Sanctity of life?
Let me precede this post with a disclaimer: I am not writing about this because I'm pro-life. I'm writing about this because Villanova University is honoring a person who killed herself and her Down's Syndrome baby - not exactly upholding the sanctity of life part of the school's mission statement.
Now, let me give details. A former teacher at the university, Mine Ener, got married in 2002, and gave birth to her first daughter in 2003. The child was born with Down's syndrome - something that was not known until the child was born. After the baby was born, Ener sank into a deep post-partum depression, and was on prescriptions for her depression and psychosis. Because of her state of mind, Ener returned home to Minnesota to stay with her mother awhile, bringing the baby with her. While she was there, she slit the baby's throat and killed her, saying she wanted to give her "relief." Three weeks later, in a Minnesota jail, Ener got a hold of a trash can liner and suffocated herself.
Today, Villanova University dedicated an alcove of their library to this woman. According to Barbara Clement, the university's spokesperson, Ener was a beloved teacher and a mentor, and should be honored for who she was - not the person she became in her last few months of life. Clement states that in Ener's right state of mind, she would have never done such a thing.
I find myself really struggling with this issue. I have no idea what post-partum depression as deep as that might entail, and I didn't know the professor in question before or after the incident, so I'll admit I might not be the best person to comment on said subject. However, I'm really bowled over that a Catholic university felt they should commemorate Ener, no matter how her life ended, for the work she did while at the school. But as a Catholic school whose mission statement includes upholding "the sacredness of each person," can they really overlook her suicide, and her taking the life of her baby??
But it gets better!! Here's the ironic twist to the story:
[Hoffman] noted that Villanova's basketball arena was long known as the John E. du Pont Pavilion, in honor of a wealthy benefactor. But du Pont killed Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz in 1996, was found guilty of third-degree murder, and was judged mentally ill. Villanova removed du Pont's name from the arena the next year, and spokeswoman Clement said at the time the name was "no longer appropriate." Clement said yesterday the cases were not parallel.
Now, let me give details. A former teacher at the university, Mine Ener, got married in 2002, and gave birth to her first daughter in 2003. The child was born with Down's syndrome - something that was not known until the child was born. After the baby was born, Ener sank into a deep post-partum depression, and was on prescriptions for her depression and psychosis. Because of her state of mind, Ener returned home to Minnesota to stay with her mother awhile, bringing the baby with her. While she was there, she slit the baby's throat and killed her, saying she wanted to give her "relief." Three weeks later, in a Minnesota jail, Ener got a hold of a trash can liner and suffocated herself.
Today, Villanova University dedicated an alcove of their library to this woman. According to Barbara Clement, the university's spokesperson, Ener was a beloved teacher and a mentor, and should be honored for who she was - not the person she became in her last few months of life. Clement states that in Ener's right state of mind, she would have never done such a thing.
I find myself really struggling with this issue. I have no idea what post-partum depression as deep as that might entail, and I didn't know the professor in question before or after the incident, so I'll admit I might not be the best person to comment on said subject. However, I'm really bowled over that a Catholic university felt they should commemorate Ener, no matter how her life ended, for the work she did while at the school. But as a Catholic school whose mission statement includes upholding "the sacredness of each person," can they really overlook her suicide, and her taking the life of her baby??
But it gets better!! Here's the ironic twist to the story:
[Hoffman] noted that Villanova's basketball arena was long known as the John E. du Pont Pavilion, in honor of a wealthy benefactor. But du Pont killed Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz in 1996, was found guilty of third-degree murder, and was judged mentally ill. Villanova removed du Pont's name from the arena the next year, and spokeswoman Clement said at the time the name was "no longer appropriate." Clement said yesterday the cases were not parallel.
posted by RockSteady @ 10:29 PM
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