Terri’s Bishop Issues Bizarre Statement Implies Schindlers should accept her imminent death and reconcile with her killer???
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Terri’s Bishop Issues Bizarre Statement
Implies Schindlers should accept her imminent death and reconcile with her killer
ST. PETERSBURG, March 2, 2005 (LifeSitenews.com) - For some time now, pro-life Catholics fighting to save the life of Terri Schiavo, have been clamouring for a statement or intervention by the bishop of St. Petersburg Florida, Terri’s home diocese. Now that such a statement has finally been made, the same pro-lifers might well be wishing Bishop Robert N. Lynch had maintained his silence.
The Florida Catholic Bishops’ conference has stated plainly that Terri’s means of receiving food and water does not constitute ‘extraordinary’ means of preserving her life, and is a simple requirement of ordinary care. Bishop Lynch, a signatory to that statement, has in a statement of his own, implied that Terri is at death’s door, and indicates that his only concern is the lack of “peace” between her estranged husband Michael Schiavo and her parents.
Bishop Lynch’s comments are bizarre and shocking given the fact that Michael Schiavo has abandoned his wife and has taken up an adulterous liaison with another woman with whom he has sired two children and has campaigned to end Terri’s life by starving her to death.
Bishop Lynch moves from the bizarre and shocking to the outrageous when he implies that this lack of “peace,” is the fault of her parents for being determined to save her life. “This (peace) will not happen in this instance because of the seeming intractability of both sides,” he writes. His statement amounts to an admonition to Terri’s parents to accept that she will die by starvation and to be reconciled with her would-be killer.
“Normally, at the end of life,” writes Lynch, “families of the person in extremis agree that it is time to allow the Lord to call a loved one to Himself, feeling that they have done all they possibly might to provide alternatives to death, every possible treatment protocol which might be helpful has been attempted.” Those who have followed Terri’s case will find this inexplicable since it is Michael Schiavo who has total control over Terri and has, against the pleadings of Terri’s parents, refused her any kind of rehabilitative therapy.
Lynch goes on to say that the decision to starve Terri to death is one that will be made by ‘a family’ which, incomprehensibly, he identifies as Michael Schiavo alone. He writes, “As I have said from the beginning of this sad situation, the decision will be made within a family.”
Then, in comments that seem calculated to outrage and injure Terri’s family, Bishop Lynch says, “I urge and pray that before the finality, one last effort be made for mediation.” Terri’s life is threatened by no pre-existing medical condition and the only reason for ‘finality’ is Michael Schiavo’s determination to create it.
Inexplicable also is the apparent unconcern of the Bishop for saving Terri’s life, an indifference that will outrage Catholics since he also took no action when Michael refused to allow Terri visits from a priest and to receive the sacraments. “The legacy of Terri’s situation should not be that of those who love her the most, loathing the actions of one another…but of a heroic moment of concern for the feelings of each other… with a single focus of achieving the best result for Terri.” Bishop Lynch, in spite of the evidence that Michael’s only interest is in seeing his wife die, declines to say what result would be “best.”
2 Comments:
It is sad this bishop appears to think the parents are the problem.
Thankfully this bishop Lynch is not the one in charge. It is his Boss that can and will be ultimately appealed to.
My question is concerning this Michael Schiavo's 'girlfriend' Anyone ever ask her what she thinks of this guy wanting to murder his wife? Does she hope for better treatment from him in the future?
I went to Bishop Lynch's ordination as Bishop when I lived in Tampa. I thought it was a great thing since he's young and really into getting the young people involved in the church, especially the LifeTeen program.
But this is just wrong. The bishop answers to the Pope and the Pope has given his statement on this and he needs to reflect that in his own words and actions or step down.
Granted, it also depends on the context. St. Pete Times is no better than the Slantinel. The bishop may have meant that even if their attempts to save her life are futile and Judge Greer is going to see that Terri dies, they must make those last few days the best with Terri and ultimately to reconcile with those who have trepassed against us.
God will do a better job of punishing Michael Schiavo than any one of us could ever dream of doing.
"Karma is a b*tch so I don't have to be," as one of my friends says.
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