Jesus' Charitable Warning to Government Officials

Ever since Terri Schindler Schiavo?s death passion began, I cannot help but think of her every time I take a glass of water or eat a bit of food. How can anyone who has heard of this tragedy not do so?

Today marks the 11th day of Terri?s judicially-ordered murder by starvation and thirst. Through the grace of God and through strength of will - perhaps given to her by your prayers, fasting and sacrifices - Terri is still with us in this valley of tears. And yet, even among pro-lifers, some will say that it is now too late. Too late, some say, to make any further attempts to save her mortal life, that her bodily organs are probably too far damaged by the denial of food and drink. But this is not the Catholic way to think. Do we or do we not believe that with God all things are possible?

On Easter Sunday, after Michael Schiavo first denied the Schindler?s request that his wife be allowed to receive Holy Communion, Terri was given one drop of Our Lord?s Precious Blood. We can trust that Our Lord is sustaining her by that One Drop, for we Catholics know that Our Lord is wholly present in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity when one of the faithful receives Him under either Species.

On Holy Saturday, Terri?s birth family reported that she still smiles at her mother and that she attempts to speak, even though her voice comes out in a pitifully cracked whisper. Today, on the first Monday of Easter, we must continue to trust that Our Lord continues to strengthen Terri in body and soul since receiving His Precious Blood.

"She's doing remarkably well under the circumstances," said Terri Schiavo's father, Bob Schindler, after visiting his daughter on the afternoon of Holy Saturday. "She has put up a tremendous battle to live. She's not throwing in the towel." Again, if Terri was doing ?remarkably well? before being given Holy Communion, we must trust she is still doing remarkably well after receiving Our Lord.

Still, Terri will die if she is not taken into protective custody. Yet the leading government authorities in this case ? the Governor of Florida and the President of the United States - continue to protest that they cannot help Terri, claiming they have no authority to over-rule the judges.

Like Our Lord, who had no one in authority who could or would help Him, Terri suffers the same kind of injustice. Like Our Lord, there are those who scream for Terri?s death. And like Our Lord, there are those who plead for Terri?s life and who are forced into helplessness once the authorities make their decisions.

Unlike Our Lord's would-be defenders, however, we can still reach the powers-that-be by phone, by fax, by email, and by continuing to peacefully protest at the place of Terri?s passion.

A charitable word of warning to all government authorities in regard to the life of Terri Schiavo: ?You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above.? Those are the very words of Our Lord to the pagan, Pontius Pilate, recorded in the Holy Scriptures for all time. As Catholics know the world over, Pontius Pilate, the Governor of Caesaria, possessed the authority to save Our Lord?s life, but he did not do so for reasons of political expediency. Our Lord also told Pontius Pilate, ?That is why he who handed me over to you is guilty of the greater sin.?

The same warning must be given to the authorities to whom the Schindlers have appealed. The highest authorities in Terri Schiavo's case are the Governor of Florida and the President of the United States. Although President Bush is not a Catholic, he claims to a Christian, one in favor of life. However, his brother, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida, is not only a pro-lifer - he is a Catholic.

As we pray and work to save Terri's life, the question must also be asked: In our charity, will we not also do all that is in our power to save the President and the Governor of Florida from committing the sin of Pontius Pilate on account of the contemporary Pharisees' wiles?

There are still people in this nation, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, who believe that our government is a government ?of the people, by the people, and for the people.? That is why those trying to save Terri, as well as those who demand her death, remain outside the hospice where she is enduring a most dreadful agony. They are making their voices heard. So can we.

We, the people, who know that with God all things are possible, and we, the people of the United States, demand that Terri's mortal life is saved today by those who hold the authority to take her into protective custody.

Pray for Terri, study the documents involved, (including the document prepared by Alan Keyes, linked below) and act by contacting all government officials (also listed below) TODAY. If you've already done so, spread the word among those who thirst for justice. Do all that you can, spiritually and temporally, to save Terri's life!

Keeping It Catholic friends and visitors, lest we quail or tire or are tempted to despair in this fight against dark principalies and powers, let us recall Our Lord's words: "That which you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto Me."

Keeping those words in our minds and hearts, please find below the most pertinent excerpts (which include important links) from a press release made today by Right March and the Society for Truth and Justice. ~MCB


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From William Greene, President of RightMarch and Randall Terry, President of Society of Truth and Justice:

1) Governor Jeb Bush has made several statements the last few days, claiming that he doesn't have the constitutional or statutory authority to take Terri into protective custody.

But as we've mentioned before, we *personally* told his people FACE TO FACE that he DOES have that authority: we had a meeting on March 23 between folks from rightmarch.com (William Greene and our attorney, Larry Klayman) and Governor Bush's chief counsel (his top lawyer on staff). Then we had a meeting on March 24 between our folks (this time, Larry Klayman AND Ambassador Alan Keyes) and Gov. Bush's Chief of Staff.

Both times, we presented information on why the Governor DOES have the authority RIGHT NOW under Florida Law and the Florida constitution to take Terri into protective custody NOW, and save her life.

But Gov. Bush failed to take action. Why? We believe that his staff -- the political cronies that he has surrounded himself with -- have NOT given him the documents we provided. They just smirked and gave us political platitudes, acting like they were doing US some big favor by granting us five minutes of their valuable time. Then they walked off, apparently tossing Dr. Keyes' well-researched documents into the trash when they got back to their spacious corner offices.

These people are more interested in protecting their political careers than saving Terri's life. So it's time for US to turn up the heat on them, and DEMAND that they deliver the documents that Gov. Bush NEEDS -- so he can save Terri Schiavo.

Ambassador Keyes and Larry Klayman are STILL willing to meet with the Governor, or to have a conference call to explain his authority, and his DUTY.

We need EVERYONE READING THIS MESSAGE to call Governor Bush's lead counsel and chief of staff RIGHT AWAY, and tell them to do one simple thing:

"SHOW GOVERNOR BUSH THE DOCUMENTS FROM ALAN KEYES AND LARRY KLAYMAN -- TELL HIM TO EXERCISE HIS CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY, AND TAKE TERRI SCHIAVO INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY RIGHT AWAY."

Call, fax or e-mail now:

Raquel Rodriguez, General Counsel
Office: 850-488-3494
FAX: 850-488-9810
Email: raquel.rodriguez@myflorida.com

William Large, Deputy Chief of Staff
Office: 850-488-5603
FAX: 850-922-4292
Email: william.large@myflorida.com


Also contact Gov. Bush and ask him to read the documents:

Governor Jeb Bush
Office: 850-488-4441
FAX: 850-487-0801
Email: http://capwiz.com/sicminc/mail/?id=9483&type=GV&state=FL

(If you get busy signals, or full mailboxes, or unanswered fax machines, please know that these ARE the correct numbers and addresses. Just keep trying, if you can.)

You can click below to read -- AND USE -- Alan Keyes' documentation that explains to Gov. Jeb Bush that he has the legal authority to save Terri Schiavo...the SAME document that we delivered to Gov. Bush's staff:

http://www.rightmarch.com/media/JudicialReview.doc

2) On Monday, we'll be sending several representatives up to Washington, D.C., to confront House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Congressman Tom DeLay, asking them to explain why they have not enforced the subpoenas issued by Congress to Terri Schiavo.

Our people will also urge Congress to find Florida Probate Judge George Greer in contempt for deliberately IGNORING Terri Schiavo's subpoena.

Call, fax or e-mail Reps. Hastert and DeLay now, urging them to enforce the Congressional subpoenas and to hold Judge Greer in contempt -- and to therefore order the re-insertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube... and ask President Bush to order the Department of Justice to move in to save Terri:

Representative J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
Office: 202-225-2976
FAX: 202-225-0697
Email: http://capwiz.com/sicminc/mail/?id=227&type=CO&state=IL

Representative Tom DeLay (R-TX)
Office: 202-225-5951
FAX: 202-225-5241
Email: http://capwiz.com/sicminc/mail/?id=576&type=CO&state=TX

President George W. Bush
White House: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
Email: http://capwiz.com/sicminc/mail/?id=20004&type=PR

As long as Terri has breath in her body, IT'S NOT TOO LATE to save her from starving to death. Her family hasn't given up hope... so NEITHER SHOULD WE.

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