www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Terri Schiavo

In our old parish (of which a member of the Schaivo family is a member) nothing has been mentioned about Terri at all.

In talking to several families in our Diocese no one has heard their priests mention Terri's plight at all.

And the Bishop's statement, released shortly after the statement by the all of the bishops in Florida blames the "intractability" of both sides for not finding peace in Terri's imminent death.

Bishop Lynch is, sadly, a lousy shepherd for his flock. He is a wolf in shepherd's clothing in my opinion.

Dear Carole:

I understand completely your feelings about the apparent omissions on the part of St. Petersburg's Catholic bishop.

However, I wish you would consider the Bishop's predicament at that time when his open support was needed most: the determination of the case(s) involving Terri and her husband, Terri's parents, and the Florida DCF were on-going then and it is considered inappropriate (some jurisdictions consider them illegal) to comment and or issue statements regarding the case(s) pending litigation.

He did sign the official statement of the Florida Catholic Conference as a group, such statement carefully avoiding any reference to the pending litigations.

Yesterday, Mel Gibson lent a hand to Terri's fight issuing a statement through Bob Schindler of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation to be read at a rally:

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=6777

Prayers for Terri Schindler-Schiavo.

Amado

No I don't think you do. The perception of Bishop Lynch is dramatically different when you are a Roman Catholic living in his diocese.



Excuse me, if he were a participant in that litigation it would be inappropriate. However, as a religious leader who was not party to the litigation he has both the right and the moral obligation to comment. The fact is that for the past several years he has either been silent when others have not hesitated to speak out or he has spoken in direct contradiction to Catholic teaching.

He has commented. Several times. He just hasn't upheld the Catholic teaching on this issue. Period.

Yes, he did allow his name to be placed on the statement of the FL bishops.

Did you, however, read his personal statement on this case issued just days after the Florida Bishops' statement?

If not, please do so before you comment further:

Taken in its entirity from the website of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL [dioceseofstpete.org]

The italicised emphasis in the above is my own. Please note that the Bishop who is the pastoral authority for all of the family members involved makes no mention of the fact that her husband has abandoned his spouse to live in sin with another woman and father children by her. Just that her "family" is making this decision to murder her. Which seemingly makes it "okay" in the Bishop's opinion.

He also goes on to sat that there should be peace at the end of Terri's life but that it won't happen because of the "intractability" of both sides. Implying that the Schindler's fight to keep their son-in-law from starving their daughter to death, their fight to uphold the Catholic teaching of the sanctity of all human life from natural conception to natural death is somehow wrong and to blame for this situation.

This is not in keeping with the statement of the Florida Bishops wherein the Holy Father, John Paul II was quoted as saying:

The sad fact for Roman Catholics in this diocese is that our bishop is a highly personable man with a charismatic personality and absolutely no intention of standing up for the right to life.

Dear Carole:

I previously read Bishop Lynch's statement and I believe it is in consonance with the Florida Conference's own and that of the USCCB and the Vatican.

The principle of "subjudicie" also covers, and more so, an injunction against any statements or comments by non-parties to the llitigation. Those privy to the litigation(s) are relatively freer under certain circumstances.

Amado

Then you are in the minority as most pro-life Catholics do not find the Bishop's words or actions in keeping with the Church's teaching on the sanctity of life or the belief that hydration and nutrition are not extraordinary medical care.

Carole ,
You may not have realised that there are a fair number of Lawyers on Byzcath - and they tend to be fairly guarded in making comments on cases like this.

I'm sure we are all disgusted by the events surrounding this case - BUT I doubt if we have heard ALL the facts on every side.

We are layfolk and we must trust in God - that he will prod those who should and can take action.

We must wait and pray - we can do no more.

Anhelyna

Perhaps. But that doesn't have anything to do with the behaviour of our Bishop here in the Diocese and the fact that he has not spoken the truth of the Church teaching on starving someone to death.

Catholics in the Diocese of St. Petersburg have had to hear from the Holy Father and from other Bishops that what Michael Schiavo and his lawyer are trying to do is immoral.

I don't believe that Bishop Lynch should speak to the legality of the situation that isn't his job. But speaking to the morality of the case is something he most definitely should do.

I suppose in some way you have to live in his diocese with some of the rubbish that he allows and encourages to fully appreciate this.

Friends,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Please continue to pray for a miracle to spare the life of the handmaiden of God, Terri Schiavo.

Terri is set to be starved to death starting tomorrow, Friday, March 18, at 1 p.m. (Florida time) when her �inalienable� right to life is revoked.

Wherever we are in our lives at that time tomorrow, perhaps we could take a moment to say a prayer for Terri.

Let�s also remember her loving and long-suffering parents, her husband and those who condemned her unjustly.

Let us pray that the great gift of the Theology of the Body from Pope John Paul II will move our hearts to view life as the greatest of gifts.

Finally, as we prepare ourselves to experience the Passion again in a mystically real way this year, let's also beseech Christ our God for help to be better followers of His Way and not our own way.

Lord, shake the scales from our eyes so that we see all life as a precious gift. Help us to follow your example always. O Most Holy Theotokos Save Us! Amen.

http://www.terrisfight.org/

Friday, March 18th, today is the day we should all pray and fast for our sister Terry!

Lord Our God and Father look upon Your daughter Teresa whose life is threatened this day and guard her from all evil! We acknowledge and believe that all life is sacred from conception to natural death and we are hoping and praying that You will hear and prayers of Your Church this day and find a way to protect Your daughter and our sister from all harm. May her mother know that we as Church support and stand with her this day and may Terry know that we have done all that we can to protect her life and its great value. Through the intercession of Your Most Holy Mother, 'Vessel of Honor'---hear our prayers and save Your child Teresa! We ask this through the prayers of Your Mother, in Jesus precious and most holy name, He Who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns as God forever and ever, Amen.

In His great mercy,
+Fr. Gregory

You see---PRAYER works!

Judge: Keep Woman's Feeding Tube in Place

By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - A state judge Friday temporarily blocked the removal of the feeding tube that keeps severely brain-damaged Terri Schiavo alive as legal wrangling continued over efforts by congressional Republicans to have her testify in Washington.


Pinellas Circuit Court Judge David Demers ordered that the feeding tube remain in place past a 1 p.m. EST deadline while fellow Judge George Greer, who is presiding over the Schiavo case, deals with conflicting legal issues.


The Senate Health Committee has requested that Terri Schiavo and her husband, Michael, appear at an official committee hearing on March 28. Earlier Friday, a House committee was issuing congressional subpoenas to stop doctors from disconnecting the feeding tube that keeps her alive.


The hospice where Terri Schiavo lives received a subpoena late Friday morning, spokeswoman Louise Cleary said. Officials there did not disclose their next steps.


"At this time, we are monitoring developments and consulting with legal and ethical advisers to determine what to do," she said.


Michael Schiavo has waged a yearslong court battle with his parents-in-law, contending his 41-year-old wife, who has been in a persistent vegetative state since 1990, would not want to live that way.


Courts have cleared the way for him to remove her feeding tube as early as 1 p.m. Friday. The tube has been removed twice in the past and then reinserted as the battle continued.


"It is a contempt of Congress to prevent or discourage someone from following the subpoena that's been issued," David Gibbs, the attorney for her parents, said. "What the U.S. Congress is saying is, `We want to see Terri Schiavo.'"


"The family is prayerfully excited about their daughter going before the United States Congress for the whole world to see how alive she is."


He said that despite her brain damage, she would be able to travel. A statement from the office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., on Friday said the purpose of the hearing was to review health care policies and practices relevant to the care of non-ambulatory people.


Frist's statement noted that it is a federal crime to harm or obstruct a person called to testify before Congress.


Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (news - web sites)'s Florida office, said his group's attorneys were working with Michael Schiavo's attorneys to determine if the subpoenas would block the scheduled removal of the tube.


"This is clearly an effort to circumvent a lawful court order by a state judge," Simon said. "I am not sure how a subpoena, which is ordinarily done to produce records or somebody to testify, can essentially have the effect of an injunction overriding the orders of a court."

PRAISE TO GOD WHO IN HIS GREAT MERCY HAS SPARED TERRY'S LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In His great mercy,
+Fr. Gregory

Let us continue to pray for Terri Schindler Schiavo!

Over WBBM-Chicago, it is being reported that another Florida State Judge has just issued an order countermanding the previous stay issued by Florida Circuit Court Judge Demers.

Lord, have mercy on us!

Amado

Friends:

That "another Florida State Judge" has been confirmed to be Judge Greer himself, disregarding the subpoenae issued by the U.S. Congress. Thus, Michael Schiavo is now apperently free to disconnect the feeding and hydration tubes!

A patch to Capitol Hill aired the reaction of an aide to the House Committee, which issued the subpoebnae, who said that they will enforce the subpoenae "with the full force of the law."

I hope the U.S. Congress subpoenae will prevail over the order(s) of a State Circuit Court Judge.

But this has become a constitutional law issue!

Let us pray!

Amado

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (AP) - Doctors removed Terri Schiavo's feeding tube Friday despite an extraordinary, last-minute push by Republicans on Capitol Hill to use the subpoena powers of Congress to keep the severely brain-damaged woman alive, a source close to the case told The Associated Press.

It is expected that it will take one to two weeks for Schiavo to die, provided no one intercedes and gets the tube reinserted. The source had been briefed on the situation but spoke on condition of anonymity.

The removal came amid a flurry of maneuvering by Schiavo's parents, state lawmakers and Congress to keep her alive. Committees in the Republican-controlled Congress issued subpoenas for Schiavo, her husband, and her caregivers demanding that they appear at hearings on March 25 and March 28.

But the judge presiding over the case later refused a request from House attorneys to delay the removal, which he had previously ordered to take place at 1 p.m. EST.

Sweet Jesus, have mercy!

Save that woman's life.

Amen.

I both e-mailed and called my congressman, senators and the president. Others can do the same at:

www.whitehouse.gov [whitehouse.gov]
www.house.gov [house.gov]
www.senate.gov [senate.gov]

In addition to my represenative and senators, I also contacted Senators Bill Frist and Tom DeLay and Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner and Denny Hastert (they are the ones that can spearhead this effort). All totaled, for the phone calls and e-mails it took 15 minutes. I hope that everyone will take the time to do this.