Terri Schiavo's Family Calls for Observance of Terri's Day to Honor Disabled Woman

Life News ^ | 3/31/08 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

St. Petersburg, FL (LifeNews.com) -- Terri Schiavo's family and a leading pro-life group are calling on people to honor the disabled woman whose husband took her life in a painful euthanasia death. Together with Priests for Life, the Schindler family has established the observance of “Terri’s Day” each March 31.

That's the day Terri succumbed to a 13-day starvation and dehydration death at the hand of Michael Schiavo, her former husband who won a court order to take her life.

“This third anniversary should be an occasion for all of us to both remember the injustice done to Terri, and reach out to others with prayer and concrete action when they need the kind of help Terri needed," Terri's brother Bobby Schindler told LifeNews.com on Monday.

Suzanne Vitadamo, Terri’s sister, added that Terri's Day is also a way for her family to encourage others to take better care of the elderly and disabled.

“Our family continues to be consoled and uplifted by the many ways in which people honor my sister, learn from her story, and grow in compassion for all the disabled," she said.

During the days leading up to Terri's death, Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life brought comfort and peace to the Schindler family.

Father Pavone was present for the final prayer Terri participated in before her death. He also saw the manipulative ways Michael tried to prevent the Schindler family from caring for her or being present with her during the starvation and dehydration.

“Terri’s death was not the end of her fight," he told LifeNews.com. "It was the beginning of a new chapter in the pro-life movement."

"I call upon all those who were moved by Terri’s death to continue their courageous activism in the cause of life, and never to be silent," he said.

Together, Priests for Life and the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation encourage churches, families, organizations and individuals to observe Terri’s Day with prayers, memorial services, educational activities and community outreach.

Related web sites:
Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation - http://www.terrisfight.org
Priests for Life - http://www.priestsforlife.org

[Gondring]

Not that I think the ABA is anything great, but their Consumer’s Tool Kit for Health Care Advance Planning focuses on helping a person make his wishes clear in his own mind as well as on paper. It lists the range from all care to no measures.

Regardless of what choices a person makes for end-of-life care, it is important to take the time to consider that this issue is far more complex than many people realize. Also, people should look into appointment of a Health Care Proxy, not just have a Living Will, to help ensure they receive the care they desire.

And communicating clearly to the Proxy is important, too. Not all decisions are "live or die"...for example, "do you want risk taken to improve your condition, even if it means a slight increase in the chance of death?"

[longtermmemmory]

the problem is most of the legal advice out there is focused on death rather than the living part of the LIVING will.

[BykrBayb]

You’ve shown a lot of class with this post.

[BykrBayb]

That is such a beautiful picture. And the rose looks nice too.

[bjs1779]

That is such a beautiful picture. And the rose looks nice too.

Yes. Thinking about that, can you imagine purposely starving and dehydrating a flower to death?

[floriduh voter]

The Schindler alternative: A Will to Live instead of a Living Will. A Will to Live can be found on the internet... FV

[floriduh voter]

MS only heard KA CHING. He felt nothing.

[floriduh voter]

The American Bar Assn. wrote actual letters to people explaining/promoting that they were in in favor of bumping Terri off.

[floriduh voter]

FREEPORTAGE RE: TERRI'S MASS MARCH 31, 2008

Fr. Eutenaur and Fr. Pavone were there and also the Fr. of St. Pat's. The pew we were in had no pew in front of us. So, I went to the pew in front of a walkway to get a hymnal. My timing was off as this was when the Priests were moving from the left to begin the Mass. I didn't even have time to turn around to get bk to my seat so I walked backwards really fast. The Priests noticed my urgency to get out of their path. I felt like Lucille Ball for a few seconds there.

Fr. Pavone points out that it's still Easter season and he talked about The Resurrection. Terri's Mass was another respectful, loving tribute and the homily was: WHO WILL ROLL AWAY THE STONE? Fr. Pavone said everyone the world over was trying to help Terri and it wasn't because she was just one person. It was because she was all of us. The gathering in attendance as Fr. Pavone pointed out represented millions of people who were called to do something to help Terri. I thought of all the freepers and their continuing message that euthanasia is worse than wrong. It is evil. Fr. Pavone also mentioned that the pro-life movement since Terri's Fight has grown. The message is the same. Life is precious and every life has value. (paraphrasing).

THE CAT CAME BACK... Terri loved cats

A cat that hangs around St. Pat's showed up for the Mass. St. Pat's Fr picked him up and carried him outside. This handsome gray Russian cat came back to sit and look up at Fr. Pavone right before the Homily. Fr. Pavone asked the cat if he wanted to deliver the Homily. At this time a youth came to the podium, picked up Louis and carried him out. Louis added familiarity and charm to the Mass.

We gathered outside after Terri's Mass (same date as the Feast of the Enunciation) and took turns visiting with folks and petting Louis who needs a good home. He's satisfied with St. Pat's however, Louis is disruptive on Sunday mornings to say the least but his attendance is excellent... FV

[floriduh voter]

It may be the Feast of the sp? I’m not Catholic.

[bjs1779]

THE CAT CAME BACK... Terri loved cats

And Michael killed her cats despite the Vets suggestion that he could find a home for them.

[floriduh voter]

And there’s that woman in the Pinellas Cty Jail who died of a massive infection about a month ago. They should just give him a robe and a sickle.

[8mmMauser]

This was posted on March 31 by WND and can only be excerpted.

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Family members and friends of a brain-injured Florida woman who died after U.S. courts allowed her husband to deprive her of food and water are launching an effort to observe "Terri's Day" each March 31, in recognition of the anniversary of her "death by deliberate dehydration," says a priest who is a pro-life activist.

"This third anniversary should be an occasion for all of us to both remember the injustice done to Terri, and reach out to others with prayer and concrete action when they need the kind of help Terri needed," said Bobby Schindler, Terri's brother.

Schiavo, on whom WND reported extensively, died of starvation and dehydration in March 2005, two weeks after a federal judge ruled her husband could order doctors to withhold food and water.................

Remember Terri, 3 years after 'deliberate dehydration' 'Her death was beginning of a new chapter in the movement'

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[8mmMauser]

From St. Pete/Tampa Bay Online...

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Three years ago, Terri Schiavo was removed from life support in Pinellas Park.

Monday, on the anniversary of her death, The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation and Priests for Life called for a day of remembrance.

Schiavo died March 31, 2005, at age 41, almost two weeks from the time her feeding tube was removed after a seven-year court battle between Schiavo's husband, Michael, and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler.

"No one should ever have to witness what my family witnessed, watching a loved one slowly dehydrate to death," said Schiavo's sister, Suzanne Vitadamo, in a statement.

"We want Terri's day to remind us that persons with disabilities are never burdens and should be treated with nothing but our unconditional love and compassion," Vitadamo said.

Priests for Life and the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation are nonprofit organizations that oppose euthanasia. The groups have declared March 31 "Terri's Day" to "foster education, prayer and activism regarding discrimination against the disabled" and "advocacy for people in situations similar to what Terri and her family faced," a statement said.

Schiavo had been fed through a tube since a heart attack in 1990 that deprived her brain of oxygen and left her in a persistent vegetative state.

Michael Schiavo won a legal battle against the Schindlers to carry out what he said was his wife's wish. He testified that she had said she would not want to be kept alive under such circumstances.

After a January 2000 nonjury trial, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer ruled that testimony from Schiavo and his relatives provided "clear and convincing evidence" that Terri Schiavo indicated she would not want to be kept alive without hope of improvement.

The Schindlers appealed. Greer's ruling was upheld again and again by state appellate courts and in federal court. Twice, Schiavo's feeding tube was removed on Greer's orders, only to be reinserted.

In April 2001, another judge intervened and the feeding tube was replaced. The second time, in October 2003, former Gov. Jeb Bush ordered the tube reinserted, using a hastily crafted measure known as Terri's Law that was later struck down as unconstitutional.

An autopsy found she was blind and her cognitive brain functions ended after her heart failure. She died of dehydration.

Remember Terri Schiavo, Groups Say

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[8mmMauser]

It will take more than Lifebuoy to stop BO and the fumes from that camp grow as they are exposed. Hussain, pheww.

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JOHNSTOWN, PA, April 1, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a comment deemed insulting to single mothers and their children, presidential hopeful Barack Obama announced during a town hall meeting on Saturday that he did not want his children "punished with a baby."

Following comments insisting that information on contraception be included alongside abstinence education, Obama stated, "I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old.  I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby.  I don't want them punished with an STD at the age of 16."

On Monday, the Christian Defense Coalition issued a response criticizing Obama's comments.

"Saying that single women could be 'punished with a baby,' is not only a slap in the face to every child born to a young mother, but it diminishes the great joy that children bring to their families regardless of the circumstances in which they were born."

"In America, we should be working to help young babies that are born in challenging situations and offering assistance and hope to their mothers.  We should not be condemning them by saying that somehow it has now become 'punishment' to have a child in this country," stated Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition

Rev. Mahoney asked that Obama apologize for his Saturday comment and address "his anti-child and anti-compassion mind set.".....................

Obama Declares He Doesn't Want His Children "Punished with a Baby"

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[8mmMauser]

We can always hope for change...

We have recently seen more political attacks on judges at the federal level, by Administration officials and by some of the Congressional leadership. The Terri Schiavo case comes to mind. This can threaten judicial independence, and clearly can have a chilling effect.

Judges Under Siege: Some Thoughtful Observations By A Veteran Practitioner

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[8mmMauser]

From The Passionate Prolifer...

..........................

Good friend, Jill Stanek, has graciously posted
several of my photos from our fight for Terri
Schindler Schiavo - Holy Week 05 - on her
excellent site today!

If you believe Terri had dignity and infinite worth as a disabled
woman, tho Florida courts sanctioned her starvation/dehydration
murder, please go post a pro-life comment to counter the numerous
athiests on the site today demonstrating Psalm 14:1:

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are
corrupt; they have done abominable works, there is none that
doeth good!"

Posted by Leslie at 11:14 AM 0 comments

THANK YOU SUPER SLEUTH JILL!!

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[8mmMauser]

Jill Stanek's blog...

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Pro-lifer Leslie Hanks spent several days praying and protesting outside the facility where Terri Schindler Schiavo was starved and dehydrated to death in 2005. Yesterday marked the 3rd anniversary of Terri's death. Leslie has submitted visual reminders of that time. Here is the 1st. See 7 more on page 2. Click the link to see the pictures.

Photo journal of Terri's death

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[8mmMauser]

William Wilberforce...

Thread by wagglebee.

March 31, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - I am writing as the great great grandson of William Wilberforce, who campaigned vigorously for the ending of the transatlantic slave trade in 1807, which ultimately paved the way for the abolition of slavery itself throughout the entire British Empire in 1833.

I am often asked what would be the campaigns Wilberforce would be fighting if he were alive in 21st century Britain. I believe that there would be a number of different issues ­ among them human trafficking and the scourge of drugs. But almost certainly at the top of the list, would be the issue of abortion.

As the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill comes before Parliament over the next few weeks, the opportunity presents itself to amend the abortion Act. With the number of abortions having reached 200,000 per year in the UK alone, the time is right to tighten up the law that was designed to protect women by ending illegal abortion, but never to allow such a high degree of deprived life...........

William Wilberforce's Great Grandson Says if Alive Today Wilberforce Would Fight Abortion

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[8mmMauser]

Comments by Bobby Schindler at Townhall. Thread by wagglebee.

Recently, and for the second time in less than a year, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama stated that his greatest regret as a Senator was not objecting to a vote that was intended to help save my sister from being dehydrated to death.

Senator Obama went so far as to say that this type of “inaction” (failure to speak out against the Senate’s unanimous consent to allow Terri the same due process allowed the most vicious of criminals) can sometimes prove to be just as costly as taking action. One has to wonder what could possibly have been “more costly” than the loss of innocent human life.......

Terri Schiavo: My Sister's Regret

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