Vatican Clarification: Removing a Feeding Tube is "a Pitiless Way to Kill"

Miami Herald reports today that "Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, the Vatican's chief bioethicist, said in an interview with Vatican Radio that removing Schiavo's feeding tube would be equivalent to euthanasia," and that "while the Holy See's Pontifical Academy for Life rarely gets involved in individual cases, Schiavo's case bears on larger issues. 'Silence in this case would be interpreted as approval.'" This is not a new position for the pontiff, who as recently as last year reaffirmed that while extraordinary means of care to sustain life are not necessary, no one should be deprived of food and water. But it is an extraordinary move for the Vatican to position itself on the Schiavo case so directly, and will no doubt create an even more heated debate among American Catholics. [thanks Art Caplan]