Fifth anniversiry of Terry Schiavo's Murder and the Bishop stood by and did........nothing

[elts1956]

Here is a copy of Terry Schiavo’s brother Bob Schindler’s letter to Bishop Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg Fla.

Robert Schindler Jr.
March 9, 2007
Bishop Robert Lynch
Diocese of Saint Petersburg
6363 9th Avenue North
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33710
Bishop Lynch:

Speaking on behalf of my family, my intention was to write you a letter
subsequent to my sister Terri Schiavo’s death in order to explain to you
why I hold you more accountable for her horrific death than Michael
Schiavo, his attorney, and even the judge that ordered her to die.
In something of a bitter irony, however, it wasn’t until I came across your
recent article in the Tampa Tribune, where your own words succeeded in
saying much of what I wanted to say, that I was finally motivated to
write.

In the opening paragraph of your commentary, “The Homeless Are
Challenge To Our Cities And Our Faith,” you said “The challenge of the
homeless in St. Petersburg has made national news and it has been
embarrassing to many people. I am convinced that both on Judgment
Day and in history, we will most likely be judged not by the things which
we might have considered personally important to ourselves in life but
how we took care of others less fortunate.” A prophetic statement indeed
— and one in complete conformity with the words of our Lord in Matthew
25:31-46.

You then went on to say in the beginning of the next paragraph, “The
faces which may haunt each of us on Judgment Day may well be those of
people who have approached us for assistance and were turned away.”
Bishop Lynch, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Instead of writing a
lengthy letter explaining the hypocrisy of your words, let me just say the
following:

The barbarism and nightmare of Terri’s two week death by thirst and
starvation will be forever seared into my family’s memory. It is
incomprehensible to us that a nation supposedly built on basic Judeo-
Christian principles would allow something so wicked to happen.
That is, until one realizes that just as the Culture of Death made a
triumphal entry into our nation in 1973, via legalized abortion, without
so much as a whimper of protest from those with the God–given
authority to stop it, so now our disabled and elderly are being targeted
for death. The bottom line is, when apostolic grace and responsibility are
abdicated, innocent people die.

Fortunately, my family was provided much needed comfort and strength
by an enormous outpouring of prayers of support, including the
unwavering support of the Holy See, which to this day continues to arrive
for our family.

Even more uplifting are the stories we receive almost daily of how my
sister has, in a special way, touched the hearts and changed the lives of
so many people, not only in our country, but all over the world. So much
so that there are efforts being made by people world-wide to promote
Terri’s cause for beatification.

Terri’s legacy is one of life and love. Sadly, your legacy will be that of the
shepherd that stood silently by as one of his innocent disabled lambs
was slowly and needlessly slaughtered by removing her food and water —
while you persistently ignored the cries of her family for help (“her family”
being the ones who merely wanted to care for her.)

You should not need to be reminded of the many passages of Scripture
that condemn the shepherds that “pasture themselves on their sheep,” or
Christ’s admonition to St. Peter to “feed My lambs,” etc. As my family and
I dedicate the remainder of our lives to saving other innocent lambs
targeted by the Death Culture, I beg the Lord to spare us another
successor of the apostles who would exhibit the same scandalous
inaction and silence by which you remain complicit in my sister’s murder
via euthanasia.

I realize that for the sake of my salvation I must come to a point to at
least want to forgive you, Bishop Lynch, for aiding and giving comfort to
the evildoers who took my sister’s innocent and vulnerable life (and yes,
she was objectively more innocent and more vulnerable than perhaps
any homeless person.) The Catholic Church however, has spoken on
Terri’s case, and she has decreed in favor of Terri’s right to life and
everything our family did to try to save her.

Your behaviors, in contrast, have brought scandal to the Universal
Church and to the faithful, particularly here in Florida. Your indifference
toward the Truth is appalling, but seems to be indicative of the all-tooprevalent
corruption of priestly formation in the 1960’s and 70’s, so
perhaps your culpability is somewhat mitigated. Even so, the fact of my
sister’s murder under your “pastoral care” is a fact you should
acknowledge publicly.

This season of Lent is one well suited to seek public forgiveness and
make public reparation for public scandal.
At least until that happens, I regret that I must remain, as you said, the
face that haunts you as someone that did approach you for assistance
and was turned away.
May God have mercy on you, and may my holy sister Terri pray for us
all.

Sincerely,
Bobby Schindler

How many more of the Bishops stand by and let the Pro Death Culture have its way?

 

[kinja]

Well said Michael Schiavo.

 

[Erin_Anne]

Wow. I’ve never seen that before. Good for him! :clapping:

E.A.

 

[sistermouse]

Wow.

 

[Rence]

I’m really not sure what they expected the Bishop to do. This case went to court both federal and supreme. The courts ruled. And even if this was a Catholic country, I don’t believe the Church had any specific guidelines established until after Terry’s death for situations such as Terry’s, which opened up the opportunity to create such guidelines afterwards.

Really, what was the Bishop to do? They themselves couldn’t stop the judgement of the supreme court from being acted out.

 

[elts1956]

I’m really not sure what they expected the Bishop to do. This case went to court both federal and supreme. The courts ruled. And even if this was a Catholic country, I don’t believe the Church had any specific guidelines established until after Terry’s death for situations such as Terry’s, which opened up the opportunity to create such guidelines afterwards.

Really, what was the Bishop to do? They themselves couldn’t stop the judgement of the supreme court from being acted out.

He could have supported them. That would have gone a long way in increasing public awareness of the immorality of the murder. A prelate of his stature does not have the right to stand by and say nothing. My immoveable opinion.

 

[Pamm]

First, I would like to offer my prayers for the Shiavo family. They indeed have endured endless grief over the loss of their daughter and sister. There can be no worse pain than the loss of a child – I believe this to be so. For all of you, there aren’t words that would console you.

I don’t believe, however, that the bishop’s inaction was necessarily evil. Perhaps his inaction, in itself was a message. End of life decisions for anyone is a deeply personal, painful and unique experience. When multiple family members can not even agree on the appropriate response to such a tragic situation, it is not surprising that there are widespread differences of opinion on the correct action to take. I suspect you may not know all the reasons the Bishop had for not interceding publicly. You would never know what he may have done in other private and prayerful ways.

During the timeframe that Terri’s battles were being fought – and I do believe that her husband and your family both loved her and truly believed both had the right mission at heart. Your former brother in law, from the interviews I saw, believed with the same passion you do on your family’s point of view, that he was doing what is best and what was morally appropriate for Terri.

I was experiencing a very similar crisis during that time with my father in law, for whom I served as his medical POA along with my husband. He had endured three bouts of cancer, rounds of chemotherapy, the complete removal of his colon and the suffering after with the loss of his bodily functions, and sadly he was also a recovering alcoholic, who now suffered from alcohol induced dementia. He was timid and distant some days, nearly comatose others and violent verbally and physically other times. The other siblings had abandoned our dear father – and we were left to make the hard decisions.

He had a Living Will that explicity said he did not want a feeding tube but did not address hydration. Even with his written request, we still suffered terribly in our decision making. It is a human nature to fight to the end – survival instinct is a powerful thing. In the end, we chose to give him the hydration via IVs but did not allow the physicians to put in a feeding tube per his request.

He wasted away over several weeks and we tried our best to feed him when he regained some level of alertness. He also was losing his swallow reflex, so that created extra challenges. Because there so many family issues over his alcoholism, the only person who could handle being with him his last 24 hours was me. I sat and held his hand and talked to him. He was given last rites. And he slipped away peacefully.

I watched your family’s story almost obsessively during that time because I could relate to the absolute range of thought you all must have experienced. Since that time, I sat with my mother in law, who died within five months of her husband, and my own mother, who resided in my home. She died in my home with my arms around her. As painful as it all was, all three experiences let me feel the presence of God so close between this world and the next. I felt a sense of angels with me and my family. I saw that death is a door opened and not a door closed – if you just believe.

Over the past year, I have also learned to choose forgiveness over bitterness. Terri is with God now and she I hope is at peace. I know that you all still suffer. Many of us who followed your story also suffer with you. In my case, however, I can’t say I blame the bishop, or for that matter, her husband because I believe there are things you can not know in this world and that it is for God to judge not those of us on earth.

Good bless you and your family and may you one day find peace.

 

[elts1956]

First, I would like to offer my prayers for the Shiavo family. They indeed have endured endless grief over the loss of their daughter and sister. There can be no worse pain than the loss of a child – I believe this to be so. For all of you, there aren’t words that would console you.

I don’t believe, however, that the bishop’s inaction was necessarily evil. Perhaps his inaction, in itself was a message. End of life decisions for anyone is a deeply personal, painful and unique experience. When multiple family members can not even agree on the appropriate response to such a tragic situation, it is not surprising that there are widespread differences of opinion on the correct action to take. I suspect you may not know all the reasons the Bishop had for not interceding publicly. You would never know what he may have done in other private and prayerful ways.

During the timeframe that Terri’s battles were being fought – and I do believe that her husband and your family both loved her and truly believed both had the right mission at heart. Your former brother in law, from the interviews I saw, believed with the same passion you do on your family’s point of view, that he was doing what is best and what was morally appropriate for Terri.

I was experiencing a very similar crisis during that time with my father in law, for whom I served as his medical POA along with my husband. He had endured three bouts of cancer, rounds of chemotherapy, the complete removal of his colon and the suffering after with the loss of his bodily functions, and sadly he was also a recovering alcoholic, who now suffered from alcohol induced dementia. He was timid and distant some days, nearly comatose others and violent verbally and physically other times. The other siblings had abandoned our dear father – and we were left to make the hard decisions.

He had a Living Will that explicity said he did not want a feeding tube but did not address hydration. Even with his written request, we still suffered terribly in our decision making. It is a human nature to fight to the end – survival instinct is a powerful thing. In the end, we chose to give him the hydration via IVs but did not allow the physicians to put in a feeding tube per his request.

He wasted away over several weeks and we tried our best to feed him when he regained some level of alertness. He also was losing his swallow reflex, so that created extra challenges. Because there so many family issues over his alcoholism, the only person who could handle being with him his last 24 hours was me. I sat and held his hand and talked to him. He was given last rites. And he slipped away peacefully.

I watched your family’s story almost obsessively during that time because I could relate to the absolute range of thought you all must have experienced. Since that time, I sat with my mother in law, who died within five months of her husband, and my own mother, who resided in my home. She died in my home with my arms around her. As painful as it all was, all three experiences let me feel the presence of God so close between this world and the next. I felt a sense of angels with me and my family. I saw that death is a door opened and not a door closed – if you just believe.

Over the past year, I have also learned to choose forgiveness over bitterness. Terri is with God now and she I hope is at peace. I know that you all still suffer. Many of us who followed your story also suffer with you. In my case, however, I can’t say I blame the bishop, or for that matter, her husband because I believe there are things you can not know in this world and that it is for God to judge not those of us on earth.

Good bless you and your family and may you one day find peace.

The Church (Vatican) stated removal of her feeding tube should not be allowed. Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life attended Terri in her final days. If you want to know a true humane reaction and belief, visit www.priestsforlife.com and read all about it.

Food and water are not extraordinary means of helping someone survive. In addition, there are now tests showing brain reaction to outside activity, questions, in those considered to be either comotose or in a vegetable state. The more Science learns, the closer it may get to Church doctrine.

 

[Newbie2]

Yeah, I sorta wonder what the Bishop was expected to do here…specifically.

 

[feargalmac]

Yeah, I sorta wonder what the Bishop was expected to do here…specifically.

I think Bob Schindler and Terry’s family just wanted the Bishop, at the time, to point out that it was wrong to starve Terry to death. If he had, there may have been a different outcome in the case.

It seems it was his lack of support that hurts.