Vatican statement on Terri Schiavo

Last evening at 7:20 (Rome time, while concerns about the Holy Father's own health were escalating), Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following statement about the death in the United States of Terry Schiavo, the Florida women who had been in a so-called persistent vegetative state for 15 years:

"The circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Terry Schiavo have rightly upset consciences. A life was interrupted. Death was arbitrarily anticipated, because feeding a person can never be considered as drastic therapy.

"There is no doubt that there can be no exceptions to the principle of the sacredness of life, from conception to its natural end. In addition to being a principle of Christian ethics, this has also been a principle of human civilization.

"It is to be hoped that, because of this dramatic experience, a greater awareness of human dignity will mature in public opinion and that this will lead to greater defense of life, even on a legal level."
(Source: Vatican Information Service)