Posted on 12/15/2007 5:47:27 AM PST by NYer
December 14, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Bobby Schindler, the brother of Terri Shiavo, the young woman who was dehydrated to death in Florida in 2005, has become a prominent opponent of euthanasia since that wrenching time for his family. In a recent Challenge magazine interview with Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Schindler revealed the shocking details of the support from many prominent Catholic clergy for the court ordered removal of food and hydration from Terri. Bobby is a practicing Catholic as was his sister.
Schindler stated that his sister "was not dying, not attached to any type of machinery and was only being sustained by food and water via a feeding tube." He noted that Catholic teaching does not allow a person "regardless of any advanced directive or even the sworn testimony of another person" to refuse food and water with the intent to cause their own death or that of another.
Still, Fr. Gerard Murphy of the Diocese of St. Petersburgh, Florida actually helped Judge Greer make the decision to dehydrate and starve Terri to death. Fr. Murphy did not consult with any members of Terri's family and did not even visit Terri. Murphy did however consult with Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, an assisted suicide/euthanasia activist, and testified on behalf of Michael Schiavo.
Bishop Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg refused to help the family stop the euthanasia death order and supported Father Murphy's seriously flawed position. The bishop eventually issued a confusing statement that was of no help to the situation and after that the Florida bishops supported Bishop Lynch's position.
Other prominent US clergy also made public statements condoning what was happening to Terri.
Schindler said Jesuit Father John Paris, professor at Boston College, commented on Pope John Paul II's statement mandating life sustaining treatment. Paris said in these situations, "I think the best thing to do is ignore it and it will go away. It's not an authoritative teaching statement. The problem here is that non-Catholics think when the Pope says 'Jump,' we all say, 'How high?'"
Father Kevin O'Rourke, ethics professor at the Loyola University of Chicago Medical School, told the Miami Herald that preserving Terri's life was "blasphemy." He also said, "For Christians, it is a blasphemy to keep people alive as if you were doing them a favor."
Father Richard McBrien, theology professor at the University of Notre Dame, told Bill O'Reilly of Fox News that, "This is not a question of euthanasia," directly contradicting the Vatican. "This is the removal of an 'extraordinary' means of sustaining life …"
Fortunately, there were many other priests and some bishops who were appalled by what was happening. The Vatican began issuing their own statements. Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care, said, "Food and hydration are never considered medicine. To remove them means euthanasia, it means killing, and so this woman was killed by hunger and starvation. Let's stop with the euphemisms - they killed her."
Then, on March 31, Cardinal (Renato) Martino issued the strongest statement yet from Rome, when he said, "Whoever stands idly by without trying to prevent the death of Terri Schindler-Schiavo becomes an accomplice to murder."
Terri was successfully murdered as she succumbed to the extended withholding of food and water on March 31, 2005.
See the complete interview as published in the November The Interim newspaper at http://www.theinterim.com/2007/nov/08schindler.html
They sure will have some “splainin” to do....this makes me sickish.
Can’t say that I’m surprised.
God bless the Schindlers.
Nothing that any “priest” or “bishop” says surprises me any more.
Too many of them have outright lied to us about church teaching regarding not only moral issues, but also liturgy, Catholic practices and everything else.
We must continue to pray for the clergy good and bad.
It’s so hard to be happy about anything these days when you continually hear stuff like this from our so-called shepherds in the Church. But it is Christ’s Church and these types have been there and will remain in our Church until Jesus comes back, a fact of life. Why we need to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet as often as possible.
I don’t know how these, of all people can be so blinded
Ping.
Pinged from Terri Dailies
8mm
What a depressing article! The priests who are professors at ‘Catholic’ colleges should be ashamed of themselves. I pray that the priests quoted in this article are in the minority in their unorthodox theology.
It was amazing to witness the apparatus of “justice” being used to kill an innocent life...to, in essence, kill love. But to be told that certain of the priesthood promoted this travesty is beyond any comprehension. I don’t want to believe this article...I wish someone would say it is incorrect, or out of context or something. Not that i doubt it, but i want to be in denial and yet...this is so sad...so sad. As we enter the season of Light, of the new Birth, let us all pray for our Church and its priesthood especially our American bishops-—for so many (not all) seem to have abandoned their pastoral mission.
Chilling. (no conspiracy theory because Terri’s murder was an ACTUAL CONSPIRACY).
I give you the Holy Blogger Pope John Paul. God rest his soul.
Bishop Robert N. Lynch, Ordinary of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, accused sexual predator, exterminator of Perpetual Adoration and accomplice to murder......step forward and take a bow, please.
re: Florida: saw it off and kick it away. The very sand its built must crying with the blood of innocents.
It is indeed a painful thought and one we would like to dispel with some sort of rational 'catholic' explanation - but none comes. In truth, however, there were many priests, religious and lay people who stood guard valiantly at the hospital throughout this horrific ordeal, in total support of Terri's right to life. One of these priest took leave of his ministry in MI and, funded by bloggers, drove down to FL. Fr. Johanssen led the protesters in prayer and accompanied the Schindler's on their visits to Terri.
The Church established by Jesus Christ is perfect, despite its sinful leaders. It has survived the sex abuse scandal and countless other struggles throughout its 2,000 year history. The great Barque of St. Peter continues to navigate the rough waters, attacked from all sides and occasionally from within. We have Christ's assurance of how the journey will end.
Fr. Benedict Groeschel is known for warning people to make sure that "Catholic" colleges are really Catholic. Someone published a list of authentic ones (it's not hard to distinguish) but I can't recall whom. Something like 21 out of the 225 Catholic colleges in the US made the cut.
He also mentioned various cardinals whom he speaks with who deplore the condition of the institutions.
Interesting, our parish had a collection for Catholic University, not that long ago. During scripture study the next week I mentioned to my priest that I did not give any money to them, and if they would stop giving abortion supporters the opportunity to speak at the college I might begin to send them money again.
All my priest said was, "Good, send it to EWTN and Mother Angelica."
I think it will be more than their skulls paving the road to hell.
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/valois/070222
Ave Maria University near Naples, Florida is going to include anti-euthanasia in their curriculum. They are also making a statue for Terri. That’s a school that is in line with moral and church teachings. Terri’s statue mockup is in jpeg form. They are a worthy cause imo.
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