Giant Outstanding Jesus promoter Statue nears Fr. Chris Singer completion receives award in in Mexico, Around the Diocese, page 2 page 4 www.ErieRCD.org BI-WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN OF THE DIOCESE OF ERIE January 22, 2006 Church Calendar Schindler speaks out on Events of the local, American and universal church Collection for church in Latin America — Jan. 21-22 ‘culture One Church, One America is again the theme for the 2006 collection for the church in Latin America. The collection will of be held in many Catholic death’ parishes throughout the United States this weekend. More than Monies from the collection are given as collaborative grants for pilot projects and 650 attend 28th annual pastoral programs initiated by local bishops in Latin America. Most commonly, the funds are Pro-Life Prayer Breakfast used to educate priests, religious and lay pastoral leaders; to assist missionaries and pastoral work- “These are issues that I ers; to train catechists and youth ministers; and By Jason Koshinskie FaithLife editor think will affect all of us at to strengthen the Church’s work with the poor. some point, either ourselves March for Life, Washington — Jan. 23 Bobby Schindler doesn’t or through a family member The March for Life is the collective effort of feel like he or his family did or friend.” grassroots pro-life Americans to assure that our anything extraordinary. Not Many facts were mis- laws protect the right to life of each human for his sister. Not for the represented about his sister, being. An important step is adoption of a manda- pro-life movement. Nothing he said, including connect- Photo by Jason Koshinskie tory human life amendment special at all, really. ing Terri’s case with end-of- Loving brother: Bobby Schindler, brother of euthanasia victim Terri Schiavo, was the keynote to the Constitution of the “We were just trying to life issues and her right-to- speaker at the 28th annual Pro-Life Prayer Breakfast Jan. 7 at the Avalon Hotel in Erie. United States. Such an protect a family member die. amendment would require who couldn’t protect her- “My sister was not written.” ent vegetative state (PVS).” ues the sacredness of human that individuals and society self,” Schindler says. dying,” he said. “We saw in Michael Schiavo testi- Schindler says the trap life. provide protection for the In 2005, Schindler and the autopsy report, my sister fied that during their mar- his family fell into was to “The moment someone right to life of each human being in existence at his family found themselves was a physically very riage Terri verbally indicat- describe Terri as being in diagnosed my sister as PVS, fertilization. It would require that State laws con- thrust into the national healthy young woman of 41 ed that if such a scenario “this so-called persistent she immediately had to form to the Constitution and provide the same media spotlight during their years old and had a healthy would happen, she would vegetative state,” which he prove to the world, to doc- protection. Thus, the Life Principles provide legal fight to save his sister, heart. The reason my sister want a feeding tube added is a completely sub- tors and the courts that she guidance and purpose for the task of the grass- Terri Schiavo. died is her feeding tube was removed and would want to jective diagnosis. He cited a was worthy of life,” he said. roots prolife volunteers in their efforts through an In 1990, Schiavo col- recent British study which “She wasn’t brain dead. We effective education and lobbying program. lapsed at her home and suf- found that PVS is misdiag- don’t deny my sister had fered brain damage. A legal nosed almost 50 percent of — from www.MarchForLife.org brain damage; she had signif- battle between her husband, the time. icant brain damage. We just Day of penance for violations to the dignity of Michael Schiavo, and her “We are now killing peo- wanted to take her home and the human person – Jan. 23 family ensued over whether ple based on criteria that is take care of her.” In all the dioceses of the United States of her feeding tube could be misdiagnosed almost half But based on the America, January 22 (or January 23, when the removed. Her case reached “We have to stop referring to people the time,” he said. “By the advance directive testimony 22nd falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a Florida’s Supreme Court with disabilities as vegetative. It’s time Terri was starved to from Michael Schiavo and particular day of penance for violations to the before a judge ruled that death, we had close to 40 what the Schindler family dignity of the human person committed through Michael Schiavo could dehumanizing, it takes away their doctors’ affidavits on file felt was Terri’s misdiagnosis acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full remove the feeding tube. personhood and it brings about with the court, and all as being in a PVS, Schindler restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to Terri Schiavo, 41, died believed that Terri could be says “they were able to life. The Mass “For Peace and Justice” should be March 31, 2005, 13 days attention to this death movement helped and she was not in a remove my sister’s feeding celebrated with violet vestments as an appropri- after her feeding tube was that devalues the sacredness of PVS. These doctors were tube.” ate liturgical observance for this day. removed. from the best medical insti- The Erie Diocese was — General Instruction of the Roman Missal Schindler, a former human life.” tutions in our country.” well represented at the break- teacher, was the keynote — Bobby Schindler, Terri Schiavo’s brother Describing persons with fast. Fr. Tom Brown, pastor Catholic Schools Week — Jan. 29-Feb. 4 speaker at the 28th annual profound disabilities and of St. Thomas and St. Catholic Schools Week celebrates education that Pro-Life Prayer Breakfast removed and we sat by as die. profound brain damage as Elizabeth parishes in Corry, prepares students for a Christian life. CSW also Jan. 7 at the Avalon Hotel she dehydrated and starved “At that point it became being in a persistent vegeta- gave the invocation. Msgr. celebrates the high standards of excellence and in Erie. More than 650 peo- to death.” written in stone that these tive state leads to a “culture Michael Gaines, chancellor the quality of the education available to all stu- ple attended the breakfast One of the facts rarely were now Terri’s wishes and of death,” Schindler said. of the diocese, and Jean dents in Catholic elementary and secondary while about 100 people and reported, Schindler said, is she wanted to die,” Schindler “We need to stop refer- Kennedy Keck, director of schools across the U.S. Parents are encouraged to a dozen or so vehicles par- that there were 25 national said. “We never believed that. ring to people as being in a Catholic Charities' Parish take full advantage of the benefits of Catholic ticipated in the Erie March disability organizations that But that’s one of the criteria persistent vegetative state,” Social Ministry/Respect Life schools in the Erie Diocese by enrolling their & Motorcade for Life were supporting her. that you need in order to kill he said. “We have to stop Office, also gave remarks. Fr. children in our schools. downtown. The events were “If you listened to the people in this country now. referring to people with dis- Edward Krause, pastor of — from the National Catholic Education Association, sponsored by People For media, my sister wanted to You need an advance direc- abilities as vegetative. It’s Immaculate Conception www.ncea.org Life. die and these were her wish- tive. In my sister’s case, her dehumanizing, it takes away Parish in Erie and professor “There are so many es. The truth of the matter husband said it was her ver- their personhood and it of medical ethics at Gannon Presentation of the Lord – Feb. 2 issues surrounding my sis- is my sister had no living bal wish. You also need to be brings about attention to this University, said the closing This feast occurs 40 days after the birth of Jesus. ter’s case,” Schindler said. will, and there was nothing diagnosed to be in a persist- death movement that deval- prayer. In Luke’s Gospel account, Jesus was wel- Months after hurricanes, Gulf Coast continues to receive local support comed in the temple by two Volunteers lend Catholic Charities USA plan for the newly received Hurricane Katrina’s damage elderly people, contacted the Erie Diocese grants as well as conduct Where do helping hand MISSISSIPPI Simeon and the specifically to help organize disaster response training. donations go? 236,000 widow Anna. parish volunteers and Recently a group from at least 110 They embody with grants, parish social ministry pro- the Erie Diocese visited •Financial support Israel in their patient expectation; they acknowl- cleanup grams. Graham volun- Long Beach, Miss., located •Food edge the infant Jesus as the long-awaited teered. What she found out in the Biloxi Diocese, Jan. 2- •Water Messiah. By Jason Koshinskie when she got there is that 9. The trip, organized by •Counseling – from www.AmericanCatholic.org FaithLife editor recovery efforts are not yet Tabor Lutheran Church in •Housing at the point where they are Kane, included people from •Medical assistance ALABAMA 325,000 Even though months ready to develop parish pro- St. Callistus Parish, Kane; LOUISIANA 2 713,000 FLORIDA have passed since grams.