barbara, Catholic Social Services, 881-6571. DIRECTOR OF RELI GIOUS EDUCATION posi tion available June 15, St. Joseph’s, Dalton. Send re sumes to Tony Hobol, St. Joseph's Church, 623 S. Thornton Ave., Dalton, Ga. 30720. 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