Bobby Schindler Blasts Bishop Lynch

March 9, 2007
Bishop Robert Lynch
Diocese of Saint Petersburg
6363 9th Avenue North
Saint Petersburg, Florida 33710

Bishop Lynch:

Speaking on behalf of my family, my intention was to write you a letter
subsequent to my sister Terri Schiavo’s death in order to explain to you
why I hold you more accountable for her horrific death than Michael
Schiavo, his attorney, and even the judge that ordered her to die.

In something of a bitter irony, however, it wasn’t until I came across your
recent article in the Tampa Tribune, where your own words succeeded in
saying much of what I wanted to say, that I was finally motivated to
write.

In the opening paragraph of your commentary, “The Homeless Are
Challenge To Our Cities And Our Faith,” you said “The challenge of the
homeless in St. Petersburg has made national news and it has been
embarrassing to many people. I am convinced that both on Judgment
Day and in history, we will most likely be judged not by the things which
we might have considered personally important to ourselves in life but
how we took care of others less fortunate.” A prophetic statement indeed
— and one in complete conformity with the words of our Lord in Matthew
25:31-46.

You then went on to say in the beginning of the next paragraph, “The
faces which may haunt each of us on Judgment Day may well be those of
people who have approached us for assistance and were turned away.”
Bishop Lynch, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Instead of writing a
lengthy letter explaining the hypocrisy of your words, let me just say the
following:

The barbarism and nightmare of Terri’s two week death by thirst and
starvation will be forever seared into my family’s memory. It is
incomprehensible to us that a nation supposedly built on basic Judeo-
Christian principles would allow something so wicked to happen.

That is, until one realizes that just as the Culture of Death made a
triumphal entry into our nation in 1973, via legalized abortion, without
so much as a whimper of protest from those with the God–given
authority to stop it, so now our disabled and elderly are being targeted
for death. The bottom line is, when apostolic grace and responsibility are
abdicated, innocent people die.

Fortunately, my family was provided much needed comfort and strength
by an enormous outpouring of prayers of support, including the
unwavering support of the Holy See, which to this day continues to arrive
for our family.

Even more uplifting are the stories we receive almost daily of how my
sister has, in a special way, touched the hearts and changed the lives of
so many people, not only in our country, but all over the world. So much
so that there are efforts being made by people world-wide to promote
Terri’s cause for beatification.

Terri’s legacy is one of life and love. Sadly, your legacy will be that of the
shepherd that stood silently by as one of his innocent disabled lambs
was slowly and needlessly slaughtered by removing her food and water —
while you persistently ignored the cries of her family for help (“her family”
being the ones who merely wanted to care for her.)

You should not need to be reminded of the many passages of Scripture
that condemn the shepherds that “pasture themselves on their sheep,” or
Christ’s admonition to St. Peter to “feed My lambs,” etc. As my family and
I dedicate the remainder of our lives to saving other innocent lambs
targeted by the Death Culture, I beg the Lord to spare us another
successor of the apostles who would exhibit the same scandalous
inaction and silence by which you remain complicit in my sister’s murder
via euthanasia.

I realize that for the sake of my salvation I must come to a point to at
least want to forgive you, Bishop Lynch, for aiding and giving comfort to
the evildoers who took my sister’s innocent and vulnerable life (and yes,
she was objectively more innocent and more vulnerable than perhaps
any homeless person.) The Catholic Church however, has spoken on
Terri’s case, and she has decreed in favor of Terri’s right to life and
everything our family did to try to save her.

Your behaviors, in contrast, have brought scandal to the Universal
Church and to the faithful, particularly here in Florida. Your indifference
toward the Truth is appalling, but seems to be indicative of the all-tooprevalent
corruption of priestly formation in the 1960’s and 70’s, so
perhaps your culpability is somewhat mitigated. Even so, the fact of my
sister’s murder under your “pastoral care” is a fact you should
acknowledge publicly.

This season of Lent is one well suited to seek public forgiveness and
make public reparation for public scandal.

At least until that happens, I regret that I must remain, as you said, the
face that haunts you as someone that did approach you for assistance
and was turned away.

May God have mercy on you, and may my holy sister Terri pray for us
all.

Sincerely,
Bobby Schindler

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