Cardinal Rigali's Statement on Terri Schiavo

Archdiocese of Philadelphia ^ | March 14, 2005 | Justin Rigali

[old and tired]

OFFICE FOR COMMUNICATIONS

News Release

March 14, 2005

CARDINAL RIGALI'S STATEMENT REGARDING THE CASE OF TERRI SCHINDLER SCHIAVO

"Americans are watching with concern the plight of Terri Schindler Schiavo in Florida. It is a tragic situation that has grave implications for the future treatment of those who are vulnerable and reliant upon someone else to provide their sustenance and decide the level of medical care they receive. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where Terri Schindler was a parishioner and a graduate of one of our high schools, we watch and pray with particular interest in her case. I urge most strongly that those charged with her care provide life-sustaining nutrition and hydration.

Mrs. Schiavo must continue to receive such ordinary treatments to meet her basic needs until the time they become life threatening or harmful. Removing food and hydration now will amount to a very painful death. It also may hasten the day when anyone deemed not living a life of subjective quality – by whose definition? – may suffer the same fate. This evil, if permitted, will end the life of one woman and place all of us in peril.

Terri Schiavo and all those who rely on others for their basic needs remain worthy of care because of their dignity as children of God. In the Gospel of Life (papal encyclical written in 1995), Pope John Paul II wrote, ‘God alone has the power over life and death. But he only exercises this power in accordance with a plan of wisdom and love. When man usurps this power, being enslaved by a foolish and selfish way of thinking, he inevitably uses it for injustice and death. Thus the life of the person who is weak is put into the hands of the one who is strong; in society the sense of justice is lost...'

The Catholic bishops of Florida have strongly urged that Mrs. Schiavo should receive "all treatments and care that will be of benefit to her." I call on the faithful in the Archdiocese to join with me in prayer for Mrs. Schiavo, for her family and for all those charged with her life. I pray she receives the nourishment, hydration and loving care she needs until the Lord of Life calls her to His eternal home."

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Contact Matt Gambino Associate Director 215-587-3747

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[old and tired]

Also on the statement:

Cardinal Rigali strongly opposes the expected removal of nutrition and hydration from Terri Schindler Schiavo, a severely brain damaged woman in Florida. A native of Bucks County, Ms. Schiavo is a former member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Southampton, Bucks County, and a 1981 graduate of Archbishop Wood High School, Warminster.

[old and tired]

I personally would like to see all the bishops and cardinals down in Florida, if not in an act of civil disobedience, at least united with the Schindler family in prayer.

[BykrBayb]

Ping to Catholics and other supporters of Terri.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Terri ping! If anyone would like to be added to or removed from my Terri ping list, please let me know by FReepmail!

[Lesforlife]

The final paragraph may not be accurate. It has
been reported that Terri's own Bishop has said
and done nothing on her behalf.

Unconscionable!

[PhilDragoo]

[annalex]

Terri's own Bishop has said and done nothing on her behalf

Not nothing. He said something to the effect that his fervent hope is Terri's parents would reconcile themselves to the fact that Michael Schiavo and Judge Greer are about to kill her.

[Pegita]

I long to see Terri's family walk into her room as parents should ... quickly, unrestrained, able just to love her without the mantle of death over them. May the Lord take away this mantle and replace it with the covering of life.

[TAdams8591]

"In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where Terri Schindler as a parishioner and a graduate of one of our high schools, we watch and pray with particular interest in her case. I urge most strongly that those charged with her care provide life-sustaining nutrition and hydration."

Finally!!!! I have been waiting a long time for someone in authority from the Philadelphia Archdiocese to speak on behalf of Terri. Cardinal Rigali's words are music to my ears!!!! = )

[TAdams8591]

The Florida Bishops issued a joint statement on Terri's behalf. The words of the Bishop from Terri's archdiocese were very weak.

[jonrick46]

This Bishop Lynch, instead of making lame pronouncements oozing in psychobabble to his diocese, should take seriously the duties of his faith or he will someday squeal like a pig on the end of a pitch fork in the Halls of Hell!

I suggest he read his Bible in Ecclesiates 12:13-14:

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

This corrupt Bishop must me in league with George Felos who derives his bankrupt morality from Scientology. It is what one would expect from men whose world view believes that there is no evil, just untrained minds. It also such New Age philosophy that worships the self and forgets such things as the First Commandment: "I am the Lord your God, do not put other gods before me." Without acknowledging the First Commandment, it is sort of hard to follow the rest; especially the one that says, "thou shalt not kill." That too is always a good one to follow; especially mindful of one of the tenants of Catholicism: God's promise of the everlasting pains of Hell to those with Mortal Sin.

The wicked are said to be "cast into everlasting fire," Matt. 18:8; to "go away into everlasting punishment," Matt. 25:46; to be "punished with everlasting destruction," 2 Thess. 1:9; to have the "mist of darkness" reserved for them for ever, 2 Pet. 2:17; to be "tormented day and night, for ever and ever," Rev. 20:10; and by several other expressions of the like nature.

Too bad that Bishop Lynch has not reviewed his Bible for sufficient moral guidance to keep himself from being sucked into the basrbaric moral morass that euthanasia represents. Too bad he couldn't make a phone call to Cardinal Rigali, just to touch bases with someone with honor.

[marshmallow]

The best Lynch has done is to urge both sides to get together and "negotiate". To "step back" and attempt to resolve their differences. Like this is some sort of labor dispute or an argument over a land sale.

What's to negotiate? Life certainly isn't negotiable.

I've seen and read enough about Lynch to be convinced that he is also a flaming shirtlifter, a liturgical improviser, and a doctrinal equivocator.

[PhilDragoo]

[T'wit]

>> a flaming shirtlifter, a liturgical improviser, and a doctrinal equivocator.

Wow, I love the way you swear!

[Tribune7]

ping

[Lauren BaRecall]

THIS IS WHAT ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE SAYING!

Cardinal Rigali has always been one of the best of our bishops. I am not a mind reader by any means, but I suspect that his statement is a huge silent reproach to Lynch.

Thank God that we have at least *some* good shepherds!

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed. Thanks for the ping!