by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor February 4, 2005
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Several pro-life groups say they plan to flood Florida with activists should a local judge set aside the stay that is in place prohibiting Terri Schiavo's estranged husband from starving her to death. Judge George Greer could decide as early as Monday whether to lift the stay.
Should he do that, the pro-life groups will bring "scores of people" to the state to "pray, lobby and peacefully intervene on Terri's behalf."
Organizers don't say what kind of specific actions they will take to protect Terri, but they hope the combined campaign will place a renewed focus on the disabled woman's plight.
"This campaign will shine a spotlight on the barbaric manner in which Terri is being treated and hopefully shock the conscience of our nation so it never happens again," says Dr. Gary Cass, executive director of Reclaiming America.
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said he hoped "people will come to Florida from across the nation to save Terri's life and work to ensure that no one will have to endure this kind of punishment and torture again."
Attorneys for Bob and Mary Schindler argued in a hearing late last month that Terri should have had her own attorney during the decade-long legal battle they have been fighting with her estranged husband Michael, who wants to starve her to death.
Schindler attorney David Gibbs argues that the court decision allowing Michael to end her life should be reversed.
Judge Greer has given Gibbs until Monday to submit further written evidence supporting his arguments.
Some of the pro-life groups participating in the combined effort want to make sure other people don't find themselves in a similar situation.
"If Terri's feeding tube is removed she will die and agonizing death by dehydration and starvation that will set precedent leading to the forced death of other disabled individuals, thereby eroding the sanctity of all human life," adds Dana Cody, executive director of Life Legal Defense Foundation.
Cody's group has provided significant funding to Terri's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, to help cover the costs of their mounting legal bills in their efforts to save their daughter's life.
"Terri, and all those who are in similar condition, deserve compassion and mercy. Not punishment and violence," the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council, added.
Other groups participating in the effort include Operation Rescue and Generation Life.
Related web sites: Terri Schiavo's parents - http://www.terrisfight.org