Ave Maria University Will Hold National Mass for Terri Schiavo’s Day in March
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 25, 2009
Naples, FL (LifeNews.com) — The Florida-based Ave Maria University will hold a national mass in honor of Terri Schiavo on March 31, the day that has been set aside to honor the disabled woman who became an international inspiration. Schiavo was killed on that date when her husband won a court order to take her life.
Terri’s Foundation, the group Terri’s family put together to help disabled people like her, and Priests for Life have come together for the memorial date for Terri.
In conjunction with Terri’s Day, Ave Maria University will host “The National Mass for Terri’s Day” at its Naples campus.
Father Frank Pavone, president of the Catholic pro-life group, will be the main celebrant, along with Father Thomas Euteneuer, the president of Human Life International.
Terri’s brother Bobby Schindler told LifeNews.com on Wednesday that the mass is another way to help his family point out how discrimination against patients like Terri continues.
“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," he said.
"These cases are spreading like a virus and my family is committed to stopping this form of discrimination against people with disabilities,” Schindler noted.
Schindler says it is critical to raise the awareness of the potential threat of hospital "ethics committees" across the country that are seeking to remove food and water even from those who are not terminally ill.
"Indeed, in all but ten states doctors and hospitals have been empowered to disregard advance directives when they call for treatment, food or fluids," he said.
The two groups established the "International Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Terri Schindler Schiavo, and All of Our Vulnerable Brothers and Sisters" (“Terri’s Day”) last year.
Its purpose is to foster education, prayer, and activism regarding discrimination against the disabled, and advocacy for people in situations similar to what Terri and her family faced so that no one will again suffer as she did.
Related web sites:
Terri’s Day – https://www.TerrisDay.org
Terri’s Foundation – https://www.TerrisFight.org
Priests for Life – https://www.priestsforlife.org
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
