Katholikos Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 [url="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070614/ap_on_re_us/obit_ruth_graham"]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070614/ap_on_...bit_ruth_graham[/url] Ruth Graham had been bedridden for months with degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck — the result of a serious fall from a tree in 1974 while fixing a swing for grandchildren — and underwent treatment for pneumonia two weeks ago. At her request, and in consultation with her family, she had stopped receiving nutrients through a feeding tube for the last few days, Ross said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N/A Gone Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 Only God can judge...it is not our job or responsability. All we can do is prayer for the family. I hate threads like this likos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirisutodo333 Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 Hopefully God will judge her faith and works throughout her life. We'll keep her in our prayers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddington Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 I'm one of the many (everybody here?) who wants an idea but won't judge her soul either way. I have a very personal reason for wanting to know too. Not that it will help that situation because it is over. But I want to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappie Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 In a statement released on Thursday, Billy Graham said: "Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team. No one else could have borne the load that she carried. ... My work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support. "I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we've had in the mountains together. We've rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in heaven." Ruth Graham was born in Jiangsu Province in China on June 10, 1920, the daughter of Presbyterian missionary and surgeon, Nelson Bell. It was in 1940 that she met Billy Graham when the two were students at Wheaton College in Illinois. While her husband would go on to take centre stage in global evangelism, Mrs Graham always shied away from the limelight in pursuit of a much more private ministry. She was also an accomplished poet and is often credited with raising the pair’s five children single-handedly while Mr Graham was away on crusades. Following news of her death, President George W Bush praised Mrs Graham as a “remarkable woman of faith whose life was defined by her belief in a personal, loving and gracious God”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katholikos Posted June 15, 2007 Author Share Posted June 15, 2007 [quote name='Revprodeji' post='1296184' date='Jun 15 2007, 04:32 PM']Only God can judge...it is not our job or responsability. All we can do is prayer for the family. I hate threads like this likos.[/quote] The Church teaches that it is immoral to deliberately withhold water or nourishment from a patient in any circumstance. These are regarded as ordinary elements to which we are all entitled. Priests for Life, Human Life International, and others said Terry Shivo was murdered by the removal of her feeding tube. On the other hand, the Church teaches that patients and families are not required to employ extraordinary means to sustain life. But what if the patient himself or herself refuses food and water? That's my question. Actually, the question is personal. In my own last days, may I deliberately refuse food and water as a means of hastening my death without incurring sin? My death would be then be due to dehydration or starvation. Is this suicide? What does the Church teach in such cases? I'm sorry if my question distrubs you, Rev. I'm not asking you -- or anyone -- to judge Mrs. Graham. That's God's job. My question is about the objective morality of refusing food or water from the Catholic POV. The news article about Mrs. Graham just happened to provide an illustration in which I could frame my question. I thought there might be debate about it, so I posted it in the debate forum. Likos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightofChrist Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 I read somewhere that St. Catherine of Siena died after she refused food and water for many days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercy me Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 I don't want in any way to sound like I am judging her because I am not. She was a remarkable woman. I have no idea what happened to her in the end nor do I feel it is any of my business. She will be judged by our merciful Lord whom she knows well. However, inregard to Likos' question, I would be inclined to think that refusing food and water would be wrong. However, I would think that refusing a feeding tube, which I think is an extraordinary measure, would be alright. I would like to know as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Era Might Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 It doesn't say what the cause of death was. Her refusing food doesn't necessarily mean she caused her own death. She may have known she was going to die within a few days by her illness, and let the process take its course. This would be different from Terri Shiavo who was starved and dehydrated to death. The article doesn't say she stopped receiving food and water, it says nutrients (which may not be the same thing). I'm pretty sure the Church teaches it is wrong to actively cause your death by refusing food and drink, because these are considered normal care (even with a feeding tube). But that may not be the case with Mrs. Graham. I do not speak for the Church, so check what she teaches for yourselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jckinsman Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14326b.htm"]http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14326b.htm[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RezaMikhaeil Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 I'm quite surprised to see someone use her particular situation in this particular method. I never thought anyone would stoop to this level... wow... I'm in shock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budge Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 Many people when death comes, stop eating, if you have never known anyone to die of cancer, they will stop eating before the end. this is people who do not have the feeding tube. I do not think it is sucidie. I believe refusing medical care is not suicide, such as someone with stage 4 cancer deciding against chemotherapy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1337 k4th0l1x0r Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 One thing I've heard is that it becomes mentally and physically painful for some people to eat when they're nearing death. When the dying process just becomes protracted by eating it doesn't seem wrong to refuse food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud2BCatholic139 Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 Why do we want to be judging if one commited suicide or not? It is not right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddington Posted June 16, 2007 Share Posted June 16, 2007 [quote name='Proud2BCatholic139' post='1296773' date='Jun 16 2007, 04:37 PM']Why do we want to be judging if one commited suicide or not? It is not right...[/quote] We can't judge her conscience one bit, IMO. But, we will all die someday and we will watch the people we love die. Being prepared for that is what I want to get out of this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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