Is the Catholic Church's apostasy the cause of Terri Schiavo's plight?

By Barbara Kralis

On October 15, 2003, I called Cardinal Ratzinger's office in Rome,wishing beyond hope that I could get the CDF behind Terri Schiavo's plight and defend her life with the many wonderful Church teachings.

I spoke to Fr. Jorge (or it could be Fr. George, but for clarification I will refer to him as Fr. Jorge), who said he was the secretary to Cd. Ratzinger, which means he's the under secretary, as Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone is Secretary of the CDF, with Cd. Ratzinger being its Prefect.

I asked Father to advise me about a serious grave matter happening here in the U.S. and he cut me off, saying that it's impossible to discuss these matters over the phone and that I should go to my own bishop. I told him that my group contacted all of the U.S. Bishops and none are willing to take any action. Fr. Jorge said there was nothing Rome could do about problems in the U.S., that it was up to the American Bishops to work things out.

I implored him to let me tell him a little of the life threatening matter regarding Terri Schiavo and he again said he was unable to comment due to the Curia's lack of jurisdiction over the U.S. Bishops.

Once more I implored him to listen to my story and he agreed sorrowfully to listen briefly. I asked if somehow Cardinal Ratzinger and the Pope could intervene on Terri's behalf as the U.S. bishops were turning their back on her impending murder. Fr. Jorge again said that Rome has no jurisdiction, no competence over what goes on in the United States, that it is the matter for Bishop Lynch. I told him Bp. Lynch wasn't doing anything and Fr. Jorge said he was sorry that this was so hard on so many faithful in the U.S. but Rome nor the Pope nor Cd. Ratzinger could tell Bp. Lynch in his See (St. Petersburg, Fla.) what do so about this matter.

Again, I told him that if Rome didn't intervene, Terri would start to die a most horrible death tomorrow. And, again Fr. Jorge said Rome had no control over the U.S. Bishops (he doesn't know how true his words are!). I pleaded that the Pope surely could intervene with a statement that would influence the federal judge, and he said absolutely not. He said he was truly sorrowful and all the consolation he could give me was to pray for a miracle. I was then cut off quickly by Fr. Jorge with the parting words,

"Bye Bye, I must go now. No more discussion on this matter."

What's going on!

The Catholic Church posses the fullness of truth, the complete moral teachings of our age, yet how many hierarchy are willing to use these 'teachings moments' to defend life when the going gets tough. We can thank God for the Magisterium of the Church, for the official teaching office of Peter and 'the bishops in communion with him.' Now, here's the real problem.

Bishop Lynch and many American Bishops, in my experiences, are not in union with Peter. Therein lies the apostasy as predicted by the Blessed Mother at Fatima. Terri Schiavo's plight is only one of the many evil consequences of the apostasy of American Bishops. How many other innocents will surely follow Terri's martyrdom?

The Protestants are very vocal and physically involved in many areas of pro life activities, but because their religions refute, or 'protest,' the full truths of pro life teachings, they can only go so far; then they begin to contradict their own beliefs, they are unable to convince the masses to the truths which they don't possess nor teach, they fail to get to the root of the evils in our culture, and they'll never be capable of making true change.

Because the Protestants seem to be the only voice heard at Terri plight, many people, including uncatechised Catholics, are flocking to the Protestant churches. Catholics are leaving the True Church in great numbers. Our bishops are fiddling while Rome burns. We Catholic laity have our good apostolates (works) cut out for us, perhaps as never before.

© Barbara Kralis