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Ave Maria University will again host a "National Mass for Terri's Day" March 31. Father Frank Pavone, president of Priests for Life, will be the main celebrant at the Mass in the oratory at 5 p.m., along with Father Thomas Euteneuer, president of Human Life International. All are invited to the Mass.
The remembrance is part of an "International Day of Prayer and Remembrance," also referred to as "Terri's Day," established two years ago by the two organizations. Five years ago, on March 31, 2005, Terri Schiavo died after almost 14 days without nutrition or hydration following a federal court ruling that her husband could legally order the removal of feeding tubes.
 Terri Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, said that a study released last week by The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) found that many persons diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative (PVS), as was the case with Terri Schiavo, are, in fact, responsive. (Right, Mr. Schindler speaking at last year's Mass for Terri Schiavo. In background is Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life.)
"What is worse is that persons with cognitive disabilities thought to be in this 'PVS' condition, like Terri, are routinely being denied food and hydration -- their most basic rights," Mr. Schindler said in a news release available here.
"These new findings in the NEJM underscore the importance of why this dangerous and often mistaken PVS diagnosis needs to be stopped when being used as a standard to kill our most vulnerable. As we just witnessed with Italy's Eluana Englaro's tragic death by dehydration, people with disabilities, like my sister Terri, are routinely being denied their most basic rights. My family is committed to stopping this form of discrimination against people with disabilities."
For more background, click herefor the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation website. The Ave Herald story on last year's Mass for Terri Schiavo is here. |
