Open letter to the bishops: Will you not step up to defend Terri Schiavo's life?

The Very Reverend Bishop Wilton B. Gregory President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

An unprecedented phenomenon in the struggle between the sanctity of life and the culture of death confronts us. A hitherto unknown Catholic woman, Mrs. Theresa Schindler Schiavo, has become a unifying symbol for the disabled, the abandoned, and those persons for whom society has no use. [See www.terrisfight.org] Terri Schiavo, a 39 year-old Florida woman rendered cognitively disabled from an undetermined cause, embodies the characteristics of persons whose lives appear to lack "quality," whom a pagan society would willingly eliminate through court ordered euthanasia.

Theresa Schiavo is alive today for one reason only: she has an intact family. That family, father and mother, brother and sister have fought valiantly to save her life from an adulterous husband who relentlessly seeks her death by the barbaric method of dehydration/starvation. In our society where the family is maligned and constantly under attack, the Schindlers admirably demonstrate what we know a family should be.

The Schiavo case is purposefully being used as a wedge to further the cause of physician assisted suicide and to bring euthanasia within the legal boundaries of the Constitution under the same ruse of privacy rights that are employed to kill the pre-born. After all, there's not much difference between an umbilical cord and a feeding tube, is there? The resemblance between Schindler vs Schiavo and Roe vs Wade is unmistakable.

The instant recognition by a massive grassroots citizenry that the Schiavo case involves the intentional killing of a living, non-terminal, disabled person became so powerful that it awakened a nation. With the media in tow and the Internet on fire, Terri Schiavo became a household name. The outcry against injustice was so great that the governor and legislative body of a highly politically volatile state acted within forty-eight hours to confirm a singular law, i.e. Terri's Law, to prevent the starvation death of Mrs. Schiavo.

The crescendo of Terri's Fight has brought the life issues crashing to the front of many minds. With so much misinformation in the public square, our Catholic people are confused regarding the Church's teaching. Many senior citizens are signing Living Wills that make them vulnerable to being denied food and water like Terri Schiavo. Therefore, we ask our bishops to publicly enunciate the Church's teaching regarding euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, and the moral requirements of care for all sick and disabled individuals as well as those facing a terminal illness. Catholics need to know that food and water, no matter in what form they are delivered, are the God-given right of all persons. The removal of nutrition/hydration with the subsequent intent to cause death, as in the case of Mrs. Schiavo, is strictly forbidden by Catholic moral teaching.

The Terri Schiavo case is now widely known and recognized by many for what it is, the ideological struggle between the spiritual forces who revere the sanctity of life and the utilitarian forces who have scant regard for humanity in its compromised states. Not surprisingly, the liberal media elites have misrepresented the facts of the case. Unfortunately, this bias has not been missing from the statements and writings of certain misguided priests: Fr. Desmond Daly and Fr.Gerald Murphy of the St. Petersburg Diocese, Fr. Kevin O'Rourke, O.P. who was interviewed by the Miami Herald, and Fr. Kevin Wildes, S.J. who appeared on Nightline. All have publicly misstated Church teaching and justified what the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) forbids: "an act or omission (our emphasis) which of itself or by intention causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person." The scandal of these priests publicly advocating Terri's murder by neglect must be undone. The overarching culture of death and societal injustice cuts across all diocesan and state boundaries threatening many, but Terri, a daughter of the Church, is in imminent danger at this moment. So we call upon this body of bishops to make a strong, unequivocal, public defense of her life with all possible haste.

Throughout the years we have been more than disappointed that decisive public action from our bishops has not been forthcoming regarding vital pro-life issues. Its absence has been particularly shocking in the case of Terri Schiavo and other disabled individuals dehydrated to death in the judicial coliseum with a complicit media giving its thumbs down. Where is the bishops' prophetic voice addressing these atrocities? Your startling absence from the public square as the laity battle these monumental injustices is a scandal to all people. Terri and others like her need your vigorous public defense. The situation is urgent! We have named November 30th, the first Sunday of Advent, Theresa Schindler Schiavo Day. We will be doing all we can to raise awareness of her plight among Catholics of the United States. We beg for your assistance. In all sincerity and hope, we pray that at the conclusion of this November 2003 conference you will issue a strong public statement condemning euthanasia and supporting the right to life of Theresa Schindler Schiavo, our sister in Christ.

Mary Ann Kreitzer, President Catholic Media Coalition For member organizations see: www.catholicmediacoalition.org

[Please help spread the word by passing this flyer out at your parish or function]

This plea to the bishops has been going on at least since July: (They have repeated it on more than a few occasions. Why such apathy from the bishops?)

CATHOLIC MEDIA GROUP CALLS ON BISHOPS TO DEFEND TERRI

The Catholic Media Coalition on Friday, July 18, 2003, sent an urgent appeal to Florida’s ten Roman Catholic Bishops asking them to speak out publicly on behalf of Terri Schiavo. The 39-year-old Catholic woman, who suffered a medical incident 12 years ago, is the subject of a hotly contested court case in which her husband, Michael Schiavo, wants her feeding tube removed. The Schindlers, Terri’s family, are fighting for her life and claim she responds to their visits. Video testimony shows Terri is not in PVS, a persistent vegetative state, a condition necessary for the Florida courts to order death by starvation. A last minute court appeal will be made. If it is not upheld, the path will be clear for Judge George Greer to set a date to commence the starvation. Currently, an Internet petition addressed to Governor Jeb Bush is circulating on Terri’s behalf. The CMC, with 18 media signatories from across the nation, calls upon the Bishops to proclaim the teaching of the Catholic Church in this benchmark right-to-life case namely; that the omission of nutrition and hydration intended to cause a patient’s death must be rejected. A further consideration concerns the fact that a priest of Terri’s St. Petersburg Diocese gave misrepresentations of Church teaching in court, the record of which has never been corrected. New evidence has surfaced suggesting the possibility that Terri’s collapse may have been the result of physical abuse. Such evidence makes it even more imperative that a full investigation be made. The Catholic Media Coalition exhorts the bishops to plead for Terri’s life on both humane and moral grounds. “I find it inexplicable,” says Cecilia H. Martin, writer and editor of The Catholic Advocate (St. Augustine Diocese), “that the Florida bishops have made ten collaborative pleas for mercy to the governor in the last five years for persons on death row and yet have not make a single public statement for Terri Schiavo. Church staffers even have a “Bells Campaign” wherein parishes are encouraged to toll their bells for two minutes on the days prisoners are executed, but for Terri? Silence. We are waiting for the bishops to break that silence and defend the life of this innocent woman.”

And another:

Open Letter to the USCCB

http://cogforlife.org/schiavousccb.htm

by Barbara Kralis
Director of Jesus Through Mary Foundation
November 2, 2003 / Feast of All Souls Day

I am imploring your Excellencies to please make a positive, definitive statement on behalf of the life of cognitively disabled Terri Schiavo, and for all disabled and elderly persons suffering the same evil discrimination.

Having been subjected to a recent murderous withdrawal of hydration and nutrition, Terri's life was threatened by her 'right to die' guardian/husband. Her human and civil rights were gravely violated. Terri Schiavo is not nor was not terminally ill, nor was her death imminent, not until the ANAH was withheld. By Holy Intervention Terri has survived and fully recovered from a most agonizing 6 day starvation/dehydration ordeal.

Thousands of faithful Catholics from all over the nation have, with the Grace of God and the help of the Thomas More Law Center, succeeded in their 6 year or longer appeal to the Florida Governor, to his legislators and Judges, to intercede on Terri's behalf and save her from this most horrific, monstrously painful death. Hundreds of thousands of lobbying efforts (phone calls, emails, faxes and letters) were made right up until the 'Eleventh Hour.’ Many exhausted Catholic laity are gearing up now for the legislative battle.

Terri’s own Bishop Lynch, as well as the entire Florida conference of Bishops, did little if anything to defend her against her ‘right to die’ guardian/husband and his notorious 'right to kill' attorney, George Felos, both whom wanted to get rid of 'the problem.' None of the U.S. bishops would intercede to stop the murderous attempt, to the immense enjoyment of those who ordinarily persecute and criticize the Catholic Church's worldwide moral authority. Finally, 8 days after Terri's slow death commenced and two days after Governor Jeb Bush intervened and ANAH was resumed, the Florida Conference of Bishops released statements saying Terri's case needed further investigation. Too little, too late. Had we waited for the Bishops to act, Terri would be dead today.

With the exception of Fox News Channel, spurious media coverage against Terri's right to life was and still is sponsored by a 'right to die' mentality at all national media levels, but this is no surprise to anyone. What is an enormous surprise is the lack of response by the USCCB; you let a 'teaching moment' slip by.

While thousands of Catholic laity, in their pro life apostolates, are working hard to educate the 'right to die' mentality of the media to the truths of the Gospel of Life, shameful statements have emerged from Catholic clergy in public support to allow Terri to die a most horrible death. Catholic Georgetown University's Fr. Kevin Wildes, Catholic Loyola University Medical School's Fr. Kevin O'Rourke, medical ethicist, and St. Petersburg diocesan priest Fr. Gerard Murphy (whose gravely flawed testimony helped ensure the verdict that Terri Schiavo be allowed to starve and dehydrate to death), all purported to represent the official teachings of the Church with disturbing and erroneous views. There is ample documented refutation by renowned lay Catholic medical, scientific and bioethical doctors regarding these flawed Church representations.

Of primary importance is the 'right to kill' issue of withdrawal of ANAH (artificial nutrition and hydration) from the disabled or elderly, a moral teaching which the Church has clearly defined many times. ANAH is never thought as 'extraordinary means' but instead ordinary means or 'palliative care.' For Catholics, it is morally permissible to refuse extraordinary means, but not morally permissible to refuse ordinary means, or 'palliative care.' The Church condemns withdrawal of ANAH intended to cause any patient’s death. (see: Charter for Health Care Workers; Evangelium vitae; CDF's Declaration on Euthanasia; NCCB 'Nutrition and Hydration: Moral & Pastoral Reflections;' USCCB "Ethical & Religious directives for Catholic Health Care Services #58; the Catechism of Catholic Church #2277, 2278; and, St. Thomas Aquinas' principal: 'A deliberate omission that causes death is morally an act of intentional killing,' De malo q.2 a.4 ad 5, Summa theologiae I-II q.71 a 5.)

Distinguished forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, interviewed on major television news programs, concluded that Terri's severe trauma and injuries warrants criminal investigation. Doctors John Young, Wm. Maxfield, radiologist and Wm. Hammesfahr, national expert neurologist on PVS and a Nobel prize nominee, held recent press conferences and filed a six page affidavit with the court, wherein they declared, "People ought to know Terri can be rehabilitated."

While many well known Protestant leaders have come out in full public force to loudly protest Terri’s attempted murder, the Catholic hierarchy, the divinely ordained men who should be defending Terri with the numerous infallible Church's ethical teachings, are supporting the 'right to die' movement with their silence, as the lethal ACLU chortles its way to evil victory.

Bishop Lynch and the Florida Hierarchy were given ample documentation during the past years as to Terri's true condition, her human and civil rights and reminders of their Church's teachings, yet incredulously they proclaimed it was a 'private matter for the family, not for the Catholic Church.' It’s not a private matter! This affects all of us, especially Terri. This ennui among our hierarchy must end now.

In recent years, the Florida Conference of Bishops have made 10 appeals to the Governor to commute the sentences for convicted murders on death row, pleading that their lives be spared. Why were there no pleas for Terri Schiavo?

While Terri was into her 6th day of dying, an October 2l, 2003 Press Release from Bishop Lynch's Communications Office simply said, "The diocese has been involved in helping provide for Terri's spiritual needs and we assure everyone they are being met." Bishop Lynch, who was entrusted to Terri's pastoral care for her eternal and temporal life, was never seen at Terri's bedside. In fact, when Monsignor Thaddeus Malanowski, Terri's loyal and long time Sacramental priest was refused on October 18th, 19th and 20th the right to administer her Holy Communion as Last Rites during her starvation and dehydration, Bishop Lynch refused to comment or intercede. In fact, his secretary said he was (conveniently) out his office the entire day and could not be reached. Terri was religiously and criminally violated, neglected and exploited as a disabled person and her Catholic Bishop was as quiet as a church mouse.

Many Catholic laity have been 'dumbed down' by lack of magisterial teachings from the pulpits on the Gospel of Life and thereby are confused today on what should be done with Terri Schiavo's life. Just as not one U.S. Bishop has ever publicly warned he would deny Holy Communion to a manifest sinner if he approached the Altar (as other world bishops have courageously done), be he a pro abortion politician, a manifest gay activist or a renown mafia figure, not one U.S. Bishop has intervened on Terri's behalf to stop her very public, very horrific attempted murder.

Your Excellencies, I beg you to speak out boldly on behalf of Terri Schiavo, on behalf of the new legislation called "Terri's Law" which is being heavily challenged by the 'right to die' groups," on behalf of all the disabled and elderly who are being murdered every day through the horrifically painful withdrawal of ANAH just because someone deems them 'unsuitable' to live. Your USCCB's Respect Life Committee, your President Bishop Gregory all sit idle, silently watching, and the faithful laity are scandalized as their Protestant friends remind them, “Your Catholic Church lacks courage.” What can we say to those mocking our Hierarchy?

"Terri's Law," contested by numerous 'right to kill' groups, will be a hard battle to win; we can't do it without you. We all will be affected by the legislation's outcome, sooner or later. There's more to being a bishop than broad fringes and wide phylacteries. We implore you to make the necessary, frequent admonitions and statements and courageously defend "Terri's Law," defend Terri Schiavo and defend the disabled and elderly who are in harm's way. Your Excellencies, will you join us in the battle?

Barbara Kralis
Jesus Through Mary Foundation
Avemaria@earthlink.net

”Lex orandi est lex credendi”.

Translated into English as "The law of prayers dictates the law of belief." In other words, the way you pray shows what you believe; what you exhibit externally reflects what you believe internally. As Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, "If you don't behave as you believe, you will end by believing as you behave."

Okay, here we go - it turns out also to be from Kreitzer:

Here's the URL:

http://www.cwnews.com/offtherecord/offtherecord.cfm

MEN AT WORK
quote of the day: "Bishop Lynch of St. Petersburg is publicly seeking Terri's death. In a homily recently, for which he received a standing ovation, he publicly said her parents should let her go to God. But Terri isn't dying so the only way she can go to God is by deliberate dehydration and starvation."

Mary Anne Kreitzer writes: Dear Friends of Mission Sun,

A message from Mary Ann Kreitzer - President of the Catholic Media Coalition

The bishops' semi-annual meeting begins Monday, November 10 and will continue until Thursday, November 13th. Please pray and fast for these men who have been tasked by God to defend Holy Mother Church. Their failure to do so is magnified by the issues Judie Brown will address at ALL's press conference: a refusal to prevent the most impenitent public sinners from committing sacrilege by taking the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ and the abandonment of the weakest and most helpless of the little lambs - the unborn babies and the sick and disabled like Terri Schiavo. Bishop Lynch of St. Petersburg is publicly seeking Terri's death. In a homily recently, for which he received a standing ovation, he publicly said her parents should let her go to God. But Terri isn't dying so the only way she can go to God is by deliberate dehydration and starvation. Bishop Lynch has not allowed his priests to speak out in favor of Terri's right to be fed, but he has priests now releasing statements calling her parents selfish for daring to defend her and saying they should let her go to heaven. (Like those who were murdered in the starvation bunker at Auschwitz with St. Maximilian Kolbe?) Bishop Lynch and other clergy are justifying what is AGAINST CATHOLIC TEACHING, the withdrawal of food and water to bring about death. The catechism says "an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death...constitutes A MURDER." (my emphasis) Food and water are ordinary palliative care and they may not be removed to bring about the death. So we have a bishop of the church who is publicly advocating the murder of one of his sheep. This is horrifying, but no longer surprising. Defend Life and the Catholic Media Coalition are co-sponsoring a demonstration from 4-6 P.M. Monday, November 10th outside the Hyatt Regency at 400 New Jersey Ave. near Capitol Hill. Demonstrators will carry large signs of aborted babies and pictures of some bishops and the "Catholic" politicians in their dioceses who publicly advocate the murder of the unborn. If you live in the D.C. metro area please come to the demonstration. If you don't, please pray that the hearts of many will be touched and converted, especially our shepherds who have abandoned us to the wolves. The laity are called to stand in the gap left by the abandonment of our shepherds. Stand with your bodies at the bishops' meeting if possible. If not, stand spiritually with your prayers. Mary Ann Kreitzer Les Femmes Woodstock, VA In the Diocese of Arlington, VA

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