Mar 28, 2007 / 07:20 am
Terry Schiavo's brother has written an open letter to Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Florida, rebuking the prelate for his refusal to help save Schiavo.
Schiavo, a severely disabled Florida woman, died two years ago from dehydration in a high-profile case that had pro-life and pro-euthanasia advocates going head to head.
In his letter, which is available online, Bobby Schindler says Bishop Lynch refused his family's pleas for his help in their attempt to save Schiavo’s life. The letter was sent March 9; Schindler said he is still awaiting a reply.
Schindler cites Pope Benedict XVI, who has said “all Catholics have a duty to uphold the Church's pro-life teachings” and "bishops are bound to reaffirm constantly these values (the pro-life teaching of the Church) as part of their responsibility to the flock entrusted to them."
Schindler proposes that bishops should not consider themselves above the scrutiny to which Catholic elected officials are subjected regarding the Church’s pro-life teachings.
In his letter, Schindler says he begs God “to spare us another successor of the apostles who would exhibit the same scandalous inaction and silence by which you remain complicit in my sister's murder via euthanasia.”