Open Letter to the USCCB
by Barbara Kralis
Director of Jesus Through Mary Foundation
November 2, 2003 / Feast of All Souls Day
I am imploring your Excellencies to please make a positive, definitive statement
on behalf of the life of cognitively disabled Terri Schiavo, and for all
disabled and elderly persons suffering the same evil discrimination.
Having been subjected to a recent murderous withdrawal of hydration and
nutrition, Terri's life was threatened by her 'right to die' guardian/husband.
Her human and civil rights were gravely violated. Terri Schiavo is not nor
was not terminally ill, nor was her death imminent, not until the ANAH was
withheld. By Holy Intervention Terri has survived and fully recovered from
a most agonizing 6 day starvation/dehydration ordeal.
Thousands of faithful Catholics from all over the nation have, with the Grace of
God and the help of the Thomas More Law Center, succeeded in their 6 year or
longer appeal to the Florida Governor, to his legislators and Judges, to
intercede on Terri's behalf and save her from this most horrific, monstrously
painful death. Hundreds of thousands of lobbying efforts (phone calls,
emails, faxes and letters) were made right up until the 'Eleventh Hour.’ Many
exhausted Catholic laity are gearing up now for the legislative battle.
Terri’s own Bishop Lynch, as well as the entire Florida conference of Bishops,
did little if anything to defend her against her ‘right to die’
guardian/husband and his notorious 'right to kill' attorney, George Felos, both
whom wanted to get rid of 'the problem.' None of the
With the exception of Fox News Channel, spurious media coverage against Terri's
right to life was and still is sponsored by a 'right to die' mentality at all
national media levels, but this is no surprise to anyone. What is
an enormous surprise is the lack of response by the USCCB; you let a 'teaching
moment' slip by.
While thousands of Catholic laity, in their pro life apostolates, are working
hard to educate the 'right to die' mentality of the media to the truths of the
Gospel of Life, shameful statements have emerged from Catholic clergy in public
support to allow Terri to die a most horrible death. Catholic Georgetown
University's Fr. Kevin Wildes, Catholic Loyola University Medical School's Fr.
Kevin O'Rourke, medical ethicist, and St. Petersburg diocesan priest Fr. Gerard
Murphy (whose gravely flawed testimony helped ensure the verdict that Terri
Schiavo be allowed to starve and dehydrate to death), all purported to represent
the official teachings of the Church with disturbing and erroneous views.
There is ample documented refutation by renowned lay Catholic medical,
scientific and bioethical doctors regarding these flawed Church representations.
Of primary importance is the 'right to kill' issue of withdrawal of ANAH
(artificial nutrition and hydration) from the disabled or elderly, a moral
teaching which the Church has clearly defined many times. ANAH is
never thought as 'extraordinary means' but instead ordinary means or 'palliative
care.' For Catholics, it is morally permissible to refuse extraordinary
means, but not morally permissible to refuse ordinary means, or 'palliative
care.' The Church condemns withdrawal of ANAH intended to cause any
patient’s death. (see: Charter for Health Care Workers; Evangelium vitae;
CDF's Declaration on Euthanasia; NCCB 'Nutrition and Hydration: Moral &
Pastoral Reflections;' USCCB "Ethical & Religious directives for
Catholic Health Care Services #58; the Catechism of Catholic Church #2277, 2278;
and, St. Thomas Aquinas' principal: 'A
deliberate omission that causes death is morally an act of intentional killing,'
De malo q.2 a.4 ad 5, Summa theologiae I-II q.71 a 5.)
Distinguished forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, interviewed on major
television news programs, concluded that Terri's severe trauma and injuries
warrants criminal investigation. Doctors John Young, Wm. Maxfield,
radiologist and Wm. Hammesfahr, national expert neurologist on PVS and a Nobel
prize nominee, held recent press conferences and filed a six page affidavit with
the court, wherein they declared, "People ought to know Terri can be
rehabilitated."
While many well known Protestant leaders have come out in full public force to
loudly protest Terri’s attempted murder, the Catholic hierarchy, the divinely
ordained men who should be defending Terri with the numerous infallible Church's
ethical teachings, are supporting the 'right to die' movement with their
silence, as the lethal ACLU chortles its way to evil victory.
Bishop Lynch and the Florida Hierarchy were given ample documentation during the
past years as to Terri's true condition, her human and civil rights and
reminders of their Church's teachings, yet incredulously they proclaimed it was
a 'private matter for the family, not for the Catholic Church.' It’s not a
private matter! This affects all of us, especially Terri. This ennui
among our hierarchy must end now.
In recent years, the Florida Conference of Bishops have made 10 appeals to the
Governor to commute the sentences for convicted murders on death row, pleading
that their lives be spared. Why were there no pleas for Terri Schiavo?
While Terri was into her 6th day of dying, an October 2l, 2003 Press Release
from Bishop Lynch's Communications Office simply said, "The diocese has
been involved in helping provide for Terri's spiritual needs and we assure
everyone they are being met." Bishop Lynch, who was entrusted to
Terri's pastoral care for her eternal and temporal life, was never seen at
Terri's bedside. In fact, when Monsignor Thaddeus Malanowski, Terri's
loyal and long time Sacramental priest was refused on October 18th, 19th and
20th the right to administer her Holy Communion as Last Rites during her
starvation and dehydration, Bishop Lynch refused to comment or intercede.
In fact, his secretary said he was (conveniently) out his office the entire day
and could not be reached. Terri was religiously and criminally violated,
neglected and exploited as a disabled person and her Catholic Bishop was as
quiet as a church mouse.
Many Catholic laity have been 'dumbed down' by lack of magisterial teachings
from the pulpits on the Gospel of Life and thereby are confused today on what
should be done with Terri Schiavo's life. Just as not one U.S. Bishop has
ever publicly warned he would deny Holy Communion to a manifest sinner if he
approached the Altar (as other world bishops have courageously done), be he a
pro abortion politician, a manifest gay activist or a renown mafia figure, not
one U.S. Bishop has intervened on Terri's behalf to stop her very public, very
horrific attempted murder.
Your Excellencies, I beg you to speak out boldly on behalf of Terri Schiavo, on
behalf of the new legislation called "Terri's Law" which is
being heavily challenged by the 'right to die' groups," on behalf of all
the disabled and elderly who are being murdered every day through the
horrifically painful withdrawal of ANAH just because someone deems them
'unsuitable' to live. Your USCCB's Respect Life Committee, your
President Bishop Gregory all sit idle, silently watching, and the faithful laity
are scandalized as their Protestant friends remind them, “Your Catholic Church
lacks courage.” What can we say to those mocking our Hierarchy?
"Terri's Law," contested by numerous 'right to kill' groups, will be a
hard battle to win; we can't do it without you. We all will be affected
by the legislation's outcome, sooner or later. There's more to being a
bishop than broad fringes and wide phylacteries. We implore you to make
the necessary, frequent admonitions and statements and courageously defend
"Terri's Law," defend Terri Schiavo and defend the disabled and
elderly who are in harm's way. Your Excellencies, will you join us in the
battle?
Barbara Kralis
Jesus Through Mary Foundation
Avemaria@earthlink.net
”Lex orandi est lex credendi”.
Translated into English as "The law of prayers
dictates the law of belief." In
other words, the way you pray shows what you believe; what you exhibit
externally reflects what you believe internally. As Archbishop