8mm
Posted on 03/28/2007 8:10:32 PM PDT by marshmallow
TAMPA, Mar. 27 /Christian Newswire/ -- As the second anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death from dehydration on March 31, 2005, approaches, her brother, Bobby Schindler is releasing a letter written to Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Florida.
The text of the letter is available online. Bobby Schindler also makes the following comments:
In light of the fact that Bishop Lynch refused my family's pleas for his help in our attempt to save my sister's life, I am posting an "open letter to Bishop Robert Lynch" which I sent to him on March 9, 2007, and to which I have, to date, received no response.
On March 13, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI reasserted that Catholic politicians have a "grave responsibility" to defend all innocent human life, and a "non negotiable" duty to oppose the practices of abortion and euthanasia.
If the Church teaches that such a grave responsibility rests on elected officials who are here today and gone tomorrow, and who hold mere temporal power, what of the successors of the apostles - our bishops - who hold the greatest spiritual authority on earth?
Pope Benedict XVI clearly stated, "all Catholics have a duty to uphold the Church's pro-life teachings, but the responsibility is especially incumbent on those in positions of power." (emphasis mine)
Pope Benedict further stated, "Bishops are bound to reaffirm constantly these values (the pro-life teaching of the Church) as part of their responsibility to the flock entrusted to them." As Catholic dissenters continue to flaunt their pro-death agenda, and as laws are promoted, especially in the economically progressive world, for the legalization of euthanasia, the bishops have been charged by the Holy See "with the task of monitoring whether elected officials in their local churches shouldn't be receiving communion because of a violation of the church's pro-life teachings."
Perhaps certain bishops should not consider themselves above such scrutiny as well. As my letter states, "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."
Text of letter:
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-too prevalent 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
Bobby Schindler now works for The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, Center for Health Care Ethics in St. Petersburg, Florida, an organization dedicated to promoting the Culture of Life, embracing the true meaning of compassion by opposing the practice of euthanasia.
He's been bravely leading the fight to repeal a penny sales tax increase in Pinellas County. Read all about it HERE.
Here's one guy who truly has his priorities straight.
The courts decided correctly in the Schiavo matter. I'm glad that the bishop didn't get involved. Good for him.
Ping....
Hope you aren't starved to death someday.
When does he have the time to hide poor suffering immigrants?
This Bishop was a COWARD who would not stand up and speak out in defense of Terri, let alone take any action on her behalf. He is a disgrace to the faith he preaches.
wow...Terri was responsive to prayers, opening and closing her eyes at the appropriate times and you think it was ok to kill her? I don't know why the catholic church doesn't fire this bishop.
Food and water intake isn't artificial life support.
It was abomnible to allow the courts to force this woman, even though disabled, to whither away in the painful manner they did.
"The underlying motive was the desire to help individuals who could not help themselves and were thus prolonging their lives in torment. ... To quote Hippocrates today is to proclaim that invalids and persons in great pain should never be given poison. But any modern doctor who makes so rhetorical a declaration without qualification is either a liar or a hypocrite. ... I never intended anything more than or believed I was doing anything but abbreviating the tortured existence of such unhappy creatures…… I am convinced that today they have overcome their distress and personally believe that the dead members of their families were given a happy release from their sufferings."
Testimony of Dr. Karl Brandt, Nuremberg War Crimes Trials, also Adolf Hitler personal physician. Sentenced to death and executed June 2, 1948 at Landsberg prison in Bavaria.
That is total bravo sierra .
The bishop was a cowering piece of flesh for what reason I can't imagine. I will NEVER forget Terri Schiavo and as an attorney am encouraging EVERY person to PLEASE make an advance directive stating your wishes NOW so that if you are married to a scheming piece of dung like she was you won't be starved to death based on something you may or may not have said during a TV show.
life
Donations must be down at the Schindler for profit website.
Good for Bobby Schindler.
But don't let Michael or Unfelos off the hook here either.
If you're a barbarian. They decided absolutely incorrectly. There was NO evidence that she had asked for this and all sorts of evidecne, which the judge refused to hear, that Michael wanted her dead ASAP. I love how he demanded the insurance money for her care but then immediatel put it to the end of having her killed.
Only a completely unfeeling person with no respect for human life could say that the courts decided correctly.
I'm glad that the bishop didn't get involved. Good for him.
Yeah, can't hve bishops standing up for innocent human life that happens to be inconvenient to others. Mustn't have that. It will get in the way of the Death Cult and their bloodthirsty agenda.
Don't let the fat Bush brother go blameless either.
I posted yesterday on our Dailies that one of his stalwarts who claimed close ties to the Bp. actually showed up at the vigil at Pinellas Park. He told me the Bishop was sure to support the fight for Terri and all the group would be there soon, any minute. Many hours later, the poor guy shook his head in dismay, wandered off in shame. None showed up. Shame on the Lynch mob.
Brave priests did show up, exemplified by Terri's priest, Monsignor Malanowski who visited Terri regularly right to the end. But no Bp. no support at all.
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