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TERRI SCHLINDER SCHIAVO
NO VISITS FROM A PRIEST - ordered by Michael Schiavo thru Judge Greer

My Journey With The Schindlers By Father Robert J. Johansen

Nov 2004 (CWR) - A little more than a year ago, I heard about a Florida woman whose husband was seeking to have her feeding tube removed, and thereby to end her life. Her family—father, mother, brother, and sister—were vehemently opposed to the husband’s desire to end her life, and were fighting in court to prevent him getting his way. That woman was Terri Schindler-Schiavo. At first the case looked similar to situations I had encountered previously as a priest. Often, when a loved one is dying, family members are unwilling to face the truth, and that can lead to conflicts. Sometimes people are unwilling to “let go,” and become combative or obstinate.

At first glance, the case of Terri Schiavo seemed like those situations of family conflict I had seen before. But the more I read, and the more I dug, the more I saw that Terri’s case was not typical. Among other things, I discovered that:

Terri’s husband, Michael Schiavo, at the time he began seeking to end Terri’s life, stood to gain financially by her death, as he would inherit her $800,000 medical settlement fund.

The diagnosis that Terri was in a “persistent vegetative state” (PVS) was hotly contested by doctors who specialized in treating brain injuries.

Terri’s husband only raised his contention that she had expressed the desire to “no longer go on living” if she became incapacitated several years after her injury. Furthermore, his only corroboration came from his own brother and his sister-in-law. Finally, the judge in most of Terri’s court proceedings, George Greer, had violated civil trial procedure in allowing Michael’s contention into evidence in the first place.

Not only was the judgment that Terri would “certainly not recover” contradicted by doctors who advocated therapies approved as “medically necessary” by federal officials at Medicare, but Terri had in fact received no therapy whatsoever since approximately a year after her injury.

The strange and suspicious circumstances of the injury that caused her brain injury have never been investigated by authorities.

All of these facts, and the many others I learned, convinced me that this was no ordinary family dispute, and that Terri’s case was of tremendous importance beyond her family and even beyond the boundaries of the state of Florida. Terri Schiavo has become the center, the focal point of a struggle between the powerful forces that seek to extend euthanasia and the so-called “right to die” and those within our society who seek to uphold and preserve the dignity of human life.

It became clear to me that an outrage was being perpetrated in Florida, an outrage undiminished by the fact that it was wrapped in the trappings of legality. I began writing about Terri on my weblog “Thrown Back” (http://thrownback.blogspot.com), joining the ranks of fellow Catholic bloggers such as Amy Welborn (http://amywelborn.typepad.com/openbook) who were spreading the word about Terri’s plight. We hoped to get someone to listen, someone to come to the aid of the Schindler family in saving Terri’s life.

NO VISITS FROM A PRIEST
Last September, Judge Greer ordered that Terri’s feeding tube be removed on October 15. He did so in spite of pleas to consider new evidence, citing reluctance to “allow any action which would appear to ‘re-litigate’ the case.” Michael Schiavo’s attorney, George Felos, protested the October 15 date as not being soon enough, saying it would give the Schindlers time to submit “‘frivolous’ court pleadings aimed at keeping their daughter alive.” During the days leading up to the removal of Terri’s feeding tube, supporters of Terri and the Schindlers began keeping vigil outside Woodside Hospice of Pinellas Park, Florida, where Terri was being kept. The Schindlers rented a small recreational vehicle (RV), and a favorably disposed business owner allowed them to park it in the lot across the street from the hospice. This became “headquarters” for the fight to save Terri’s life.

The priest who had been most supportive of the Schindlers, Msgr. Thaddeus Malanowski, was often there leading prayers and offering spiritual guidance to the Schindlers. But a few days before Terri’s feeding tube was to be removed, Michael Schiavo suddenly stripped Msgr. Malanowski of his privileges to visit Terri. Michael stated that he was “he was concerned about Malanowski’s integrity and did not think he was the kind of person he wanted visiting Terri.” As guardian, Michael had complete control over who would be allowed to visit Terri, and Judge Greer backed up Michael’s decision, saying that since Terri was no longer at the hospital there was no emergency. Pat Anderson, attorney for Bob and Mary Schindler, repeatedly asked Judge Greer to reinstate Msgr. Malanowski’s visitation rights, but the judge rejected every request.

This development filled me with outrage. I had never heard of a patient being denied pastoral care before. I can’t even imagine the kind of hardness of heart required to take such a position; even condemned criminals are given access to clergy! But Terri Schiavo, who was guilty of no crime, was denied something we commonly provide to the most heinous of criminals. It seemed to me that Judge Greer had decided that Terri was so sub-human that she could be denied even spiritual comfort and consolation. I wrote at the time:

As a priest, I cannot imagine being in Msgr. Malanowski’s position. I simply could not stand for such interference with my ministry. I would be inclined to seek every means possible to disobey the order and visit Terri. An unjust law is no law at all. Similarly, a capricious, inhuman, unjust, and gratuitous judge’s order is no order at all.

There is a longstanding tradition in the Church of defying Caesar when he trespasses beyond his rightful authority. There is a well-established tradition of resisting Caesar when he attempts to deprive the Church of her legitimate prerogatives. And so, I reiterate the suggestion I made a couple of weeks ago: It is time to consider civil disobedience.

It seemed to me that this deprivation of Terri’s right to spiritual care was the final indignity. If this wasn’t sufficient motivation to condemn Terri’s treatment and mobilize opposition, nothing would be. NOT MY DECISION

When Terri’s feeding tube was removed on October 15, the vigils, protests, and prayers for Terri increased dramatically. Hundreds of people could be found at the Woodside Hospice at all hours of the day and night. Msgr. Malanowski was there 14 to 16 hours a day, offering leadership and support. At around that time, some of Terri’s supporters began contacting me, asking if I could come down to Florida to be of assistance. Independently of their request, National Review Online columnist Rod Dreher offered to pitch in $100 to pay my expenses to Florida, and encouraged others to do so. Within a day or so, I had dozens of people volunteering to help pay my way to Florida to go down and help the Schindlers. I’ve always been reluctant to read “the hand of God” into events as they happen, but I had seen Providence at work in my life enough to begin to sense that something of the sort might be going on here. But I resolved that if I were to go, it would have to be clear to me that the impetus was coming from beyond me. Moreover, it wasn’t clear to me at all what I could do if I went down there. So I told Rod Dreher and others that in order for me to go, three conditions would have to be met:

1. The Schindler family would have to ask me to come. I did not want to intrude as an interloper into a difficult family crisis. 2. My own bishop would have to give permission for me to go. 3. I would have to obtain coverage for my parish. This was especially critical as my pastor was then away on vacation, and I could not leave my parish uncovered.

Within 24 hours of laying down these conditions, I received a phone call from Catholic writer and canon lawyer Peter Vere. Peter was already in Florida with the Schindlers and the vigil-keepers. I was surprised when he put Bob Schindler on the phone, and Terri’s father proceeded in short order to ask me if I could come down. “We could use your help, Father,” he said. Msgr. Malanowski then came on the phone and said much the same thing. I called my bishop’s office and made an appointment to see him the next day. My bishop, James Murray of Kalamazoo, graciously gave his permission for me to go. He had followed Terri’s case and was sympathetic to the Schindlers. He felt that since the family had asked for my help that I ought to go. Shortly thereafter I spoke with the chancellor of my diocese, and we arranged for a priest to cover my parish while I was away.

I thought: “OK, here I go,” but wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. COURAGE AND ZEAL FOR SOULS

A couple of days before I arrived, Michael Schiavo lifted his ban on Msgr. Malanowski’s pastoral visits. So at least if Terri was going to die, she would not do so bereft of spiritual care. On the day I arrived in Florida, Governor Jeb Bush signed “Terri’s Law,” and intervened to order her feeding tube restored. However, husband Michael and attorney George Felos went to court seeking an injunction against the law. So Terri wasn’t safe yet.

Msgr. Malanowski was the first person I met when I arrived in Clearwater. I was immediately impressed. A priest of the diocese of Norwich, Connecticut, he served as an Army chaplain for 30 years, and rose to the rank of general. On his retirement he moved to Clearwater, and it was then that he became acquainted with the Schindlers. On two occasions, at St. Petersburg Bishop Robert Lynch’s request, Msgr. Malanowski had temporarily taken over the care of parishes whose pastors had to be removed because of sexual misconduct. He was more active as a retired priest at age 81 than some pastors I knew who were half his age. He had been at the Schindlers’ side in their struggle for many years, and knew the family intimately. He filled me in on a lot of the background of Terri’s story, and shared a lot of information with me that wasn’t public knowledge. I was surprised and felt humbled that he would so readily take me into his confidence. Msgr. Malanowski had already demonstrated his zeal for souls and courage in the face of opposition. Earlier that day, he went in to visit Terri, and because she was by no means “out of the woods” yet, he decided to give her Viaticum (Holy Communion for the dying). At this time, Msgr. Malanowski and the Schindler family were only allowed to visit Terri in the presence of “monitors” who were approved by Michael Schiavo. When this husband-mandated “minder” realized what the priest was about to do, she cried foul, and told him that he could not administer the Blessed Sacrament. She insisted that Terri could receive nothing by mouth. The two police officers who were stationed with Terri 24 hours a day immediately closed in around the cleric.

Msgr. Malanowski explained that he would place only the smallest particle of the host on Terri’s tongue, and that this action could not possibly present any medical danger. But the “minder” was unmoved. Msgr. Malanowski asked the police what would happen if he gave Communion to Terri despite her opposition. They replied that they would arrest him. He responded, “So go ahead and lock me up.”

Msgr. Malanowski later told me that he was not worried about going to jail himself, and that since he knew that I was on my way, a priest would still be there to minister to the Schindlers even if he was locked up. But then the police officers added that they would physically prevent him, if necessary, from giving Communion to Terri. It was only the certitude that he would fail that dissuaded him, not the prospect of being arrested.

Bob Schindler told me that, in that incident, he had seen a side of Msgr. Malanowski that he’d never seen before, and told me how he felt “unworthy” of the friendship and support he had received for so long from such a good and holy priest. Having met him, and in spending a week with him, I soon saw why Bob felt that way, and why Mary refers to Msgr. Malanowski as “my strength and support.” REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

I met Bob and Mary Schindler for the first time the morning after I arrived in Florida. I went down with Msgr. Malanowski to the hospice, and the RV that had become the headquarters of the effort to save Terri. I wasn’t sure what to expect before I met them. I had spoken to Bob on the phone a couple of times, and the main impression I received was that he was very tired. But then, what father wouldn’t be exhausted by the experience of watching his daughter die?

One of the things that struck me immediately is how levelheaded, reasonable, and calm the Schindlers are. That might seem a strange thing to say, but I was half-expecting to meet people who had been rendered emotional wrecks by the weeklong ordeal of watching their daughter dying. It wouldn’t have surprised me to encounter that. They had also been portrayed—by Michael and his attorneys and by unsympathetic media—as everything from religious fanatics to pathetic simpletons. But they weren’t, and aren’t. They are very normal, solid people. They have been represented as people in denial of their daughter’s sad state, blinded by their emotional attachment to her. But that is simply not the case. They are quite realistic about Terri’s condition: she is severely brain damaged, and will probably never come close to a full recovery. As Mary Schindler said to me, “I’m not looking for her get up and start doing a dance. But everyone deserves a chance, and she hasn’t had it.” The “chance” to which Mary Schindler refers is that of having proper rehabilitation therapy. Many people are under the impression that all avenues of treatment for Terri have been exhausted, but that is far from the case. In fact, Terri has had no therapy whatsoever for over 11 years, and many promising approaches have never been attempted. Michael Schiavo, as Terri’s guardian, has complete control over her medical care, and has steadfastly refused any rehabilitation therapy since he won Terri’s medical malpractice settlement in 1993.

Bob and Mary regard this failure to provide therapy as something of a betrayal by Michael. In response to Michael’s assertions on the Larry King Live program last fall, the Schindlers explained to me that Michael promised to use Terri’s settlement money for rehabilitation. He did so repeatedly in court, during Terri’s malpractice case. When Michael received the settlement money (approximately $900,000), Bob said, “I tried to remind him of his promise.” It was a promise, Mary added, that Michael had made under oath. This promise may not be legally binding, but the Schindlers certainly regard it as morally binding. But an argument ensued between Michael and the Schindlers, and Michael vowed to retain a lawyer. About a month after this incident, the Schindlers were informed that Michael had cut off their access to Terri’s medical information, and that Michael had issued a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order for Terri. When people imply that the Schindlers do not have a realistic view of their daughter’s prognosis, Bob is inclined to grow impatient. In response to such suggestions, Bob says:

Don’t ask me [about Terri’s prognosis], ask the 14 doctors who’ve filed affidavits with the court saying that she can recover if she’s given proper therapy. Patients in worse shape than her, like that Kate Adamson [who recovered after being diagnosed as PVS] have recovered. They act like we’re blinded, but we have opinions from all these doctors which point to one thing: Terri could recover if she were given the right therapy.

Mary Schindler reiterated that the parents do not expect a full recovery. They recognize that Terri has severe brain damage. But, Mary said, “even if she could come back a little,” Terri should have that chance. NOT A VEGETATIVE STATE

Bob, Mary, and the rest of her family see that the person they know and love as Terri is still there. The day after I arrived, the Schindlers held a news conference, at which they arranged for a number of family members, and several doctors and nurses, to give statements about their firsthand experience of Terri’s awareness and responsiveness. They all explained that, far from being a “vegetable,” Terri responds to her environment, and to those who visit her. The significant fact is that she is responsive to those around her in distinctive ways: she responds to different people differently. All three doctors present testified definitively and convincingly that Terri is not in a “Persistent Vegetative State.” This is perhaps the point that the Schindlers have been working the hardest to get across. The experience of seeing them present their position, and the media’s subsequent coverage of it, was an object lesson in media bias at work.

Not that the coverage was all bad. Some of the media reports were very fair and accurate. The Schindlers aren’t looking for fawningly sympathetic coverage, but they would like what they say to be accurately presented and not ignored. I was most impressed by the local “Bay News 9” coverage. They included in their report a substantial quote from one of the doctors at the press conference, who said that in his medical judgment Terri was not in a “persistent vegetative state.” The CBS affiliate also did a decent job. The worst coverage was by the local NBC affiliate, Channel 8. They showed footage of one of Terri’s doctors explaining her brain scans—but with the anchor’s voice-over comments, not the doctor’s words themselves. The anchor concluded with the observation that the doctor’s treatments were not recognized by a particular association of disability physicians. He failed to mention that the effectiveness of his treatments had been recognized by the Florida Board of Medicine and Medicare. The intent of the NBC piece was clearly to “report” on the news conference while conveying the message that it was not to be taken seriously. The reporter from the NBC affiliate repeatedly asked most of the people who spoke at the news conference, “Why are you doing this? Why are you saying all of these things here and now?” He said this in a tone that suggested real bafflement. He could not understand why the people at the press conference would want to tell the world how their knowledge and experience of Terri gives the lie to the assertion that Terri Schiavo is a “vegetable.” The best response to that question came from Bob Schindler himself. He said, “We’ve been saying these things for years, and we’ve been ignored. We’ve been ignored by you and ignored by the courts. I’ve stood here again and again and said that Terri isn’t in a vegetative state, only to see you report that she is. You guys have been killing us. You guys have been killing Terri.”

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Glossary Terms: Ordinary, canon law, Viaticum
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CLEAR SIGNS OF AWARENESS

Some of the reporters did a double-take when Bob said, “You guys have been killing Terri.” But during the course of the news conference, I saw comprehension dawning on some of their faces. Many of them were very attentive during the doctors’ talks, and asked questions that indicated they had been paying attention. Perhaps—just perhaps—some of them realized that simply parroting the lines given by Terri’s husband and his attorney isn’t sufficient, and has done real harm. The press coverage in the months following the restoration of Terri’s feeding tube has improved somewhat: Reports now usually include a mention of the fact that Terri’s PVS diagnosis has been questioned, and the fact that there is evidence of Terri’s awareness. Bob and Mary are most passionate and eloquent when speaking of Terri’s ability to interact. They speak of her smiling, laughing, and crying. “She smiled at the flowers Bob brought her the other day,” Mary told me recently. Bob added that she always responds when Msgr. Malanowski comes to visit. “She always looks up and smiles when she hears his big booming voice,” he said. He also told me that she always seems to focus attentively on Msgr. Malanowski whenever he puts on his stole to bless her or pray over her. “She knows he’s a priest, and she knows what he’s doing,” he said. One of the more poignant indications of Terri’s awareness occurred a few months ago. In a bizarre incident, Michael accused the Schindlers of attempting to inject Terri with something (he never specified with what). He withdrew permission for them to visit Terri while the incident was investigated. Even after the police reached their conclusion—not only that the Schindlers had done nothing untoward, but also that the incident Michael had reported never even took place—Michael continued to refuse visitation, until a court order compelled him to relent. The result was that the Schindlers were unable to visit Terri for 50 days. “That’s the longest we’ve ever gone without seeing her in her whole life,” Mary said. When Bob and Mary finally went to see Terri after the long absence, Terri’s reaction was heart wrenching: “Terri cried and cried for at least 10 minutes,” Mary said. “No one can tell me that girl doesn’t know I’m there, and that she doesn’t know who I am.” SUPPORT AND PRAYER

I would have liked to see Terri myself, but the list of authorized visitors is limited to family, some long-time friends, and Msgr. Malanowski. Michael has complete control over who gets to visit. Given how Michael has treated Msgr. Malanowski, and his misgivings about the priest’s “character,” I think it’s safe to assume that Michael isn’t likely to let another priest visit. All visitors, even family, are only allowed to see Terri with one of the husband’s designated “minders” present. So Bob and Mary told me at the outset that it would be all but impossible for me to visit Terri. Still I certainly could pray for her, lead her supporters in prayer, and give comfort, advice, and support to Terri’s family. I quickly realized that I was of real help to them, and that was enough. Msgr. Malanowski was very grateful that I came. He had all but exhausted himself in the previous two weeks, being with the family and their supporters for 14-16 hours a day—a schedule that is no joke for an 81 year-old man. He confided that he needed to “take a breather.” On the day I arrived, he hadn’t slept more than 4 hours in the previous two days. Because of my presence, he was able to take a break. He was able to catch up on his sleep and take care of a couple of long-postponed doctor’s appointments. The supporters at the hospice were always happy to see me when I joined them: they were truly grateful to see a priest with them “on the line”.

I spent most of my time with the family or supporters. Sometimes I led prayer; sometimes I answered questions or clarified points of Catholic teaching. I often took part in discussions with the family and their supporters on matters of strategy.

Once Terri’s situation seized national attention, many prominent people and organizations (and some not so prominent) came forward to offer assistance and support. The Schindlers were, and still are, continually faced with questions and decisions to make about what the best course of action is, and whether a particular offer of help is something that will truly be helpful. It might seem to some observers that the Schindlers should simply accept any assistance that is offered. But that is simply not prudent. Some well-intentioned people come forward offering suggestions and “help” that ranges from the impractical to the downright counterproductive. Sometimes our task has been politely to thank such supporters and say “right now we think we need to pursue a different strategy,” or say “that’s a good suggestion, but we were wondering if you’d be willing to help us with this other thing.” I felt quite privileged and honored to be so trusted by the Schindlers so quickly, both in a spiritual and a more prudential sense. I was a stranger to them a week before I arrived, but they welcomed me and took me into their confidence in a touching way. In the year since then, I’ve become close friends with the Schindler family, and with Msgr. Malanowski. That, I have no doubt, is the power of the priesthood at work. Because a large number of the supporters and vigil-keepers were Evangelical Protestants, there were frequent opportunities for ecumenical and apologetical work, in the best senses of those terms. I had a number of very productive conversations with Protestants concerning questions about the Catholic faith. I think these were very fruitful because the bona fides of those present was established by their very presence. No one doubted the good faith or will of those there to support Terri, so a lot of baggage was left behind at the outset. I’ve been told that there were a number of conversions or “re-versions” as a result of such encounters. One afternoon my day was made when I was able to convince several Protestant ladies to join me in praying the Litany of the Sacred Heart. I have a devotion to the Sacred Heart, and love the litany. I explained what it was to the ladies, and invited them to join in. At first they were skeptical, but after a little while they were joining in the responses with evident good will. CLERICAL INDIFFERENCE

There were many Catholics who also came out to lend prayer and support for Terri and the Schindlers. But I was surprised by what appeared to be a lack of support from the priests of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Msgr. Malanowski has told me that one of the greatest disappointments he has had is the lack of support from local clergy or the diocese. I was the only priest, besides Msgr. Malanowski, who was with the family, or at the hospice keeping vigil with Terri’s supporters, during the two weeks in which the feeding tube was removed and after it was restored. Msgr. Malanowski told me that he had had a number of Protestant clergy come to lend prayers and support at prayer vigils and rallies for Terri, but few priests. The Schindlers acknowledge that they have had some support from Catholic clergy: “We’ve had a few priests offer support,” Mary said. “Bishop Larkin [the retired bishop of St. Petersburg] was a big support when his health was still good,” she added. “And Msgr. [Laurence] Higgins has opened up his church to us for Masses and prayers for Terri.” But the Schindlers, like Msgr. Malanowski, have noticed that expressions of support from Catholic clergy are noticeable because of their scarcity. Even more painful and puzzling to the Schindlers are the all-too-frequent instances when priests have expressed indifference to their efforts to save Terri’s life. Terri’s sister Suzanne once approached a priest and asked him if he could visit Terri. His response was, “I’ll have to check my schedule.” He never did visit. The Schindlers have often asked priests to have Terri included in the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass, and have often been rebuffed.

Some priests go beyond indifference: Msgr. Malanowski related to me that last year, before Judge Greer ruled that Terri’s feeding tube should be removed, he asked a priest at a neighboring parish if he would come with him to visit Terri. “He told me he visited Terri once and that was enough,” Msgr. Malanowski said. “He said, ‘they should just let her die.’” This lack of support and even opposition from priests leaves Mary feeling “disappointed and sad,” she said. Bob was more angry: “It makes me feel like we’ve been sold out,” he said. Another priest of the St. Petersburg diocese—who agreed to speak only on condition of anonymity—had also encountered priests who advocated the removal of Terri’s feeding tube. “I’ve had hospital chaplains tell me that Terri should be allowed to die, and that the Schindlers ‘need to move on,’” he said. He explained that, in his experience, many priests are unaware of the Church’s teaching that there is a “presumption in favor” of providing nutrition and hydration, and that food and water must be considered “ordinary care.” He added: “Even some good pro-life priests are confused about these issues. For a lot of them the argument goes back to ‘I wouldn’t want to live that way.’”

THE ROLE OF BISHOP LYNCH The notoriety of Terri’s case, the fact that Terri and the Schindlers are Catholic, and the confusion and even dissent from Catholic teaching among the clergy has prompted many Catholics to look to Bishop Robert Lynch for guidance and leadership.

In the earlier stages of Terri’s case, Bishop Lynch made some helpful public pronouncements. In a column in the August 21, 2003 issue of The Florida Catholic, Bishop Lynch reiterated the Church’s teaching that food and water may only be withheld when it is “doing harm” to the patient, or “is useless because the patient’s death is imminent.” He also urged that “Terri’s family be allowed to attempt a medical protocol which they feel would improve her condition.” In addition to the public witness, Bishop Lynch offered personal support to the Schindlers as well. In 2001, he visited Terri with Msgr. Malanowski, and he met with the Schindlers on one occasion as well. But it seemed to the Schindlers that, as Terri’s case took on a higher public profile, Bishop Lynch became more remote and uninvolved. Before Judge Greer ruled that Terri’s feeding tube should be withdrawn, Bob asked Bishop Lynch for help. “We asked him to come out [to the hospice] and show support for Terri,” Bob explained. According to Bob, Bishop Lynch responded by saying that he would consult with bioethicists about Terri’s case. Bishop Lynch did not contact the Schindlers again, and in fact the Schindlers have had no direct communication with Bishop Lynch since then. Nor has Bishop Lynch visited Terri since 2001.

On October 15, the day that Terri’s feeding tube was removed, Bishop Lynch issued a statement. In addition to expressing his prayers for Terri, he said:

I continue to believe that such decisions should not be made in the court system but must be made on a case-by-case basis by families and/or other responsible parties at the clear direction of each one of us well in advance of a crisis.

The Schindlers, and many of Terri’s other supporters, found this statement disappointing and even bewildering. The statement expressed the injunction that “such decisions should not be made in the court system,” but the fact was that the decision had been made in the courts. It seemed as if the bishop’s statement didn’t really address any relevant issue. Bob Schindler thought Bishop Lynch was treating Terri’s case like “just a family dispute” that he “didn’t want to get in the middle of.” In the course of preparing this article, I contacted Bishop Lynch’s office and requested an interview. If that were not possible, I offered an alternative: that Bishop Lynch provide answers to a set of prepared questions. I was referred to his communications director, Mary Jo Murphy. She informed me that the bishop would not be available for comment. She said, “It is our policy to refer people to the statements Bishop Lynch has already made.” I then asked her, “But what if I have questions about what the bishop said in those statements?” She answered, “All I can do is refer you to the statements on our web site (http://www.dioceseofstpete.org/news_release_archives.htm). We feel that these statements cover the issues. We ask everyone to continue to pray.” The statement by Bishop Lynch about which the Schindlers and many of Terri’s supporters would most like to question him is the one he issued on October 21, 2003, “Concerning the Spiritual Welfare of Terri Schiavo.” In it, Bishop Lynch expresses his gratitude for the outpouring of concern and compassion expressed for Terri. The statement then continues:

Terri’s spiritual well being continues to be of paramount importance to Bishop Lynch and all those serving within the Diocese. The spiritual ministry to any person is a private matter. The diocese has been involved in helping to provide for Terri’s spiritual needs. We assure all persons who care for Terri that the spiritual needs of her Catholic faith are being met. We ask that such private ministry be respected.

I first saw this statement the day after it was issued. I walked into the Schindlers’ “headquarters” RV after going out for lunch, and Bob handed it to me. He asked, “Have you seen this yet?” I read it, and I confess that I threw up my hands in disbelief. “Where did that come from?” I asked Bob. “What prompted that?” Bob speculated that Bishop Lynch must be “feeling the heat” from people supportive of Terri, asking him what he was going to do to help. (At that time, the story that Terri had been denied the Viaticum was beginning to circulate, and had provoked widespread outrage.)

I read out loud the sentence, “The diocese has been involved in helping to provide for Terri’s spiritual needs.”

“How?” I asked. “Msgr. Malanowski and I have been the only priests here since they pulled Terri’s feeding tube, right?” Bob answered, “That’s right.”

I asked Bob and Mary, “Have you heard from anyone from the diocese?” “No,” Bob said. “Me neither,” Mary replied. Bob then added, “You know, Monsignor isn’t even a priest of the diocese [he is a priest of the diocese of Norwich, Connecticut], so I don’t know who from the diocese they could be talking about.”

Msgr. Malanowski came in a few minutes later, and I showed the statement to him. I asked him, somewhat sarcastically, if he knew that Terri’s “spiritual needs” were “being met.” He just shook his head. I then said: “I suppose that means you’ve been able to give Terri Communion.” Msgr. Malanowski replied: “One of the hospice chaplains told me that I should make a spiritual communion for Terri—that that would be good enough. How dare she try to tell me how to minister to her? Terri is being denied her right to the sacraments.” When asked about it later, Bob Schindler characterized Bishop Lynch’s statement “Concerning the Spiritual Welfare of Terri Schiavo” as misleading. “It leads you to believe the whole diocese is supporting Terri,” he said, “but that’s totally unfounded.”

The Schindlers have received no communications from Bishop Lynch or diocesan personnel since her feeding tube was restored. I recently spoke to the director of the St. Petersburg Diocese Pro-Life Office, Deacon Joe Grody. I asked him if the Pro-Life Office had plans for any activities or events to express support for the efforts to save Terri’s life, or to mobilize action on her behalf. He replied, “We have no plans at this time.” The Schindlers, in spite of the disappointments they have encountered, in spite of being misunderstood, remain strong and hopeful. They are grateful for, and humbled by, the outpouring of concern and support they have received from all over the nation, and indeed, the world. They continue because they love their daughter and they know who she is. They go on because of their strong faith, which tells them they have Hope. They keep going because, as Bob often says, “Every day Terri is alive is a victory.” One evening a relative of Terri’s asked me, as we were sitting outside around the RV:

Why is it that some people want Terri dead because she doesn’t meet their standard of minimum humanity? We know who she is, and we love her. And she knows we love her, and she can receive that love. Why do they want to deprive us of the ability to give her our love? Why do they want to deprive her of receiving our love?

I didn’t have a ready answer to that. After thinking a few moments, I said, “They can’t, or won’t, see who she is. They only see her limitations, and imagine that is all there is to her.” Those who advocate removing Terri’s feeding tube say that she won’t recover. They say she has no “quality of life.” But those who know and love her see past her limitations, and see the person Terri. And they cannot understand why any of her limitations amounts to a reason for ending her life.

[AUTHOR ID] Father Robert J. Johansen is a priest of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

How the Legal Battle for Terri Shindler Schiavo's life was lost at the onset. Michael Schiavo and George Felos
Fact - Once the malpractice money was in the bank, Michael Schiavo refused to allow treatment for an infection that Terri was suffering and ordered that she not be resuscitated in the event of cardiac arrest. Michael Schiavo Motives
An MRI or PET is needed to determine the level of brain damage Terri Schiavo Brain Scan
Teenager Arrested for trying to sneak in a drink of water to Terri Schiavo Arrest Photo
My Journey With The Schindlers By Father Robert J. Johansen Love for Live Fight Against Death
Michael Schiavo - Money Trail Review - Intent and Actions - Purpose  Terri Schiavo Dead
What evidence is there concerning Terri's strangulation? Schiavo Medical Evidence
Terri Schiavo versus Michael Schindler - Myths and Facts. Liberal Death Penalty ?
Judge orders the premeditated killing of disabled Florida woman Judge Greer
The fight for Terri http://www.terrisfight.org
Blogs for Terri - http://www.blogsforterri.com

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