TAMPA BAY, October 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The parents of Terri Schiavo, the disabled Florida woman who is destined to starve to death after a court ordered the removal of her feeding tube, were able to have a supervised visit with their daughter after her feeding tube was removed. Bob and Mary Schindler visited their daughter accompanied by Rev. Thaddeus Malanowski, a Roman Catholic priest who visits Terri weekly.
The New York Times reports that Father Malanowski took a scrap from a robe worn by Mother Teresa into Terri’s room and blessed her with it. Recalling the fact that Mother Teresa is to be beatified Sunday October 19, the priest noted that to become a canonized saint, Mother Teresa would need to assist in another miracle. Meanwhile, the round-the-clock prayer vigil outside the hospice where Terri lies starving continues. Doctors are disagreeing on whether the starvation of Terri will be painful, and the Schindlers are also concerned that the morphine to be given Terri to combat the starvation pains may be given in doses which will kill her. Otherwise she could live another eight days without food and water. Finally Governor Bush has assured the Schindler’s that he supports them, and has asked his legal team to investigate the possibilities of intervening in the case. Yesterday legal experts from the Thomas More Law Center provided overwhelming evidence that a criminal investigation into the causes of Terri’s disability could be launched. Brian Burch of the Law Center told LifeSite that Governor Bush has the authority to launch the criminal investigation which would call for Terri’s life to be preserved as she is integral to the case. As of Friday afternoon, Bush has maintained that he is still not able to intervene. Bob and Mary Schindler nevertheless remain prayerfully hopeful. See the New York Times coverage: https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/16/national/16FEED.html