Posted on 05/18/2005 6:01:54 AM PDT by NYer
Terri Schiavo's parents on Wednesday thanked Pope Benedict for Vatican backing in their failed campaign to keep their brain-damaged daughter alive and gave him a framed picture of her.
"I can't even tell you how I felt," Terri's mother, Mary, told Reuters in an interview with other family members in St. Peter's Square just minutes after meeting the Pope.
"When I gave it to him he said: 'I know, I know about Terri' to me. I couldn't imagine the Holy Father saying to me 'I know, I know about Terri'. It was the most I could have ever, ever hoped for," she said.
Bob and Mary Schindler, their son Bobby and their daughter Suzanne, were in the front row at Benedict's general audience.
"When he said 'Terri' he held his hand to his heart like he was very sad," her father added.
Schiavo died on March 31 in Florida after a U.S. state court ordered the feeding tube, which sustained her for 15 years, removed at the request of her husband who said it was what she would have wanted.
Pope John Paul II, who died two days after Schiavo, had declared some life-extending treatments a moral duty for Roman Catholics.
Schiavo's case was followed around the world and sparked outrage at the Vatican, which compared the court to an executioner who "arbitrarily brought forward" the date of her death.
"As Roman Catholics, to see the Pope is the ultimate. We are trying to carry Terri's legacy on," her father said.
Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler, said the family was moved close to tears when they saw sick people being wheeled before the Pope to be blessed by him at the end of the audience.
"We could have done that. Terri is very similar to those people ... it was just sad that she couldn't be here with us to share it," he said.
Throughout the Terri Schiavo case, the Catholic Church defended the family's efforts to defend life, which the Church teaches starts at the moment of conception and ends at the moment of natural death.
"I think we are seeing a real attack on the culture of life and I think Terri's case exposed just how powerful and dangerous this 'death group' is and what's happening across America," her brother said.
"Our family has to continue to fight and speak out and try to expose just what this 'death group' is doing. I think having the Vatican showing their support really illuminates what is happening in America," he said.
Terri Schiavo's sister Suzanne Vitadamo said: "We did this for Terri. We believe she is sitting with the pope up in heaven. I'm sure she is looking down on us and smiling."
" Aside from this type of post, a *much-deserved break* for the Schindlers .. God Bless Them .. a more devoted family there just couldn't be. May God grant them peace in time. "
I agree, Starwise~!!
The Schindlers are my heros. They went through, what no family should ever have to endure. God Bless them always!!
Trolling all over the place again, eh...
I wholeheartedly agree.
What's wrong with them meeting the Pope? I'd like to meet this Pope, and I would have liked to have met Pope John Paul II as well. They have every right to continue to defend their stand on their daughter's life and death, and the Vatican agreed with their stand, in fact.
And as for "who paid" - and who profited first - who paid for all of Michael Schiavos lawyers over the years? The insurance money he got lo those many years ago?? And what else did that money pay for? I'd certainly like to know that.
I didn't say there was anything bad about it. The reason I brought it up was because of arguments a while back about who would profit first from this. That's all.
Isn't it odd how the anti Terri's seem to resent any money the Schindler's get? The media made a big deal out of it while Terri lay dying. Like they thought it was TERRIBLE, UNCONSCIONABLE that pro life groups were rallying the troops and raising money to fight for life. I found it CHILLING! And apparently, they're still doing it and getting away with it. The anti life folks resent every penny that goes - OF OUR OWN FREE WILL - to help promote life.
I think I'll go to www.terrisfight.org and make another donation.
The Schindler's are our spokespersons. They deserve our full support. I wish they could come to my town to speak. It would be an honor to give them a hug and be able to tell them how much we love and admire them and how sorry we are for the hell they went through watching their beloved daughter be starved/dehydrated to death. I still can't believe it happened.
What a sick sentiment. Would you say that the woman who lost her husband that was recognized by Pres. Bush at the State of the Union was "profiting off of his death"?
Regardless, it's absolutely tasteless to consider this "profiting".
If you'll look back on Terri threads, you'll notice we were quite passionate about following Terri's wishes, which absent anything written we had to assume were to live.
We just don't like to let the issue drop, because we don't want to have to watch anyone else murdered.
But since you're okay with familial murder, I'm not sure why I'm trying to explain this to you.
Mrs. Schlinder had to literally shove a picture of Teri into his hands.
If you all are going to be annoyed at anyone, it should be the Vatican blowing them off this way.
sw
"choosing instead"...oops..
So, she changed her mind...No need to call her a liar over it.
Hey, I'm just trying to help her remember what she said. Consistency is important.
When the personal attacks start, the threads get moved to the Smokey Backroom. And you guys don't like that..
sw
Oh, I missed a juicy post to me, I see. Since it was so important to you to post, go ahead and send it me by Freepmail.
Well, I think it's tasteless to accuse a husband of abusing his wife during their marriage when there's absolutely zero proof. So I guess we're even.
I forgot.
No, wait, I changed my mind.
Why do you assume that? Why? THIS IS WHAT THE WHOLE LEGAL CASE WAS ABOUT. Don't you get it? It was proven in a court of law that this was not her wish. I know, I know you don't like it. But the law was followed.
Wow, and even took the time to post that answer.
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