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Paula Zahn Now

Hollywood and Religion; Another Defeat For Schiavo Parents

Aired March 30, 2005 - 20:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Wanted to welcome all of you. Thanks so much for joining us tonight. Appreciate your dropping by.
Another legal battle lost for Terri Schiavo and her family. We will bring you up to date on that. You will also be meeting others who have chosen a very different path, sometimes inspiring, always courageous.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN (voice-over): Tonight, one man, one family one choice.

ED DAVIS, CANCER PATIENT: I'm not concerned about dying. And if you're living on artificial means, you're not really living.

ZAHN: Ed Davis on his final journey.

And Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, making millions selling books to save souls. But why haven't they cashed in on the big screen? Hollywood and religion -- big money, tough sell.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: We begin tonight with the fight to restore Terri Schiavo's feeding tube: one more dramatic appeal, an 11th-hour legal maneuver by Bob and Mary Schindler to keep their daughter alive. That appeal was rejected by the 11th Circuit Federal Appeals Court in Atlanta.

And just a few minutes ago, a Schindler family supporter reacted to this latest blow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FATHER FRANK PAVONE, SCHINDLER FAMILY SUPPORTER: As I sat there next to her, I noticed several things.

First of all, she is holding three stuffed animals. Under her right arm is a stuffed dog, under her left arm, a stuffed animal kitten, and next to her left arm, a bunny rabbit. Were those animals real animals, we would not be allowed to do to them what is happening to Terri right now.

Next to her bed, on the side table, is a vase of flowers, beautiful flowers. And then across the room from the foot of her bed is another vase of flowers, also beautiful flowers. In both cases, those flowers have plenty of water. They have more water than she does. The flowers are being taken better care of right now than our sister Terri.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: And so, with time running out and 13 days since Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed, the family says, once again, it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, although the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to intervene five times so far.

Joining me now from Pinellas Park, Brother Paul O'Donnell and Judy Bader, a friend of the Schindlers. Judy visited Terri earlier today.

Thank you so much for being with us tonight.

Judy, describe what you saw today in Terri's room.

JUDY BADER, SCHINDLER FAMILY FRIEND: Terri is still fighting. Her eyes are still tracking. She's trying to find people in the room when you speak to her. We prayed with her.

She is such a fighter that it's unbelievable what spirit she has. And we all prayed with her and told her that we're all fighting for her and to keep fighting. And she -- it's just a miracle she's still doing it. And I think she is -- she just needs some water. She just needs some sustenance. It's unbelievable that this could happen.

(CROSSTALK)

ZAHN: Judy, as you know, particularly when it comes to Michael Schiavo's part of this story, he doesn't think she would be able to understand anything you told her today. But you got the distinct impression that she heard you.

BADER: Well, I've been going in there since before Good Friday, and she definitely was aware. And when I was talking to her at one point, her brother went out of the room, came back in and said something and Terri's eyes immediately popped around to find him behind me.

She's very aware. She knows exactly who's in the room and -- or that we are they're, and she's responding to it.

ZAHN: Judy, how did she look to you physically today?

BADER: The family would have to comment on that. She's -- you know, she needs help. She's fighting for her life and she needs somebody to come forth and help her.

There's somebody out there who can do it. Somebody must be here in the United States who can help her. And we're all praying for it. We're all trying for it. We told her, we won't give up the fight and neither will she.

ZAHN: Brother O'Donnell, I understand that the Schindlers have to confront the reality of probably what won't happen in the courts now. And we understand that Reverend Jackson earlier today actually advised the Schindler family to be prepared to let go. Are they ready to do that?

PAUL O'DONNELL, SCHINDLER FAMILY ADVISER: Actually, Reverend Jackson did not say that. I asked the Reverend Jackson to lead the family in prayer.

And basically what he said is that we need to pray for her life, for hope, and to prepare for her death. And that's much different than letting go. They will fight for their daughter's life. They have to be able to stand before God and stand before her some day and say that they did everything earthly possible to save her life.

ZAHN: How discouraged are they tonight, Brother O'Donnell?

O'DONNELL: Well, Mary Schindler is physically ill. She hasn't been able to see her daughter for days. It's like a mother having to watch a perpetrator abuse her daughter in front of her eyes. She just physically can't go in and see her daughter dying this way.

And she can't understand how this is happening in the United States of America.

ZAHN: How is Mr. Schindler holding up?

O'DONNELL: Not well. He's strong, a man of faith. He's trying to protect his children, his wife and be there for Terri. And he feels helpless.

And, like any loving father, he's been moved to tears many times today. They're devastated.

ZAHN: And, Judy, as we leave you tonight, what is your greatest fear, as your dear friend faces almost two weeks of having gone without food or sustenance?

BADER: My greatest fear is that Michael won't come to his senses and turn Terri over to her family and let them care for her. That's all they've ever wanted. And that's what they're begging for him to do. And we're all begging for that.

ZAHN: Judy Bader, Brother O'Donnell, thank you for joining us at this very tough time for the two of you. We very much appreciate you being with us tonight.

BADER: Thank you, Paula.

ZAHN: And we should make it clear to you that Michael Schiavo has long argued that it was his wife's desire never to be put on life support or have any life-sustaining food. That is what is at the center of this controversy.

Now, as her fate is played out in public, others have been making their own life-and-death decisions quietly, without the courts, without advocates or the protesters, and without the politicians and lawyers.

Elizabeth Cohen spent some time with a dying man and his family near Atlanta, Georgia. They are facing life and death on their own terms, but very much together.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An ordinary home in an ordinary American neighborhood. Ed Davis is dying. It's clear the end is near. And so, this past Friday, Ed's children and grandchildren came to say goodbye. They let us share these intimate moments because they wanted to be an example of how to die with love and with dignity.

DAVIS: I'm not concerned about the cancer. I'm not concerned about dying.

COHEN: Cancer was diagnosed just a month ago, so advanced that Ed's surgeons could offer no help.

DAVIS: It was in my liver and my pancreas and also many other part of the body.

COHEN: Doctors offered chemotherapy and dialysis for his ailing kidneys, but they made it clear, these treatments would not buy Ed Davis much time. And what little he would have would be unpleasant. So, Ed said no.

DAVIS: We're supposed to die. We're not supposed to live forever. And if you're living on artificial means, you're not really living. You're just existing.

COHEN: Ed Davis has spent his 84 years a happy man. He's had the love of his wife, Chris (ph), and their three sons and their families. He chose to live the last remaining days at home, with care from hospice and love from his family and friends. As a man of faith, he wanted one thing, to spend one last Sunday in church.

DAVIS: I just got to thinking if I might not ever get to go to church again. And I would like to have that last time.

COHEN: But one last Sunday in church seemed pretty unlikely last Friday. The family took turns sitting by his side feeding him, thanking him for his love and hoping he'd get that one last wish.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just be your sweet, lovable self, and everything will be fine.

COHEN: Over the weekend, the Davis' talked about old times. They've been married for 61 years.

DAVIS: She's a country girl for sure. I had to put shoes on her when we got married.

(LAUGHTER)

COHEN: For most of the weekend, the family told stories, while they laughed and shared their love.

DAVIS: I don't have a thing to worry about with this girl. She's going to be a fine woman.

COHEN: But Saturday was rough for the Davis'.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We really weren't sure he was even going to make it through the night.

COHEN: But he did. And, on Easter Sunday, his last wish came true.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There we go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (singing): I will worship with all of my heart.

COHEN: Mr. Davis took communion, his faith steady, an example of grace and dignity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Father, God, we're so thankful for Ed, and, Lord, his courageous witness for you.

COHEN (on camera): Mr. Davis, you said you really wanted to go to church. Now you've been. How do you feel?

DAVIS: I feel fulfilled.

COHEN: Fulfilled by the love of his family and by living out his last few days exactly as he wanted.

DAVIS: It's not hard to make a decision like this when you're 84 years old, lived a good life and raised your family. Of course, it's not always easy to leave, but we have to do that. We cry like this when we go on a trip, so that's where I'm going, is on a trip. I'm going to take the rest of my life and be with the lord in heaven.

COHEN: Ed Davis died Sunday night, just hours after we spoke, surrounded by his family in his own home at peace.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: And God bless him.

Today, friends of Ed Davis gave him a final farewell at the same church he loved so much, with one of his favorite songs, "Sentimental Journey."

(MUSIC)

ZAHN: Ed Davis' family tells us they've heard from total strangers who were inspired by Ed's faith and courage, a wonderful legacy.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: Time again to vote for the person of the day. Before noon Eastern time every day, we give you three choices. And you can find them on our Web site, CNN.com/Paula.

Today's nominees: members of the Cleveland Hill Fire Department in New York for their dramatic rescue of a woman trapped in an exploding car; Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter Vice President Dick Cheney, who has been quite silent about her personal life. But now she's decided to publish a memoir. And, finally, tennis champ Venus Williams for breaking her losing streak against sister Serena Williams.

Once again, log on to CNN.com/Paula and vote for your person of the day. We will give you the results at the end of the hour.

And what would you do if you had to face what the Schiavos and Schindlers are facing? When we come back, meet six Ohio brothers who had to do just that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: Still ahead, meet six brothers who live in Cleveland and had to face their own family crisis.

Also, the anger, the confusion and the debate over the Schiavo story -- it's playing out all across the country.

But, first, we're moving up on about 17 minutes past the hour. That means it's time to turn to Thomas Roberts at HEADLINE NEWS for the day's other top stories.

Welcome to our fold.

THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you very much. Hi, Paula.

A former top official of the Boy Scouts of America could face up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to child porn charges. Investigators say a search last month turned up more than 500 images of child porn on Douglas Smith's computer. His attorney says Smith became involved in child pornography by accident, but now admits he had a problem with it. Smith once ran a Boy Scout taskforce aimed at protecting kids from sexual abuse.

The psychologist who helped launch the current child molestation case against Michael Jackson took the stand in the pop star's trial. Dr. Stan Katz says it's extremely rare for kids over the age of five to make a false accusation of molestation. Katz testified that false allegations are usually the most consistent, because they're scripted. Katz reported to authorities the accuser told him during a therapy session he was molested by Jackson.

Pope John Paul II is now being fed by a tube inserted through his nose. A Vatican spokesman says the feeding tube is needed to improve the pope's nutrition. The 84-year-old's recovery from tracheotomy surgery is being described as slow and progressive. The pope appeared at the window of his study today for just a few minutes. He didn't speak to the crowds that had gathered outside. An Arkansas judge's solution to a dispute over some barking dog may be very tough for animal lovers to hear. The judge ordered the owner of the three dogs to have their vocal chords removed by Thursday to stop their barking. Now, his neighbor had complained the animals bark too much when they're left outside. The owner says he'd rather give away the dogs than have to have them have that procedure.

So, Paula, a very extreme verdict there. It makes me wonder how my dog is doing at home right now. But we'll send it back to you in New York.

ZAHN: Yes, I was thinking the same thing, because I have go to walk him in about an hour from now. And I hope that he doesn't bark and tempt his urban neighbors.

ROBERTS: Right.

If my dog Reilly (ph) is watching, stop barking.

ZAHN: Thomas Roberts, thanks. See you a little bit later on tonight.

ROBERTS: OK.

ZAHN: Terri Schiavo is literally one in a million. That's how many Americans are estimated to be in hospice, a place dedicated to making the final days as comfortable as possible for dying patients. But you might be surprised to know that withholding food and water is quite common for families facing a similar crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: Fifty-one-year-old Jimmy Tighe grew up in a close-knit Irish Catholic family, the oldest of six brothers. He was a hard worker and a role model to his younger siblings.

KEITH TIGHE, BROTHER: We looked up to him. We wanted to be like Jimmy when we grew up.

DAN TIGHE, BROTHER: Any time, day or night, if you called on him, he would come and give you a hand. So, he was always there for us.

ZAHN: But, in May of 2002, while taking care of his sick father, Jimmy fell down some stairs and hit his head hard. He went without oxygen for 12 minutes and suffered permanent brain damage, leaving him in a vegetative state. His brothers, however, held out hope.

T. TIGHE: You always look, grasping for hope that there's something out there, just a miracle and he might just wake up one day and say, hey, let's go home.

ZAHN: For nearly three years, at least one of Jimmy's brothers has come to visit him every day. The strain of seeing him like this wears on all of them. DEAN TIGHE, BROTHER: To come here and see Jimmy in this state is depressing. I mean, it's depressing walking in through those doors and it's depressing leaving.

D. TIGHE: This is his purgatory. He's -- if you believe in heaven and hell and purgatory, Jimmy's in purgatory right now.

K. TIGHE: He's here, but he's not the brother that we know. Now, it took a while to accept it but, you know, we realize that it's time.

ZAHN: Time, they believe, to end Jimmy's suffering. Though he didn't put his wishes in writing, the brothers had an important conversation about life and death before Jimmy's accident.

K. TIGHE: We talked about it before with him that he never wanted to be hooked on life support. And, you know, and we just want to honor his wishes on that.

ZAHN: In a matter of days, Keith, Dan, Sean and Dean will authorize doctors to disconnect the feeding tube that's been keeping Jimmy alive.

K. TIGHE: You know, it's tough. It's not an easy decision. The hardest thing about it is that we're not going to be able to see him anymore.

ZAHN: End-of-life hospice specialists have reassured Jimmy's brothers that his gradual death will not be painful.

ELIZABETH FORD PITORAK, DIRECTOR, HOSPICE INSTITUTE: I always say that there's somebody greater than us that created a great body. And if we leave it alone, it shuts down very nicely. And when we interfere and we start giving fluids, when the body is shutting down normally, we create problems.

ZAHN: So as the Tighe brothers get ready to say goodbye, they are grateful that their difficult decision has remained a private family matter.

D. TIGHE: It shouldn't be played out in the news media to the point that the Schiavo case is.

K. TIGHE: I feel the government has no right to step into it. And it's a private family matter and it shouldn't be drug through the courts like that.

ZAHN: And, as for Jimmy:

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just want the best for him. And, in our hearts, we know this is what he would want.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: If you're wondering why the Tighe brothers shared their story with us, they feel it's very important the public understand the pact they made with their brother and why they are honoring it. They tell us that they are at peace and that their brother Jimmy will not feel any hunger, thirst or pain in his last days.

The Terri Schiavo story has exposed some of the deep divisions in this country and given longtime opponents a reason to unite.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. JESSE JACKSON, FOUNDER, RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION: To me, that is the moral and ethical dimension of this that is unjustifiable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: Next, Jesse Jackson joining right-to-life leaders, strange bedfellows in a story that's riveted the nation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: A number of conservatives -- or conservatives, that is -- rushed to embrace the Terri Schiavo case, which is why a bunch of folks in New York might have been surprised by this headline this morning from "The New York Post," a conservative paper, leaning to the Republican side, basically saying, her final days have become an unseemly circus, enough, let her die in peace and with dignity.

It shows some of the confusion and conflict people are feeling in this country about her status. And when first lady Laura Bush was asked about the government getting involved, here's what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: I don't know. I think you have to -- you know, I just feel like the federal government has to be involved, that it's a life issue that really does require the government to be involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: That interview was done, by the way, during a very quick trip to Afghanistan.

We need to point out that the polls, though, are showing that Americans overwhelmingly are against government involvement in what is seen as a tragic clash of values and competing agendas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CBS EVENING NEWS")

BOB SCHIEFFER, CBS ANCHOR: ... her feeding tube, Schiavo is now on her 12th night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SCARBOROUGH COUNTRY") JOE SCARBOROUGH, HOST: Is there anything left to do for Terri Schiavo?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An 11th-hour appeal in the Terri Schiavo case.

ZAHN (voice-over): The coverage has been nonstop. It's been front-page news across the nation. Bob and Mary Schindler have brought their argument to the public.

ROBERT SCHINDLER, FATHER OF TERRI SCHIAVO: She's still fighting and we're still going to fight for her. We'll do whatever we can to save her. And it's not too late.

ZAHN: As the debate has gained national attention, so, too, it's made for some strange bedfellows.

PROTESTERS: Let Terri live. We're not dead yet.

ZAHN: For example, disabled rights activists. They've embraced the Schindler cause, linking Terri to the cause of millions of disabled Americans.

REP. BARNEY FRANK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I've spoken a lot with disability groups, who are concerned that, even where a choice is made to terminate life, it might be coerced by circumstance. And one of the things we can do is to stop cutting Medicaid.

RANDALL TERRY, SPOKESMAN FOR PARENTS OF TERRI SCHIAVO: I'm just honored to stand here with Reverend Jackson.

ZAHN: And who would have thought that conservative abortion opponent Randall Terry and the liberal human rights activist Jesse Jackson could ever agree on anything?

JACKSON: Terri's struggle, her sickness sends a bigger message. It cries out for our nation's long-term health care.

TERRY: Politically, he and I are not on the same side of most issues, I don't think. I couldn't have written this script in my wildest dreams if I was doing a hallucinogenic drug.

ZAHN: Perhaps not, but it plays well for the Schindlers, who are reaching out for more popular support through both Randall Terry and Jesse Jackson. Far outnumbered here, Michael Schiavo supporters.

RAYMOND SIMMONS, SUPPORTER FOR MICHAEL SCHIAVO: All these politicians are coming here to take credit and get their 15 minutes of fame for their political reasons, and Jesse Jackson coming out here is just adding to the confusion.

ZAHN: Confusion, there may be, from all of the different agendas being played out here. TERRY: In the past year, we have seen the Pledge of Allegiance come under attack because of "under God." We have seen the Ten Commandments removed from a state courthouse. We have seen homosexual marriage created out of thin air. And now we see an innocent woman starved to death.

ZAHN: But how do Americans really feel about Terri Schiavo's fate? Every national poll conducted to date shows most Americans would choose death over a vegetative state.

When asked, if you were in Terri's place, would you want your guardian to remove your feeding tube, in a recent "TIME" magazine poll, 69 percent of Americans said yes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: Well, despite those polls and the debate over Terri Schiavo, Schindler family supporters say their battle isn't something that will end with Terri's death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAVONE: No matter what happens to Terri, you can be sure a movement has started. In this place, at this moment, a new movement has started. And we're not going to see the end of this very soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: That was a Schindler supporter speaking just a short time ago.

The decision to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube has been a divisive issue, even for Republicans. One recent poll shows, even those who call themselves evangelicals are almost evenly split.

Well, the Schiavo case has only recently set off a national debate, but it has been raging in Florida for years. Next, how the good folks of Pinellas Park, Florida, see the battle over Terri Schiavo.

And our week long series, "Hollywood and Religion." The best selling "Left Behind" novels, how are they playing on the big screen?

And don't forgot, vote for our person of the day. Nominees: members of the Cleveland Hill Fire Department rescuing a woman from a burning car; the vice president's daughter Mary Cheney who signed a deal to write her life story; and tennis star Venus Williams, who just broke her four year losing streak against Sister Serena. Go to CNN.com/paula and vote.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: For many, the scene in Pinellas Park, Florida is nothing short of a circus. But step away from the hospice where Terri Schiavo lives, away from the protesters, the live shots and the frenzy and you get a very different perspective. David Mattingly discovered that today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE; That's right, America. You need to repent.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With almost every single frame of video filled with images and signs of people protesting the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, Pinellas Park, Florida might appear as a very crowded and tense place with a determined point of view. But after years of following the plight of Terri Schiavo, people in this quiet city of almost 48,000, we find, have their own opinions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just about everyday, whoever you talk to, that's all they're talking about is Terri Schiavo.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody's talking about it, yes. And it's -- it's been long enough.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This goes to you.

MATTINGLY: At the Park Side Diner where lunch specials change daily, discussion about Terri Schiavo has been the one constant topic of conversation for years.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's been 15 years and they should let her go.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My daughter, that is 37 is in cardiac at Akron General Hospital. And she told her husband, she said, Charlie, if I ever get in Terri Schiavo's state, you better give me back to my mother.

MATTINGLY: In what could be Terri Schiavo's final days, we find a clear majority of those we spoke to support the decision to remove the feeding tube, an experience that seems to mirror most national polls. And there is no shortage of opinion. Mike Ladowsky (ph) and Mike Morrison say there's always an argument going on at work where they work, just like the one that started here at their table.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anything could happen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I disagree. I don't think she can live a healthy life and be a vegetable the rest of her life she should -- I'm not saying, I don't want to use the word burden, but, I mean, if she can't function as a human.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's your verdict.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, well...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know. But starving her to death, that's not a good way to go. You would hope that she would be treated further...

MATTINGLY: While residents tell you that this is the biggest event to ever hit Pinellas Park outside of a hurricane, the demonstration site and the cluster of media next to it is relatively small, on a single out of the way street.

Around the corner, life goes on. The only difference here is the occasional chance to find someone like Joyce Piper (ph) who lives near the Schindlers.

JOYCE PIPER, SCHINDLER NEIGHBOR: Myself personally, it's up to the husband. It should be the husband's choice.

MATTINGLY: Is that a tough opinion for to you have, to live that close to the parents?

PIPER: Yes, it is.

MATTINGLY: Outside opinions coming into Pinellas Park skew heavily in favor of Terri's parents. The Pinellas Park Police report 866 phone calls in less than two weeks, many reporting a murder in progress at Terri Schiavo's hospice. E-mails to the city are also one-sided. One read, "it is disgraceful that you would allow your police force to enforce a law that permits the murder of an innocent woman."

Many, like this one, complain about the children who were arrested. "Placing 8- and 10-year-old children in handcuffs, what is wrong with you people?"

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: David Mattingly reporting. He also tell us Pinellas Park Police have received a number of threats as they try to continue to provide security outside the hospice where Terri Schiavo lies.

In a moment, we'll go back to Pinellas Park, Florida and my colleague, Anderson Cooper, for the very latest on her case. And then we continue our week long look at "Hollywood and Religion."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER LALONDE, PRODUCER, "LEFT BEHIND": Each one of the films in the Left Behind Series -- and we intend to make several more, will reach a wider and wider audience as we move along.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: So why, if "The Passion of the Christ" was such a success, have the hugely popular "Left Behind" books failed at the box office?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: Time to check in with my colleague. Anderson Cooper is outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida.

Hi, Anderson. I've been watching you all day long. And it's interesting, when you look at the camera angle that we're showing you right now. It looks like a bunch of protesters behind you. How many folks are really still out there tonight?

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah. It can -- it can be deceptive in a way. What you are seeing behind me is actually sort of the media staging area, so a lot of people you probably see are actually media personnel. And at times during the day, there are actually more reporters and TV cameras here than there are actual protesters.

Right now -- I mean, during the evening hours, the numbers kind of go up, because people are home from work. They come down here. There's probably, you know, four or five dozen people here right now. And at the low point today, there might have been, you know, three dozen people here or so.

So it's not -- you know, we're not talking about hundreds and hundreds of people here. It's -- there's a real ebb and flow to sort of the numbers, depending on what day it is, whether it's the weekend, and where the story stands.

ZAHN: And earlier today, Anderson, you were in a meeting with Reverend Jackson, when he was providing some counsel to the Schindler family. And I understand that meeting has been subject to a number of different interpretations. What was your understanding of what he was telling the parents of Terri Schiavo?

COOPER: Yes, I was actually very surprised to be asked to go into this meeting. One of Reverend Jackson's aides -- I was standing outside -- asked me to come inside. I came inside. They were sitting around in sort of a circle on chairs, in what looks like an antique shop, almost, that they've sort of taken over. It's the area where the Schindlers spend most of their time away from the media.

It was very somber group. Reverend Jackson was talking a little bit of what came out of the Jeb Bush meeting, which was really not much, that the legal -- that Jeb Bush, sort of clarifying Jeb Bush's position that he didn't feel he could intervene, given his power.

But there was -- it was interesting. I mean, Reverend Jackson's message to the Schindlers was very nuanced. He talked a lot about Terri Schiavo, a lot about not letting bitterness fill one's heart and not sort of -- and losing focus on the larger picture of what Terri Schiavo has been able to do with her -- the example of her life and also her journey to death, the bringing together of people from disparate groups, from people all around the world, the focus she has put on this issue and also the battles that remain, according to Reverend Jackson, battles for malpractice insurance, for healthcare.

In a sense, I mean, there are those who will say that in that meeting, he was trying to tell the Schindlers to sort of prepare and get ready for what happens next, for their daughter dying. He didn't say it in so many words. It was a subtle message, and I think open to interpretation. But he was really putting the focus on Terri Schiavo and on trying to sort of speak directly to the heart of the Schindlers and ready that heart for what may lie ahead, not the legal battles but the emotional battle. ZAHN: Anderson, we've just got about 30 seconds left. I find it so interesting, despite the forcefulness of the protest you witness there, that in fact the public opinion very much mirrors what Michael Schiavo's been saying all along...

COOPER: Absolutely.

ZAHN: ... please let me honor the wishes of my wife. Why don't we see more of his supporters out there? Where are they?

COOPER: It's a good question. I don't know. They're simply not out here. At times there will be groups out here sticking together. But this area is largely people supporting the Schindler side of the family. They are, really, the diehard elements of people who have stayed out here. Some of them are camping out here.

You see some -- some pro-Schiavo, some pro-Michael Schiavo people coming. Michael Schiavo enters through a different -- different entrance to this hospice. His attorney doesn't come to the media area. We've interviewed him, but it's always away from here. I think there are security concerns. They simply don't want to create too much drama, Paula.

ZAHN: Yes, I can understand that. Anderson Cooper, thanks so much. See you tomorrow on our show.

Time to check in with Larry King right now. He is live at the top of the hour.

You've 17 minutes, Larry, and it's all yours.

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": About 17 guests, too. We're going to take another look at the life and times of Johnnie Cochran. His daughter, Tiffany, will be with us. And we're going to sort of go back to the O.J. trial, because we're going to have Chris Darden and Marcia Clark for the prosecution and Peter Neufeld and F. Lee Bailey for the defense and recreate a major highlight in the life of the late lawyer.

And then of course, we'll look at the Schiavo case, more interesting aspects of that. That's all ahead at 9, Paula, following the wonderful Miss Zahn now.

ZAHN: Mr. King, thanks so much. And I will look forward to all 17 of those guests. Because you're one of the few that can make them all interface, and we can all understand what they say. Have a good show.

KING: Thanks, Paula.

ZAHN: The "Left Behind" books are widely -- let's try that again; Larry got me all flummoxed -- wildly popular best sellers with Christian themes. More than 60 million copies have been sold to date, so why have the film versions failed to bring fans to the box office? Our weeklong series, "Hollywood and Religion," when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: Still ahead, Hollywood and religion: the best selling "Left Behind" books goes big screen.

And who will be our person of the day: Fire fighters in suburban Buffalo, New York, for a daring rescue; Venus Williams, who at long last broke her losing streak to her sister, Serena; or Mary Cheney, the vice president's daughter, who's just signed a book deal where she apparently will talk about her personal life.

But first, at just about a quarter to the hour, time to check in with Thomas Roberts at HEADLINE NEWS for the rest of the day's top stories.

Hi, Thomas.

THOMAS ROBERTS, HEADLINE NEWS: Paula, hi to you.

We want to start with a developing story right now. The State Department says an American citizen has been kidnapped in Iraq, along with three Romanian journalists. Officials say that they can't release any more information on the incident right now. The three Romanian journalists did appear on video that aired on Al Jazeera Wednesday.

First Lady Laura Bush is on her way back to Washington. After giving a personal thanks to U.S. forces in Afghanistan, she capped off a five hour visit to the country by dining with American troops at Bagram Air Base in Kabul. The first lady announced grants of more than $20 million to build an American University in Afghanistan, also a school that would give Afghan children an American-style education.

The doctors say the Reverend Jerry Falwell is off a ventilator and also feeling much better. His condition is now upgraded from critical to serious but stable in a Virginia hospital. Falwell is said to be alert and breathing without any problems. Doctors say that he suffered from an acute onset of congestive heart failure but did not have a heart attack. They want to make that point perfectly clear.

Paula, we send it back to you in New York.

ZAHN: Thomas Roberts, thanks so much. I'll take it.

Continuing our special PEOPLE IN THE NEWS look at "Hollywood and Religion" now. A year ago, Hollywood was shocked by the success of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," but another cultural phenomenon has also flown under the mainstream media radar.

The "Left Behind" books, an epic telling of the Rapture, of Christians battling the Antichrist and the return of Jesus. The books are the creation of two men, whose readers hang on every word, watching for signs of the end times. But so far, the translation to the big screen has been anything but a hit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ZAHN (voice-over): A book signing in Colorado. Hundreds of people wait in line to meet the authors of the wildly successful "Left Behind" series: Dr. Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins.

JERRY JENKINS, CO-AUTHOR, "LEFT BEHIND" SERIES: I think there's a God-hunger on the part of society. Whether they would call it that or not, people are looking for something beyond themselves. They're buying books by the pope and the Dalai Lama and Eastern healing gurus, and I think it's because we live in a scary time.

ZAHN: With 60 million copies sold, a devoted fan base and a biblically based story line which features plenty of action and adventure, "Left Behind" would seem to have the potential to follow in the footsteps of "The Passion of the Christ" and become a box office hit.

TIM LAHAYE, CO-AUTHOR, "LEFT BEHIND" SERIES: Right from the beginning, I saw a movie. Somehow there has to be a movie, because to me, movies are the most powerful vehicle to the human mind ever invented.

ZAHN: In fact, there have already been two "Left Behind" movies, released before "The Passion."

LALONDE: The "Left Behind" film franchise has been enormously successful and really been part of the whole boom of Christian film making that we see taking place right now.

ZAHN: Made outside of Hollywood by Christian film-makers, the films featured a cast headlined by Kirk Cameron of "Growing Pains" fame. With budgets that pale in comparison to the special effects spectaculars that Hollywood turns out, the films took in $4 million in theaters and were essentially direct-to-video productions.

MARK PINSKY, RELIGION WRITER, "ORLANDO SENTINEL": I think that the "Left Behind" series, they've basically dropped the ball. They tried to make the movie on the cheap, and the movie was not of the same quality, as a movie, as the novels were as books.

BARBARA NICOLOSI, FILM AND TELEVISION CONSULTANT: Yes. If you put "Left Behind" up in front of the industry and say this is a Christian movie, this is embarrassingly bad schlock on every level.

ZAHN: The authors, who sold the film rights to their books before their series became a smash hit have also been disappointed.

JENKINS: We sort of wish we could get the rights back and do them ourselves again. We wanted a big budget Hollywood theatrical release and we felt like we got a sort of a church video.

ZAHN: In fact, co-author Lahaye filed suit against the filmmakers, alleging they had promised to make a blockbuster film and failed to deliver.

LAHAYE: Our intent was to get into the theater and expose our message to thousands of people that never go to church or don't understand Bible prophesy.

ZAHN: Lahaye lost. The suit was dismissed in favor of the filmmakers.

LALONDE: They sort of say you're a real film company when you get involved in your first lawsuit. That means you made it somewhere.

ZAHN: The "Left Behind" producer also defends the quality of his movies, noting they received excellent reviews from the Christian community.

LALONDE: I think for Christian films, they were a great step in the right direction. Could they have been better and had bigger budgets? I think so. Had the market demonstrated that the marketplace could bear a bigger budget movie at that point in time? No. We had not had "The Passion" at that point in time. So they were sort of boxed into what they were.

ZAHN: The movies have been successful in the home video market, selling more than four million copies to date.

LALONDE: The first film was best selling title of the year by an independent studio. The second film that we did debuted number two only to "Spider-Man."

ZAHN: The marketplace for Christian entertainment has been growing, even before the success of "The Passion." More than $4 million a year is spent on religious theme books, movies and videos.

BILL ANDERSON, CHRISTIAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION: There's a real growing interest and as people become more and more aware of these products that intersect with their lives, they're saying, "Wow, this is really helpful to me in my own personal growth, in rearing my children." And the quality has improved, the availability is larger and people are more interested.

ZAHN: But in a post "Passion" environment, the bar for any religious-oriented film has been raised.

LALONDE: This is a niche film industry. And I think it will grow. I think there will be movies like "The Passion" that have breakout success. But I think those are going to be one in a hundred. And I think it's a case of aiming for base hits one after the other.

ZAHN: Lalonde hope his latest film, "Left Behind: World War III," will be more like a homerun. Currently in production, he says it has a bigger budget than the previous two films and comes with higher expectations.

LALONDE: I think this movie is going to knock the socks off both of them. We have upped everything to such a level. I think that absolutely each one of the films in the "Left Behind" series, and we intend to make several more, will reach a wider and wider audience as we move along.

ZAHN: While it's unclear if that audience will materialize, the authors of the "Left Behind" series continue to have a hit on their hands. The latest novel, "The Rising," has rocketed to number one on the "New York Times" best-seller list.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: So far no decision on whether the third "Left Behind" film will be released in theaters or go straight to video.

Our series, "Hollywood and Religion" continues tomorrow with Madonna's new focus. And it's not musical. It's mystical. It doesn't look anything like that picture you're looking at right now.

You're going to find more stories on the people shaping our world in "People" magazine.

So who's your choice for person of the day? Here's the choices once again: members of a fire department in suburban Buffalo, New York, for a daring rescue of a woman in a burning car; Venus Williams, who just broke her losing streak against her sister, Serena; or Mary Cheney, the vice president's daughter, who signed a deal to write a memoir. Find out when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: And now your choice for our person of the day. Today's nominees: the Cleveland Hill, New York, Fire Department for an amazing rescue; Mary Cheney, daughter of the vice president, Dick Cheney, who signed a book deal; and tennis star Venus Williams, who broke her six match losing streak against her little sis Serena.

Well, Web viewers went with the fire department. Its quick work saved a woman from a blazing car without a second to lose.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can anybody get on the line with the fire department?

ZAHN (voice-over): The accident happened at a busy intersection in a Buffalo suburb, leaving Anahita Barbarita (ph) trapped in her car after a truck collided with her.

The car's engine immediately began to smoke. Fire Chief Lale Lewis was the first fire fighter on the scene.

FIRE CHIEF LALE LEWIS, CLEVELAND HILLS, NEW YORK: She was conscious but she didn't know what was going on. The fire was starting to coming through the firewall, so we had to get her out.

ZAHN: Not an easy task, since the driver's side door was crushed. Quick thinking workers at a nearby gas station used fire extinguishers to douse the flames.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This man had -- they kept -- they kept bringing them from all over. She was trapped in there. Had they not had those fire extinguishers. ZAHN: But the extinguishers could only do so much. Normally, the fire department would apply first-aid before removing Barbarita (ph) from the car. But they didn't have much time. The car was going to explode.

LEWIS: I had to break the window with the extinguisher, then release her seatbelt and drag her out through the window. We couldn't get no doors open.

ZAHN: Just seconds after Barbarita (ph) was rescued, the car burst into flames.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: What a lucky woman. What heroes, the firefighters. Your choice for person of the day, the Cleveland Hill Fire Department. Kudos to them. This update on the driver, she unfortunately remains in critical condition tonight.

That wraps it up for all of us here tonight. We really appreciate your dropping by. "LARRY KING LIVE" is next. We will be back same time same place tomorrow night. We hope you'll join us then. Have a great night.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired March 30, 2005 - 20:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Wanted to welcome all of you. Thanks so much for joining us tonight. Appreciate your dropping by.
Another legal battle lost for Terri Schiavo and her family. We will bring you up to date on that. You will also be meeting others who have chosen a very different path, sometimes inspiring, always courageous.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN (voice-over): Tonight, one man, one family one choice.

ED DAVIS, CANCER PATIENT: I'm not concerned about dying. And if you're living on artificial means, you're not really living.

ZAHN: Ed Davis on his final journey.

And Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, making millions selling books to save souls. But why haven't they cashed in on the big screen? Hollywood and religion -- big money, tough sell.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: We begin tonight with the fight to restore Terri Schiavo's feeding tube: one more dramatic appeal, an 11th-hour legal maneuver by Bob and Mary Schindler to keep their daughter alive. That appeal was rejected by the 11th Circuit Federal Appeals Court in Atlanta.

And just a few minutes ago, a Schindler family supporter reacted to this latest blow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FATHER FRANK PAVONE, SCHINDLER FAMILY SUPPORTER: As I sat there next to her, I noticed several things.

First of all, she is holding three stuffed animals. Under her right arm is a stuffed dog, under her left arm, a stuffed animal kitten, and next to her left arm, a bunny rabbit. Were those animals real animals, we would not be allowed to do to them what is happening to Terri right now.

Next to her bed, on the side table, is a vase of flowers, beautiful flowers. And then across the room from the foot of her bed is another vase of flowers, also beautiful flowers. In both cases, those flowers have plenty of water. They have more water than she does. The flowers are being taken better care of right now than our sister Terri.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: And so, with time running out and 13 days since Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed, the family says, once again, it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, although the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to intervene five times so far.

Joining me now from Pinellas Park, Brother Paul O'Donnell and Judy Bader, a friend of the Schindlers. Judy visited Terri earlier today.

Thank you so much for being with us tonight.

Judy, describe what you saw today in Terri's room.

JUDY BADER, SCHINDLER FAMILY FRIEND: Terri is still fighting. Her eyes are still tracking. She's trying to find people in the room when you speak to her. We prayed with her.

She is such a fighter that it's unbelievable what spirit she has. And we all prayed with her and told her that we're all fighting for her and to keep fighting. And she -- it's just a miracle she's still doing it. And I think she is -- she just needs some water. She just needs some sustenance. It's unbelievable that this could happen.

(CROSSTALK)

ZAHN: Judy, as you know, particularly when it comes to Michael Schiavo's part of this story, he doesn't think she would be able to understand anything you told her today. But you got the distinct impression that she heard you.

BADER: Well, I've been going in there since before Good Friday, and she definitely was aware. And when I was talking to her at one point, her brother went out of the room, came back in and said something and Terri's eyes immediately popped around to find him behind me.

She's very aware. She knows exactly who's in the room and -- or that we are they're, and she's responding to it.

ZAHN: Judy, how did she look to you physically today?

BADER: The family would have to comment on that. She's -- you know, she needs help. She's fighting for her life and she needs somebody to come forth and help her.

There's somebody out there who can do it. Somebody must be here in the United States who can help her. And we're all praying for it. We're all trying for it. We told her, we won't give up the fight and neither will she.

ZAHN: Brother O'Donnell, I understand that the Schindlers have to confront the reality of probably what won't happen in the courts now. And we understand that Reverend Jackson earlier today actually advised the Schindler family to be prepared to let go. Are they ready to do that?

PAUL O'DONNELL, SCHINDLER FAMILY ADVISER: Actually, Reverend Jackson did not say that. I asked the Reverend Jackson to lead the family in prayer.

And basically what he said is that we need to pray for her life, for hope, and to prepare for her death. And that's much different than letting go. They will fight for their daughter's life. They have to be able to stand before God and stand before her some day and say that they did everything earthly possible to save her life.

ZAHN: How discouraged are they tonight, Brother O'Donnell?

O'DONNELL: Well, Mary Schindler is physically ill. She hasn't been able to see her daughter for days. It's like a mother having to watch a perpetrator abuse her daughter in front of her eyes. She just physically can't go in and see her daughter dying this way.

And she can't understand how this is happening in the United States of America.

ZAHN: How is Mr. Schindler holding up?

O'DONNELL: Not well. He's strong, a man of faith. He's trying to protect his children, his wife and be there for Terri. And he feels helpless.

And, like any loving father, he's been moved to tears many times today. They're devastated.

ZAHN: And, Judy, as we leave you tonight, what is your greatest fear, as your dear friend faces almost two weeks of having gone without food or sustenance?

BADER: My greatest fear is that Michael won't come to his senses and turn Terri over to her family and let them care for her. That's all they've ever wanted. And that's what they're begging for him to do. And we're all begging for that.

ZAHN: Judy Bader, Brother O'Donnell, thank you for joining us at this very tough time for the two of you. We very much appreciate you being with us tonight.

BADER: Thank you, Paula.

ZAHN: And we should make it clear to you that Michael Schiavo has long argued that it was his wife's desire never to be put on life support or have any life-sustaining food. That is what is at the center of this controversy.

Now, as her fate is played out in public, others have been making their own life-and-death decisions quietly, without the courts, without advocates or the protesters, and without the politicians and lawyers.

Elizabeth Cohen spent some time with a dying man and his family near Atlanta, Georgia. They are facing life and death on their own terms, but very much together.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An ordinary home in an ordinary American neighborhood. Ed Davis is dying. It's clear the end is near. And so, this past Friday, Ed's children and grandchildren came to say goodbye. They let us share these intimate moments because they wanted to be an example of how to die with love and with dignity.

DAVIS: I'm not concerned about the cancer. I'm not concerned about dying.

COHEN: Cancer was diagnosed just a month ago, so advanced that Ed's surgeons could offer no help.

DAVIS: It was in my liver and my pancreas and also many other part of the body.

COHEN: Doctors offered chemotherapy and dialysis for his ailing kidneys, but they made it clear, these treatments would not buy Ed Davis much time. And what little he would have would be unpleasant. So, Ed said no.

DAVIS: We're supposed to die. We're not supposed to live forever. And if you're living on artificial means, you're not really living. You're just existing.

COHEN: Ed Davis has spent his 84 years a happy man. He's had the love of his wife, Chris (ph), and their three sons and their families. He chose to live the last remaining days at home, with care from hospice and love from his family and friends. As a man of faith, he wanted one thing, to spend one last Sunday in church.

DAVIS: I just got to thinking if I might not ever get to go to church again. And I would like to have that last time.

COHEN: But one last Sunday in church seemed pretty unlikely last Friday. The family took turns sitting by his side feeding him, thanking him for his love and hoping he'd get that one last wish.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just be your sweet, lovable self, and everything will be fine.

COHEN: Over the weekend, the Davis' talked about old times. They've been married for 61 years.

DAVIS: She's a country girl for sure. I had to put shoes on her when we got married.

(LAUGHTER)

COHEN: For most of the weekend, the family told stories, while they laughed and shared their love.

DAVIS: I don't have a thing to worry about with this girl. She's going to be a fine woman.

COHEN: But Saturday was rough for the Davis'.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We really weren't sure he was even going to make it through the night.

COHEN: But he did. And, on Easter Sunday, his last wish came true.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There we go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (singing): I will worship with all of my heart.

COHEN: Mr. Davis took communion, his faith steady, an example of grace and dignity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Father, God, we're so thankful for Ed, and, Lord, his courageous witness for you.

COHEN (on camera): Mr. Davis, you said you really wanted to go to church. Now you've been. How do you feel?

DAVIS: I feel fulfilled.

COHEN: Fulfilled by the love of his family and by living out his last few days exactly as he wanted.

DAVIS: It's not hard to make a decision like this when you're 84 years old, lived a good life and raised your family. Of course, it's not always easy to leave, but we have to do that. We cry like this when we go on a trip, so that's where I'm going, is on a trip. I'm going to take the rest of my life and be with the lord in heaven.

COHEN: Ed Davis died Sunday night, just hours after we spoke, surrounded by his family in his own home at peace.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: And God bless him.

Today, friends of Ed Davis gave him a final farewell at the same church he loved so much, with one of his favorite songs, "Sentimental Journey."

(MUSIC)

ZAHN: Ed Davis' family tells us they've heard from total strangers who were inspired by Ed's faith and courage, a wonderful legacy.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: Time again to vote for the person of the day. Before noon Eastern time every day, we give you three choices. And you can find them on our Web site, CNN.com/Paula.

Today's nominees: members of the Cleveland Hill Fire Department in New York for their dramatic rescue of a woman trapped in an exploding car; Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter Vice President Dick Cheney, who has been quite silent about her personal life. But now she's decided to publish a memoir. And, finally, tennis champ Venus Williams for breaking her losing streak against sister Serena Williams.

Once again, log on to CNN.com/Paula and vote for your person of the day. We will give you the results at the end of the hour.

And what would you do if you had to face what the Schiavos and Schindlers are facing? When we come back, meet six Ohio brothers who had to do just that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: Still ahead, meet six brothers who live in Cleveland and had to face their own family crisis.

Also, the anger, the confusion and the debate over the Schiavo story -- it's playing out all across the country.

But, first, we're moving up on about 17 minutes past the hour. That means it's time to turn to Thomas Roberts at HEADLINE NEWS for the day's other top stories.

Welcome to our fold.

THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you very much. Hi, Paula.

A former top official of the Boy Scouts of America could face up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to child porn charges. Investigators say a search last month turned up more than 500 images of child porn on Douglas Smith's computer. His attorney says Smith became involved in child pornography by accident, but now admits he had a problem with it. Smith once ran a Boy Scout taskforce aimed at protecting kids from sexual abuse.

The psychologist who helped launch the current child molestation case against Michael Jackson took the stand in the pop star's trial. Dr. Stan Katz says it's extremely rare for kids over the age of five to make a false accusation of molestation. Katz testified that false allegations are usually the most consistent, because they're scripted. Katz reported to authorities the accuser told him during a therapy session he was molested by Jackson.

Pope John Paul II is now being fed by a tube inserted through his nose. A Vatican spokesman says the feeding tube is needed to improve the pope's nutrition. The 84-year-old's recovery from tracheotomy surgery is being described as slow and progressive. The pope appeared at the window of his study today for just a few minutes. He didn't speak to the crowds that had gathered outside. An Arkansas judge's solution to a dispute over some barking dog may be very tough for animal lovers to hear. The judge ordered the owner of the three dogs to have their vocal chords removed by Thursday to stop their barking. Now, his neighbor had complained the animals bark too much when they're left outside. The owner says he'd rather give away the dogs than have to have them have that procedure.

So, Paula, a very extreme verdict there. It makes me wonder how my dog is doing at home right now. But we'll send it back to you in New York.

ZAHN: Yes, I was thinking the same thing, because I have go to walk him in about an hour from now. And I hope that he doesn't bark and tempt his urban neighbors.

ROBERTS: Right.

If my dog Reilly (ph) is watching, stop barking.

ZAHN: Thomas Roberts, thanks. See you a little bit later on tonight.

ROBERTS: OK.

ZAHN: Terri Schiavo is literally one in a million. That's how many Americans are estimated to be in hospice, a place dedicated to making the final days as comfortable as possible for dying patients. But you might be surprised to know that withholding food and water is quite common for families facing a similar crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: Fifty-one-year-old Jimmy Tighe grew up in a close-knit Irish Catholic family, the oldest of six brothers. He was a hard worker and a role model to his younger siblings.

KEITH TIGHE, BROTHER: We looked up to him. We wanted to be like Jimmy when we grew up.

DAN TIGHE, BROTHER: Any time, day or night, if you called on him, he would come and give you a hand. So, he was always there for us.

ZAHN: But, in May of 2002, while taking care of his sick father, Jimmy fell down some stairs and hit his head hard. He went without oxygen for 12 minutes and suffered permanent brain damage, leaving him in a vegetative state. His brothers, however, held out hope.

T. TIGHE: You always look, grasping for hope that there's something out there, just a miracle and he might just wake up one day and say, hey, let's go home.

ZAHN: For nearly three years, at least one of Jimmy's brothers has come to visit him every day. The strain of seeing him like this wears on all of them. DEAN TIGHE, BROTHER: To come here and see Jimmy in this state is depressing. I mean, it's depressing walking in through those doors and it's depressing leaving.

D. TIGHE: This is his purgatory. He's -- if you believe in heaven and hell and purgatory, Jimmy's in purgatory right now.

K. TIGHE: He's here, but he's not the brother that we know. Now, it took a while to accept it but, you know, we realize that it's time.

ZAHN: Time, they believe, to end Jimmy's suffering. Though he didn't put his wishes in writing, the brothers had an important conversation about life and death before Jimmy's accident.

K. TIGHE: We talked about it before with him that he never wanted to be hooked on life support. And, you know, and we just want to honor his wishes on that.

ZAHN: In a matter of days, Keith, Dan, Sean and Dean will authorize doctors to disconnect the feeding tube that's been keeping Jimmy alive.

K. TIGHE: You know, it's tough. It's not an easy decision. The hardest thing about it is that we're not going to be able to see him anymore.

ZAHN: End-of-life hospice specialists have reassured Jimmy's brothers that his gradual death will not be painful.

ELIZABETH FORD PITORAK, DIRECTOR, HOSPICE INSTITUTE: I always say that there's somebody greater than us that created a great body. And if we leave it alone, it shuts down very nicely. And when we interfere and we start giving fluids, when the body is shutting down normally, we create problems.

ZAHN: So as the Tighe brothers get ready to say goodbye, they are grateful that their difficult decision has remained a private family matter.

D. TIGHE: It shouldn't be played out in the news media to the point that the Schiavo case is.

K. TIGHE: I feel the government has no right to step into it. And it's a private family matter and it shouldn't be drug through the courts like that.

ZAHN: And, as for Jimmy:

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just want the best for him. And, in our hearts, we know this is what he would want.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: If you're wondering why the Tighe brothers shared their story with us, they feel it's very important the public understand the pact they made with their brother and why they are honoring it. They tell us that they are at peace and that their brother Jimmy will not feel any hunger, thirst or pain in his last days.

The Terri Schiavo story has exposed some of the deep divisions in this country and given longtime opponents a reason to unite.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. JESSE JACKSON, FOUNDER, RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION: To me, that is the moral and ethical dimension of this that is unjustifiable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: Next, Jesse Jackson joining right-to-life leaders, strange bedfellows in a story that's riveted the nation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: A number of conservatives -- or conservatives, that is -- rushed to embrace the Terri Schiavo case, which is why a bunch of folks in New York might have been surprised by this headline this morning from "The New York Post," a conservative paper, leaning to the Republican side, basically saying, her final days have become an unseemly circus, enough, let her die in peace and with dignity.

It shows some of the confusion and conflict people are feeling in this country about her status. And when first lady Laura Bush was asked about the government getting involved, here's what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: I don't know. I think you have to -- you know, I just feel like the federal government has to be involved, that it's a life issue that really does require the government to be involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: That interview was done, by the way, during a very quick trip to Afghanistan.

We need to point out that the polls, though, are showing that Americans overwhelmingly are against government involvement in what is seen as a tragic clash of values and competing agendas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CBS EVENING NEWS")

BOB SCHIEFFER, CBS ANCHOR: ... her feeding tube, Schiavo is now on her 12th night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "SCARBOROUGH COUNTRY") JOE SCARBOROUGH, HOST: Is there anything left to do for Terri Schiavo?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An 11th-hour appeal in the Terri Schiavo case.

ZAHN (voice-over): The coverage has been nonstop. It's been front-page news across the nation. Bob and Mary Schindler have brought their argument to the public.

ROBERT SCHINDLER, FATHER OF TERRI SCHIAVO: She's still fighting and we're still going to fight for her. We'll do whatever we can to save her. And it's not too late.

ZAHN: As the debate has gained national attention, so, too, it's made for some strange bedfellows.

PROTESTERS: Let Terri live. We're not dead yet.

ZAHN: For example, disabled rights activists. They've embraced the Schindler cause, linking Terri to the cause of millions of disabled Americans.

REP. BARNEY FRANK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I've spoken a lot with disability groups, who are concerned that, even where a choice is made to terminate life, it might be coerced by circumstance. And one of the things we can do is to stop cutting Medicaid.

RANDALL TERRY, SPOKESMAN FOR PARENTS OF TERRI SCHIAVO: I'm just honored to stand here with Reverend Jackson.

ZAHN: And who would have thought that conservative abortion opponent Randall Terry and the liberal human rights activist Jesse Jackson could ever agree on anything?

JACKSON: Terri's struggle, her sickness sends a bigger message. It cries out for our nation's long-term health care.

TERRY: Politically, he and I are not on the same side of most issues, I don't think. I couldn't have written this script in my wildest dreams if I was doing a hallucinogenic drug.

ZAHN: Perhaps not, but it plays well for the Schindlers, who are reaching out for more popular support through both Randall Terry and Jesse Jackson. Far outnumbered here, Michael Schiavo supporters.

RAYMOND SIMMONS, SUPPORTER FOR MICHAEL SCHIAVO: All these politicians are coming here to take credit and get their 15 minutes of fame for their political reasons, and Jesse Jackson coming out here is just adding to the confusion.

ZAHN: Confusion, there may be, from all of the different agendas being played out here. TERRY: In the past year, we have seen the Pledge of Allegiance come under attack because of "under God." We have seen the Ten Commandments removed from a state courthouse. We have seen homosexual marriage created out of thin air. And now we see an innocent woman starved to death.

ZAHN: But how do Americans really feel about Terri Schiavo's fate? Every national poll conducted to date shows most Americans would choose death over a vegetative state.

When asked, if you were in Terri's place, would you want your guardian to remove your feeding tube, in a recent "TIME" magazine poll, 69 percent of Americans said yes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: Well, despite those polls and the debate over Terri Schiavo, Schindler family supporters say their battle isn't something that will end with Terri's death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAVONE: No matter what happens to Terri, you can be sure a movement has started. In this place, at this moment, a new movement has started. And we're not going to see the end of this very soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: That was a Schindler supporter speaking just a short time ago.

The decision to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube has been a divisive issue, even for Republicans. One recent poll shows, even those who call themselves evangelicals are almost evenly split.

Well, the Schiavo case has only recently set off a national debate, but it has been raging in Florida for years. Next, how the good folks of Pinellas Park, Florida, see the battle over Terri Schiavo.

And our week long series, "Hollywood and Religion." The best selling "Left Behind" novels, how are they playing on the big screen?

And don't forgot, vote for our person of the day. Nominees: members of the Cleveland Hill Fire Department rescuing a woman from a burning car; the vice president's daughter Mary Cheney who signed a deal to write her life story; and tennis star Venus Williams, who just broke her four year losing streak against Sister Serena. Go to CNN.com/paula and vote.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: For many, the scene in Pinellas Park, Florida is nothing short of a circus. But step away from the hospice where Terri Schiavo lives, away from the protesters, the live shots and the frenzy and you get a very different perspective. David Mattingly discovered that today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE; That's right, America. You need to repent.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With almost every single frame of video filled with images and signs of people protesting the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, Pinellas Park, Florida might appear as a very crowded and tense place with a determined point of view. But after years of following the plight of Terri Schiavo, people in this quiet city of almost 48,000, we find, have their own opinions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just about everyday, whoever you talk to, that's all they're talking about is Terri Schiavo.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody's talking about it, yes. And it's -- it's been long enough.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This goes to you.

MATTINGLY: At the Park Side Diner where lunch specials change daily, discussion about Terri Schiavo has been the one constant topic of conversation for years.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's been 15 years and they should let her go.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My daughter, that is 37 is in cardiac at Akron General Hospital. And she told her husband, she said, Charlie, if I ever get in Terri Schiavo's state, you better give me back to my mother.

MATTINGLY: In what could be Terri Schiavo's final days, we find a clear majority of those we spoke to support the decision to remove the feeding tube, an experience that seems to mirror most national polls. And there is no shortage of opinion. Mike Ladowsky (ph) and Mike Morrison say there's always an argument going on at work where they work, just like the one that started here at their table.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anything could happen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I disagree. I don't think she can live a healthy life and be a vegetable the rest of her life she should -- I'm not saying, I don't want to use the word burden, but, I mean, if she can't function as a human.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's your verdict.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, well...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know. But starving her to death, that's not a good way to go. You would hope that she would be treated further...

MATTINGLY: While residents tell you that this is the biggest event to ever hit Pinellas Park outside of a hurricane, the demonstration site and the cluster of media next to it is relatively small, on a single out of the way street.

Around the corner, life goes on. The only difference here is the occasional chance to find someone like Joyce Piper (ph) who lives near the Schindlers.

JOYCE PIPER, SCHINDLER NEIGHBOR: Myself personally, it's up to the husband. It should be the husband's choice.

MATTINGLY: Is that a tough opinion for to you have, to live that close to the parents?

PIPER: Yes, it is.

MATTINGLY: Outside opinions coming into Pinellas Park skew heavily in favor of Terri's parents. The Pinellas Park Police report 866 phone calls in less than two weeks, many reporting a murder in progress at Terri Schiavo's hospice. E-mails to the city are also one-sided. One read, "it is disgraceful that you would allow your police force to enforce a law that permits the murder of an innocent woman."

Many, like this one, complain about the children who were arrested. "Placing 8- and 10-year-old children in handcuffs, what is wrong with you people?"

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: David Mattingly reporting. He also tell us Pinellas Park Police have received a number of threats as they try to continue to provide security outside the hospice where Terri Schiavo lies.

In a moment, we'll go back to Pinellas Park, Florida and my colleague, Anderson Cooper, for the very latest on her case. And then we continue our week long look at "Hollywood and Religion."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER LALONDE, PRODUCER, "LEFT BEHIND": Each one of the films in the Left Behind Series -- and we intend to make several more, will reach a wider and wider audience as we move along.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: So why, if "The Passion of the Christ" was such a success, have the hugely popular "Left Behind" books failed at the box office?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: Time to check in with my colleague. Anderson Cooper is outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida.

Hi, Anderson. I've been watching you all day long. And it's interesting, when you look at the camera angle that we're showing you right now. It looks like a bunch of protesters behind you. How many folks are really still out there tonight?

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah. It can -- it can be deceptive in a way. What you are seeing behind me is actually sort of the media staging area, so a lot of people you probably see are actually media personnel. And at times during the day, there are actually more reporters and TV cameras here than there are actual protesters.

Right now -- I mean, during the evening hours, the numbers kind of go up, because people are home from work. They come down here. There's probably, you know, four or five dozen people here right now. And at the low point today, there might have been, you know, three dozen people here or so.

So it's not -- you know, we're not talking about hundreds and hundreds of people here. It's -- there's a real ebb and flow to sort of the numbers, depending on what day it is, whether it's the weekend, and where the story stands.

ZAHN: And earlier today, Anderson, you were in a meeting with Reverend Jackson, when he was providing some counsel to the Schindler family. And I understand that meeting has been subject to a number of different interpretations. What was your understanding of what he was telling the parents of Terri Schiavo?

COOPER: Yes, I was actually very surprised to be asked to go into this meeting. One of Reverend Jackson's aides -- I was standing outside -- asked me to come inside. I came inside. They were sitting around in sort of a circle on chairs, in what looks like an antique shop, almost, that they've sort of taken over. It's the area where the Schindlers spend most of their time away from the media.

It was very somber group. Reverend Jackson was talking a little bit of what came out of the Jeb Bush meeting, which was really not much, that the legal -- that Jeb Bush, sort of clarifying Jeb Bush's position that he didn't feel he could intervene, given his power.

But there was -- it was interesting. I mean, Reverend Jackson's message to the Schindlers was very nuanced. He talked a lot about Terri Schiavo, a lot about not letting bitterness fill one's heart and not sort of -- and losing focus on the larger picture of what Terri Schiavo has been able to do with her -- the example of her life and also her journey to death, the bringing together of people from disparate groups, from people all around the world, the focus she has put on this issue and also the battles that remain, according to Reverend Jackson, battles for malpractice insurance, for healthcare.

In a sense, I mean, there are those who will say that in that meeting, he was trying to tell the Schindlers to sort of prepare and get ready for what happens next, for their daughter dying. He didn't say it in so many words. It was a subtle message, and I think open to interpretation. But he was really putting the focus on Terri Schiavo and on trying to sort of speak directly to the heart of the Schindlers and ready that heart for what may lie ahead, not the legal battles but the emotional battle. ZAHN: Anderson, we've just got about 30 seconds left. I find it so interesting, despite the forcefulness of the protest you witness there, that in fact the public opinion very much mirrors what Michael Schiavo's been saying all along...

COOPER: Absolutely.

ZAHN: ... please let me honor the wishes of my wife. Why don't we see more of his supporters out there? Where are they?

COOPER: It's a good question. I don't know. They're simply not out here. At times there will be groups out here sticking together. But this area is largely people supporting the Schindler side of the family. They are, really, the diehard elements of people who have stayed out here. Some of them are camping out here.

You see some -- some pro-Schiavo, some pro-Michael Schiavo people coming. Michael Schiavo enters through a different -- different entrance to this hospice. His attorney doesn't come to the media area. We've interviewed him, but it's always away from here. I think there are security concerns. They simply don't want to create too much drama, Paula.

ZAHN: Yes, I can understand that. Anderson Cooper, thanks so much. See you tomorrow on our show.

Time to check in with Larry King right now. He is live at the top of the hour.

You've 17 minutes, Larry, and it's all yours.

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": About 17 guests, too. We're going to take another look at the life and times of Johnnie Cochran. His daughter, Tiffany, will be with us. And we're going to sort of go back to the O.J. trial, because we're going to have Chris Darden and Marcia Clark for the prosecution and Peter Neufeld and F. Lee Bailey for the defense and recreate a major highlight in the life of the late lawyer.

And then of course, we'll look at the Schiavo case, more interesting aspects of that. That's all ahead at 9, Paula, following the wonderful Miss Zahn now.

ZAHN: Mr. King, thanks so much. And I will look forward to all 17 of those guests. Because you're one of the few that can make them all interface, and we can all understand what they say. Have a good show.

KING: Thanks, Paula.

ZAHN: The "Left Behind" books are widely -- let's try that again; Larry got me all flummoxed -- wildly popular best sellers with Christian themes. More than 60 million copies have been sold to date, so why have the film versions failed to bring fans to the box office? Our weeklong series, "Hollywood and Religion," when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: Still ahead, Hollywood and religion: the best selling "Left Behind" books goes big screen.

And who will be our person of the day: Fire fighters in suburban Buffalo, New York, for a daring rescue; Venus Williams, who at long last broke her losing streak to her sister, Serena; or Mary Cheney, the vice president's daughter, who's just signed a book deal where she apparently will talk about her personal life.

But first, at just about a quarter to the hour, time to check in with Thomas Roberts at HEADLINE NEWS for the rest of the day's top stories.

Hi, Thomas.

THOMAS ROBERTS, HEADLINE NEWS: Paula, hi to you.

We want to start with a developing story right now. The State Department says an American citizen has been kidnapped in Iraq, along with three Romanian journalists. Officials say that they can't release any more information on the incident right now. The three Romanian journalists did appear on video that aired on Al Jazeera Wednesday.

First Lady Laura Bush is on her way back to Washington. After giving a personal thanks to U.S. forces in Afghanistan, she capped off a five hour visit to the country by dining with American troops at Bagram Air Base in Kabul. The first lady announced grants of more than $20 million to build an American University in Afghanistan, also a school that would give Afghan children an American-style education.

The doctors say the Reverend Jerry Falwell is off a ventilator and also feeling much better. His condition is now upgraded from critical to serious but stable in a Virginia hospital. Falwell is said to be alert and breathing without any problems. Doctors say that he suffered from an acute onset of congestive heart failure but did not have a heart attack. They want to make that point perfectly clear.

Paula, we send it back to you in New York.

ZAHN: Thomas Roberts, thanks so much. I'll take it.

Continuing our special PEOPLE IN THE NEWS look at "Hollywood and Religion" now. A year ago, Hollywood was shocked by the success of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," but another cultural phenomenon has also flown under the mainstream media radar.

The "Left Behind" books, an epic telling of the Rapture, of Christians battling the Antichrist and the return of Jesus. The books are the creation of two men, whose readers hang on every word, watching for signs of the end times. But so far, the translation to the big screen has been anything but a hit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ZAHN (voice-over): A book signing in Colorado. Hundreds of people wait in line to meet the authors of the wildly successful "Left Behind" series: Dr. Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins.

JERRY JENKINS, CO-AUTHOR, "LEFT BEHIND" SERIES: I think there's a God-hunger on the part of society. Whether they would call it that or not, people are looking for something beyond themselves. They're buying books by the pope and the Dalai Lama and Eastern healing gurus, and I think it's because we live in a scary time.

ZAHN: With 60 million copies sold, a devoted fan base and a biblically based story line which features plenty of action and adventure, "Left Behind" would seem to have the potential to follow in the footsteps of "The Passion of the Christ" and become a box office hit.

TIM LAHAYE, CO-AUTHOR, "LEFT BEHIND" SERIES: Right from the beginning, I saw a movie. Somehow there has to be a movie, because to me, movies are the most powerful vehicle to the human mind ever invented.

ZAHN: In fact, there have already been two "Left Behind" movies, released before "The Passion."

LALONDE: The "Left Behind" film franchise has been enormously successful and really been part of the whole boom of Christian film making that we see taking place right now.

ZAHN: Made outside of Hollywood by Christian film-makers, the films featured a cast headlined by Kirk Cameron of "Growing Pains" fame. With budgets that pale in comparison to the special effects spectaculars that Hollywood turns out, the films took in $4 million in theaters and were essentially direct-to-video productions.

MARK PINSKY, RELIGION WRITER, "ORLANDO SENTINEL": I think that the "Left Behind" series, they've basically dropped the ball. They tried to make the movie on the cheap, and the movie was not of the same quality, as a movie, as the novels were as books.

BARBARA NICOLOSI, FILM AND TELEVISION CONSULTANT: Yes. If you put "Left Behind" up in front of the industry and say this is a Christian movie, this is embarrassingly bad schlock on every level.

ZAHN: The authors, who sold the film rights to their books before their series became a smash hit have also been disappointed.

JENKINS: We sort of wish we could get the rights back and do them ourselves again. We wanted a big budget Hollywood theatrical release and we felt like we got a sort of a church video.

ZAHN: In fact, co-author Lahaye filed suit against the filmmakers, alleging they had promised to make a blockbuster film and failed to deliver.

LAHAYE: Our intent was to get into the theater and expose our message to thousands of people that never go to church or don't understand Bible prophesy.

ZAHN: Lahaye lost. The suit was dismissed in favor of the filmmakers.

LALONDE: They sort of say you're a real film company when you get involved in your first lawsuit. That means you made it somewhere.

ZAHN: The "Left Behind" producer also defends the quality of his movies, noting they received excellent reviews from the Christian community.

LALONDE: I think for Christian films, they were a great step in the right direction. Could they have been better and had bigger budgets? I think so. Had the market demonstrated that the marketplace could bear a bigger budget movie at that point in time? No. We had not had "The Passion" at that point in time. So they were sort of boxed into what they were.

ZAHN: The movies have been successful in the home video market, selling more than four million copies to date.

LALONDE: The first film was best selling title of the year by an independent studio. The second film that we did debuted number two only to "Spider-Man."

ZAHN: The marketplace for Christian entertainment has been growing, even before the success of "The Passion." More than $4 million a year is spent on religious theme books, movies and videos.

BILL ANDERSON, CHRISTIAN BOOKSELLERS ASSOCIATION: There's a real growing interest and as people become more and more aware of these products that intersect with their lives, they're saying, "Wow, this is really helpful to me in my own personal growth, in rearing my children." And the quality has improved, the availability is larger and people are more interested.

ZAHN: But in a post "Passion" environment, the bar for any religious-oriented film has been raised.

LALONDE: This is a niche film industry. And I think it will grow. I think there will be movies like "The Passion" that have breakout success. But I think those are going to be one in a hundred. And I think it's a case of aiming for base hits one after the other.

ZAHN: Lalonde hope his latest film, "Left Behind: World War III," will be more like a homerun. Currently in production, he says it has a bigger budget than the previous two films and comes with higher expectations.

LALONDE: I think this movie is going to knock the socks off both of them. We have upped everything to such a level. I think that absolutely each one of the films in the "Left Behind" series, and we intend to make several more, will reach a wider and wider audience as we move along.

ZAHN: While it's unclear if that audience will materialize, the authors of the "Left Behind" series continue to have a hit on their hands. The latest novel, "The Rising," has rocketed to number one on the "New York Times" best-seller list.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: So far no decision on whether the third "Left Behind" film will be released in theaters or go straight to video.

Our series, "Hollywood and Religion" continues tomorrow with Madonna's new focus. And it's not musical. It's mystical. It doesn't look anything like that picture you're looking at right now.

You're going to find more stories on the people shaping our world in "People" magazine.

So who's your choice for person of the day? Here's the choices once again: members of a fire department in suburban Buffalo, New York, for a daring rescue of a woman in a burning car; Venus Williams, who just broke her losing streak against her sister, Serena; or Mary Cheney, the vice president's daughter, who signed a deal to write a memoir. Find out when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAHN: And now your choice for our person of the day. Today's nominees: the Cleveland Hill, New York, Fire Department for an amazing rescue; Mary Cheney, daughter of the vice president, Dick Cheney, who signed a book deal; and tennis star Venus Williams, who broke her six match losing streak against her little sis Serena.

Well, Web viewers went with the fire department. Its quick work saved a woman from a blazing car without a second to lose.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can anybody get on the line with the fire department?

ZAHN (voice-over): The accident happened at a busy intersection in a Buffalo suburb, leaving Anahita Barbarita (ph) trapped in her car after a truck collided with her.

The car's engine immediately began to smoke. Fire Chief Lale Lewis was the first fire fighter on the scene.

FIRE CHIEF LALE LEWIS, CLEVELAND HILLS, NEW YORK: She was conscious but she didn't know what was going on. The fire was starting to coming through the firewall, so we had to get her out.

ZAHN: Not an easy task, since the driver's side door was crushed. Quick thinking workers at a nearby gas station used fire extinguishers to douse the flames.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This man had -- they kept -- they kept bringing them from all over. She was trapped in there. Had they not had those fire extinguishers. ZAHN: But the extinguishers could only do so much. Normally, the fire department would apply first-aid before removing Barbarita (ph) from the car. But they didn't have much time. The car was going to explode.

LEWIS: I had to break the window with the extinguisher, then release her seatbelt and drag her out through the window. We couldn't get no doors open.

ZAHN: Just seconds after Barbarita (ph) was rescued, the car burst into flames.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: What a lucky woman. What heroes, the firefighters. Your choice for person of the day, the Cleveland Hill Fire Department. Kudos to them. This update on the driver, she unfortunately remains in critical condition tonight.

That wraps it up for all of us here tonight. We really appreciate your dropping by. "LARRY KING LIVE" is next. We will be back same time same place tomorrow night. We hope you'll join us then. Have a great night.

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