RIP Terri and Karol

Oh the irony. A day after the United States killed a woman by depriving her of food and water, a man who taught us all the value of the human person, no matter how frail the condition, has now (or will soon) passed on. The lives of Pope John Paul II and Terri Schiavo may seem to have little in common, but the two have taught us far more than either one could have about the human condition. Both showed through their lives and deaths the true dignity of the human person. The Pope, however, is mourned because of his position, while many would sooner forget Terri because she lacked one. In his final years, the Pope struggled with the most basic of tasks. Parkinson’s disease and age took a heavy toll. While still relatively energetic, he was physically incapable of doing as much as he once did. With all of his accomplishments as Pope, it was the man, Karol Józef Wojtyla, carrying the Cross of his diseases, who demonstrated the true value of the human person. Hopefully his death will awaken a nation that failed to recognize that dignity in Terri Schiavo.

May the enjoy each other's company in their new home.