BARBARISM

Terri's feeding tube is out.

I'm Catholic. I find the words of Pope John Paul II, a moral leader for the world and not only members of the Church, to be very helpful in judging Terri's case.

He said: "I should like particularly to underline how the administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act."

A feeding tube is not life support. It is not a medical act. Terri, like countless other Americans, needs such assistance to receive nutrition. Since she had no living will and her wishes are in question, she must be protected from being starved to death.

If needing food and water is considered life support, then we are all on life support.