The events of ten years ago today are not far from me. Terri Schiavo died ten years ago today; correction, Terri was murdered ten years ago today by her estranged husband, supported by the courts of the State of Florida and that of the United States of America. At the time, my own mother was 89 and she would die 18 months later. I cared for my mother in my home until the day she died with assistance from my sister and paid caregivers. I will never regret the sacrifice made out of love. The Schindler family never had that opportunity. It was taken away from them along with the life of their daughter. Nightly, we would watch the drama unfolding on Fox or EWTN, the drama of a murder taking place live while most went about their business and cared not.
The Bishop of the diocese where Terri and the family resided failed in his moral duty. Matt C. Abbott includes in his column today the letter sent from Terri's brother to Bishop Lynch. This is the same Bishop Lynch who, in January 2015 said; “Therefore, I do not wish to lend our voice to notions which might suggest that same-sex couples are a threat incapable of sharing relationships marked by love and holiness and, thus, incapable of contributing to the edification of both the church and the wider society."
Blindness in one area leads to blindness in many.
Terri's brother Bobby has laboured for this past decade building the Terri Schiavo Life & Hope Network. Bobby Schindler pens a poignant recollection at Lifenews. Included is an artists rendition of what the beautiful woman above looked like on the last day of her life according to his memory.
A few days later the world would watch another death and another example of suffering.
Both of them were redemptive.
