The Pope, Terri Schiavo and Prince Rainier: Eternal Vigils for the Living Dead…

Is it just me or is the 24/7 media coverage of the death throes of the Pope, Mrs Schiavo and now, perhaps, Prince Rainier of Monaco becoming a macabre farce?

The Pope

Witness the spectacle on Good Friday of the Pope being put on display like a scene out of Weekend at Bernie’s. Indeed, the poor man looked more like a propped-up papal mascot than the infallible Holy Father of the Catholic Church. Though I confess I am not Catholic, my humanity and spirituality made me deeply saddened by that Vatican production. After all, it seemed orchestrated merely to exploit religious sympathies for the Pope (or rather the scandal plagued Catholic Church).

The Pope’s infirmities have clearly left him unable to function on his own. But I don’t think devotion to the papacy (or Catholicism) is so tenuous that Catholics need to see a lifeless Pope positioned in a chair or waiving like a marionette from a window to feel and demonstrate appropriate concern for his health.

It’s one thing for Catholics to go on pilgrimages to Lourdes for religious inspiration from purported apparitions of the Blessed Virgin. It’s quite another, however, for the Vatican to produce apparitions of the Pope to elicit similar inspiration.

Therefore, instead of displaying him to death, maybe the Christian thing to do would be for the Vatican to provide the Pope hospice care and let him prepare to meet his maker.

Terri Schiavo

For purely farcical viewing, nothing tops the death dance surrounding Mrs Schiavo. For me, however, this charade incites only troubling and cynical questions. For example:

Do we really need the round the clock “Breaking News” about every futile judicial or political maneuver to get her feeding tube put back into her stomach?

Do we need more coverage of ranting Friar Tucks and “pro-life” Christians who – in decidedly unchristian form – have damned Mrs Schiavo’s husband to hell for being “motivated by money to murder her”?

(It is noteworthy, however, that the courts have repeatedly found all of their claims entirely baseless. Yet, these self-professed Christians remain not only unrepentant but actually indignant as they continue to cast aspersions on Mr. Schiavo.)

What are we to make of the fervent prayers of the fundamentalists for Mrs Schiavo to die on Good Friday as a sign from God that they had fought the good fight? Can you imagine their religious delirium if their prayers were answered?

(Ironically, the judge who found overwhelming evidence to support Mr Schiavo’s contention that his wife did not want this public spectacle and then ordered Ms Schiovo’s feeding tube removed, is now himself under 24/7 watch – by the police – to save his life.)

And, why isn’t it considered child abuse to throw one’s children into this funereal orgy to be arrested “to save Terri”? Indeed, what kind of parent would subject her child to such emotional, psychological and sociological duress?
Terri Schiavo’s avenging angel who I suspect would rather spend his time off from school playing video games than having his parents engineer his arrest to be hauled off like a common criminal.

After she crosses the bar, how long will it take for the haunting images of Mrs Schiavo to disappear from our collective consciousness? A few days, until the next celebrity scandal hits the headlines or whichever comes first?

Finally, what if her husband is telling the “honest to God” truth? That would mean that her parents and all of those who now presume to represent Mrs Schiavo’s interest have, in fact, betrayed her wish to die with dignity. Moreover, it would mean that in their self-righteousness they have condemned this once beautiful woman to everlasting images of her looking like the nightmarish vision that must have inspired Edvard Munch’s The Scream? (See in Archives US Congress Playing God in the Terri Schiavo Case for more on this topic)

Prince Rainier

Let my dying days pass with quiet, peace and dignity!

Now comes word that Prince Rainier is in a persistent vegetative state. And, all of the elements are in place for another eternal vigil for the living dead. Indeed, just to ensure synergy in this regard, the media is saturated with reports of the dying Pope dispensing special blessings upon both Mrs Schiavo and Prince Rainer. Naturally, the spirit moves one to wonder whether his blessings are for EZ passes at the pearly gates or for them to continue this life in their persistent vegetative state….

In this case, however, it seems likely that royal prerogatives will rule the day. Because, despite the morbid public interest, I doubt the Royal family of Monaco will behave like the cardinals of the Vatican and orchestrate public viewings of Prince Rainier at every opportunity to manufacture sympathy for their principality.

Death with dignity? Actually, that is very often the case. It’s just the dying part that can be such a farce. Nevertheless, may God grant each of these stricken souls peace – despite those who love and care for them!

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