Editorial

The vision for Elizabeth House Maternity Home in Madison was to build a safe, supportive, and affordable living center for women struggling with an unplanned pregnancy.

It would be a place where all women are welcome - regardless of race, religion, age, or income. A place where medical, physical, and emotional needs can be addressed. A place where solutions are discovered and obstacles are overcome, one day at a time. A place our community will be proud to build and support.

Related articles: Apr. 21, 2005 edition: • Elizabeth House to break ground May 1 Mar. 3, 2005 edition: • Elizabeth House: Campaign passes half-way mark Dec. 30, 2004 edition: • Elizabeth House: Diocese donates $75,000 to maternity home Oct. 28, 2004 edition: • Bishop's Letter: Collection for Elizabeth House Oct. 21, 2004 edition: • Elizabeth House: Bishop authorizes diocesan collection • Editorial: Elizabeth House: Ecumenical effort helps mothers, babies Oct. 14, 2004 edition: • Bishop's column: Respect Life Month: Elizabeth House; making election decisions Mar. 25, 2004 edition: • Editorial: Elizabeth House: Caring for both babies and their mothers Oct. 16, 2003 print edition: • Elizabeth House: Provides help and hope for mothers, newborns in need Feb. 20, 2003 edition: • Open house at new maternity home

These are just some of the visions for Elizabeth House. Now, thanks to the generous support of churches, foundations, businesses, and individuals, that vision has become a reality.

Ground breaking party. Supporters celebrated that reality on Sunday, May 1, at a ground breaking party held on the building site of the new maternity home at 1350 Mac Arthur Rd. on Madison's east side.

The temperatures were chilly and a strong wind blew, but that did not deter those gathering from enjoying the party. Perhaps the wind was a sign from the Holy Spirit, noted Ann Grossenbach, who co-chairs the Elizabeth House Capital Campaign with her husband, Fred. "May the wind of the Holy Spirit blow over us and care for the little ones and their mothers," she said.

Liz Osborn, executive director of Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dane County - sponsors of Elizabeth House - noted that the vision for the maternity home "began in the heart of God." She said God's message of hope and truth will be carried out at Elizabeth House.

Unique partnership. The maternity home is being built with a unique partnership of churches of many denominations, including the Catholic Church. Bishop Robert C. Morlino of the Diocese of Madison authorized a diocesan-wide collection for Elizabeth House, resulting in contributions of over $108,000 from parishes.

Bishop Morlino attended the open house and spoke to those assembled, emphasizing that we are "reaching out in love" to pregnant women. He also praised the ecumenical nature of the project, saying "Christ has called us to be one" and "we are witnessing to the value of every human life from conception to natural death."

Bishop Morlino said the Elizabeth House building will be a concrete expression of the outreach of people of faith in the Madison area. Rev. William Mugford of Madison's High Point Church even quoted from Pope Benedict XVI and said he is "grateful for the Catholic Church's stand for the sanctity of human life."

A stone stacking ceremony was held reminiscent of a passage from Joshua about the 12 tribes coming together, taking stones to create a monument. The stones will be used in a garden or somewhere on the grounds of Elizabeth House.

Near Mother's Day. It was fitting that the ground breaking celebration occurred a week before Mother's Day, observed on Sunday, May 8. Because of this wonderful community project, more women will be able to celebrate future Mother's Days knowing they chose life for their children.

Ironically a local abortion organization had attempted to buy the property to build an abortion clinic there. Perhaps by the hand of God's providence, those plans were thwarted. Instead, Elizabeth House Maternity Home will be erected as a place of refuge for many mothers and babies. The vision has indeed become a reality and will need continued community support in the years ahead.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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Food and water normal care

To the editor:

One judge in the Terri Schiavo case supposedly said that no obligation exists to help people who cannot lift eating utensils to their mouths. If this attribution is true, I couldn't disagree more.

Despite "media hype" to the contrary, feeding tube insertion is a relatively minor procedure. My immediate family member can no longer eat independently due to a progressive disability. His specialist physician assured him that feeding tubes are routinely used in those with his diagnosis and are "no big deal."

Yet, Mrs. Schiavo's feeding tube was removed though her wishes were not in writing and were reported by a husband whose conflict of interest caused his suitability as her guardian to be questioned. Food and water generally should be considered normal care, even when provided through a tube, if the body can assimilate them and death is not imminent.

In most instances, following procedure is important. In the Schiavo case, as Bishop Morlino eloquently stated in a previous column, consideration of what is being done should have taken precedence over procedure. Mrs. Schiavo was not "allowed" to die; euthanasia by omission directly caused her death.

My immediate family member relies on more life support right now than Terri Schiavo did. If some court decided to remove his support, I hope I would have a fraction of the courage that Mrs. Schiavo's parents had.

Depriving disabled people of life because they don't meet someone else's quality control standard is frightening. Dividing human life into the valuable and the expendable must stop. Each human, no matter how broken, has value in God's eyes.

Marge Karsten, Platteville

Spread Gospel message

To the editor:

I was happy to see the letter from the Sacred Heart Prayer Group of Janesville (Catholic Herald, March 31, 2005). I feel the same way.

We sit back and don't care what happens to our sisters in other parts of the country, such as Terri Schiavo in Florida. We fear we are interfering in politics.

Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, was courageous. He went to dangerous place and was shot. Love takes away fear.

We need to be united with our Holy Father spreading the Gospel message. If it happened in our area, we would be happy for spiritual support.

Lucille Lindloff, Reedsburg

Develop draft of living will

To the editor:

Is there any chance that the chancery will develop a sample draft of a living will which will include all the specifications prescribed in Bishop Morlino's two articles [read part one and part two] in the Catholic Herald?

Maybe the Diocese of Madison has members of the Thomas More Society who would assist in the development of such a sample of a living will.

Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo