Schiavo Case Could Open "Floodgates," Warns Group

ROME, MARCH 7, 2005 (Zenit.org).- If Terri Schiavo "can be condemned to death," every person whose life is considered of insufficient quality by a guardian or court could face euthanasia, warns a Catholic organization.

The World Federation of Catholic Medical Associations (FIAMC) issued its warning Sunday in regard to the case of the brain-damaged Florida woman whose husband has been in an intense legal battle to stop her artificial feeding.

"She is not guilty of any crime, except to a burden for her husband and for a selfish society," said Dr. Gian Luigi Gigli, president of FIAMC, of Schiavo.

"The real core of the problem is the attempt to decide about the right to life of a human being, not on the basis of her/his dignity, but on an external evaluation of the quality of life," Gigli said.

"The importance of this case goes beyond this deplorable circumstance," his statement continued. "It will open the floodgates to euthanasia in the United States, at all ages, without even a legislative decision.

FIAMC "strongly appeals to the United States authorities to react immediately and effectively to save Terri's life" and urges U.S. bishops "to mobilize every resource and influence of the Catholic Church to counteract this impending tragedy."