Schiavo’s Death Underscores Larger Trend Against Life, Christians Say
''To deny food and water to someone who is not terminally ill is a deliberate act of killing and even murder. This form of state sanctioned murder is on a scale we’ve never seen before and it is extremely alarming''
Terri Schiavo died at her hospice Thursday morning – thirteen days after her feeding tube was disconnected – a spokesman for her parents said.
Schiavo, the disabled Florida woman at the heart of one of the most celebrated right-to-life disputes in the nation, drew her last breath nearly two weeks after her feeding tube was removed under a court order.
Although Bob and Mary Schindler did not yet comment on their daughter’s passing, Brother Paul O’Donnell – a spiritual advisor and spokesman for the family – said they were with their daughter’s body and praying.
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The Schindlers and their two other children requested permission to be with Terri during her last moments at the hospice, but were denied by Schiavo’s husband Michael, who controlled who could visit her and when.
The Schindlers were "begging to be at her bedside...but are being denied,” said O’Donnell.
David Gibbs, the Schindlers’ lawyer, said his clients were “with Terri up until 10 minutes before she passed.”
"This is indeed a sad day for this nation. This is a sad day for this family. Their faith in God remains consistent and strong," he said. "They are absolutely convinced God loves Terri more than they do."
The Rev. Frank Pavone, an executive member of the National Clergy Council (NCC), was with the Schinlders during the final visit as well.
"This is not only a death with all the sadness that brings, this is a killing. And for that we not only grieve that Terri has passed, but we grieve that our nation has allowed such an atrocity as this, and we pray that it will never happen again,” said Pavone to CNN.
The President of the NCC, Rev. Rob Schenk, meanwhile said Terri will be remembered as a “modern martyr” whose death will be redeemed for the greater good.
“In her death, Terri becomes a modern martyr,” said Schenk to the Christian Post. “Her passing will spark a greater movement to seek the greater care of disabled people. This death in time will benefit our culture and society, because it will make our nation contemplate on how we should treat individuals who are dependent upon others for their very lives.”
Rev. Schenck, whose group represents thousands of Catholic, Evangelical and Orthodox priests, also explained that Terri’s struggle underscores a larger trend toward death in our society.
"We have crossed a new threshold in the civilization: the deliberate conscious state sanctioned killing of a disabled person who was alive – not dying – and whose body needed food and water like any of us,” said Schenck via phone. “To deny food and water to someone who is not terminally ill is a deliberate act of killing and even murder. This form of state sanctioned murder is on a scale we’ve never seen before, and it is extremely alarming.”
Tony Perkins, the President of the Family Research Council (FRC), agreed that the ultimate passing of Terri Schiavo was a mark of the “Culture of Death” in our society.
“As we mourn the untimely passing of Terri Schiavo we must all accept responsibility for a society that encourages the mistreatment of the innocent and those incapable of caring for themselves,” said Perkins. “We often hear of the Culture of Life we are fighting to protect, yet rarely do we talk about the Culture of Death.
“When the Culture of Death seems to be winning we must look to a child, to our spouse, to any example of God's miracle of life to renew our spirit,” he added. “The Culture of Death is very much alive, but in the end it will not prevail.”
Meanwhile, Mat Staver, president of the Liberty Counsel, said in a statement that Terri’s life and death should serve as a “catalyst” for the nation.
“Our condolences are extended to the Schindler family,” said Staver. “Her life struggle should be the catalyst for legislative reform. Terri Schiavo should make us all more sensitive and eager to protect human life from birth to natural death.”
