Archbishop Urges Prayer, Action For Terri Schiavo

Published: November 18, 2004

To All Catholics of the Archdiocese, and to All People of Good Faith

Dear Friends in Christ,

Recently, I received a desperate letter from the parents of Terri Schiavo, asking me to help them save her life. In that letter, Terri’s parents and other Schindler family members say this: “As a Catholic family, we have remained loyal to the church and its teachings…It is horrific for us to watch the true discrimination of Terri and accept that her life is being judged as not worth living. We would be grateful if you would consider speaking out publicly in support of her innocent and precious life and most importantly, continue to keep Terri in your prayers.”

I don’t think any reasonable people, especially Catholics, who are so deeply immersed in the battle for the protection of life in our country, could hear these words of appeal, without being moved to the bottom of our hearts. And the simple truth of the matter is that Terri’s parents and family are ready, willing and able to take care of this precious woman until God calls her home to Heaven. She is, as her parents constantly testify, responsive, emotional, strong in the natural desire to live, and is not, in medical terms, dying. Why the courts cannot simply entrust her protection to those who wish to help her live, and to remove her from the influence of those who wish her to die, is beyond comprehension.

Today, I ask you, first, to pray for Terri and her family, that the Holy Spirit will give them the strength to endure this battle—a battle that is being waged to save their precious daughter but also being waged to teach this country a lesson about life, and our sacred responsibility to protect life, from natural birth to natural death. And second, I ask you to make your support known to the Governor of Florida, the only individual with the necessary influence to stand up to the negative decisions of that state’s courts and prevent the willful destruction of this innocent woman. Contact him by one of the means listed below, and let him know how deeply we all feel about this matter, and how much we want him to continue his role as Terri Schiavo’s defender. And may God have mercy on us and help us to overcome the powers of evil in the world, for the sake of the love He has always shown us.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend John F. Donoghue

Archbishop of Atlanta

Write:

PL 05 The Capitol

400 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Telephone:

850/488-4441

Fax: 850/487-0801

E-mail: Governor Jeb Bush at jeb.bush@myflorida.com