Teri Schindler Shiavo: The Vatican needs more than words

self | 3/21/2005 | self

[JesseHousman]

However, Terri Schiavo’s own bishop, Tampa-St. Petersburg Bishop Robert Lynch has garnered criticism for his approach, saying in a statement issued Feb. 28th, "At the end of the day (the judicial, legislative days) the decision to remove Terri’s artificial feeding tube will be that of her husband, Michael," even as the Schindlers continue to fight to remove him as guardian. Lynch called for mediation at the "end of life" when Terri Schiavo’s parents Bob and Mary Schindler and medical opinion is clear that Schiavo is disabled not terminal. In addition, Lynch describes the Schindlers’ fight for their daughter’s life as something within a family and describes the struggle as "the seeming intractablity of both sides."

Why hasn't Lynch been castigated for these comments?

[Rutles4Ever]

Did you even read the post you responded to?

[Rutles4Ever]

Jesse - He should be castigated. I agree with you on that. I'm not HAPPY about the response time of the Church, but the standing of the Church is already clear in the catechism and in canon law. If the Vatican chimed in too early, this would become a argument over Church and state. The state is taking its course. When it appears the state course is beyond hope, a spiritual warning is then warranted. No amount of brow-beating by Lynch is going to steer Michael Schiavo from his goal.

If someone is going to bring their best hitter off the bench, wait until the bases are loaded.

[JosephW]

Perhaps I was a bit oversensitive, but this type of post generally causes any thread about the Catholic church to be pulled. I've participated in a great many of them and hardly ever do they remain for long.

This thread is solely for discussing the RCC's options in Teri's case (I do use RCC specifically as I doubt any of the players in this are Eastern/Oriental Catholics). The other issues of the Catholic church belong in other threads. If someone wants to start one I'll probably jump into it, and will probably end up defending all you RCC again (that has to be my curse in life - just kidding)

The Catholic church's views on euthanasia are clear and seem unwavering (to the best of my knowledge). I am simply asking what the Catholic church can DO to cause their words to have actual effect, while keeping in mind some of the problems the church has had (and in many ways continues to have). Pulling in unrelated areas where the RCC has had significant problems will not help us to help the church help the situation (how many times can I use help in a sentence).

[JosephW]

Looking at your statement and question here, it appears I have been hasty in my judgement of a previous post of yours. It just looked so common to the type of post that kills threads like this I took action to keep a problem from occuring. I hope you understand my action and are not upset with me.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

The catholic church doesn't have an enforcement arm to make secular authorities do stuff. But what it has done is give us the teachings about how we should live, how we should value life, and it is up to each one of us, by our lives, actions, choices, votes, lifestyles, to demonstrate those teachings, to fight for the culture of life, and to work for just law and morality in society.

It's not just the Vatican's job. It is every believing Catholic's job, especially the bishops, and the priests, but even Catholic housewives in small towns in Utah are called to be light and salt and leaven and do whatever it is to be clear about the culture of life and fight the good fight.

We are the hands of Jesus on earth. We are the mouths he speaks through, the feet that carry his message.

And thus I am here, working.

[Kaslin]

I'm catholic and didn't find it offensive. The only thing i found bothersome was calling the catholic church the RCC. It's not the Roman Catholic Church, it's the Catholic Church.

The term Roman Catholic Church is actually correct. Since there is also the Orthodox Catholic church

[JosephW]

I generally try to use Catholic to denote all those that fall under the jurisdiction of the Pope JPII, and Roman Catholic Church (RCC) when referring to Western Catholics. My use of RCC is solely for specificity (sp?), never as an insult or denigration.

As seen in some of my posts on this thread I use both terms and hopefully correctly. Sorry for any misunderstanding that this may have caused, but I assure you my use of RCC was never to cause harm or insult to any.

[Kaslin]

I responded with that he could not be excommunicated which is correct

[tfecw]

wrong. The Catholic church doesn't use the term RCC. In fact it's mainly found in english speaking countries relatively recently (as in well after the orthodox split)

[Aquinasfan]

These two can never validly married

Yes, but it seems possible that he could eventually marry someone else.

[JesseHousman]

#83-Agree.

[JesseHousman]

Not upset, of course.