Schiavo-Centonze Marriage At Risk

Some Catholics are calling it premeditated murder.

Many are calling for the removal of St. Petersburg Diocese Bishop Robert N. Lynch for allowing the ceremony to occur in the diocese. It could be the latest scandal in the Catholic church---at least in the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
. . .
In order for the marriage to be valid, the Rev. Robert J. Schneider, pastor of Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, should have taken steps to contact Pope Benedict and had the impediment of crimen dispensed. If he did not do so, he authorized an invalid union which was further exacerbated by sanctioning of church officials.

The church is part of the Diocese of St. Petersburg of which the Most Robert N. Lynch is bishop. Although Lynch was Terri's bishop, he stood by silent while she was forcibly starved to death----after she struggled to declare that she wanted to live. Bishop Lynch issued a statement directly at odds with church teaching that food and water is basic sustenance and cannot be withheld by private choice.

Just days before Terri died last March 31, Lynch left the country. However, he left a statement posted on the Diocese website before Easter in which he didn't seem particularly concerned about the death decree issued and that it was against the official position of the Vatican and the Pope. Lynch's position was contrary to the official Vatican position. Bishop Lynch's position was also directly contrary to "the teaching of the Pope" who had written that food and water is not extraordinary support for life and that it cannot morally be withheld from a dying or incapacitated person.

Scandals would not be new to the St. Petersburg Diocese or to Bishop Robert Lynch. The Diocese has spent more than $1 million in recent years to settle sexual abuse claims. Lynch told the public that all sexual abuse claims have been covered by insurance underwriters or the diocese's insurance reserves.

Bishop Lynch has remained in office after disclosure that the diocese paid $100,000 to a former aide who claimed Lynch had sexually harassed him.
. . .
Despite being Terri's bishop, Lynch never made an appeal for her life and in fact, issued a statement asking the public and Catholics not to castigate Greer for his death position, virtually endorsing Greer's decision to end Terri's life.
http://www.dioceseofstpete.org/news.php?NID=9
June Maxam 1-29-06
© 2005 North Country Gazette

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