Schiavo Receives Easter Rites & Communion as Protests Continue
Terri Schiavo’s supporters stood ground outside of the Woodside Hospice where the disabled – and now starved and dehydrated – woman resides, observing Easter rites and holding solemn ceremonies in remembrance of Christ’s ressurection, Sunday, March 28, 2005.
Terri Schiavo received her last rites and Easter communion – a drop of wine, but no bread – as protestors outside held mass outside of her window.
The Rev. Thaddeus Malanowski held Terri's right hand as he and hospice priest Rev. Joseph Braun placed the droplet on her tongue. Malanowski also anointed her with holy oil, offered a blessing and absolved her of sin, according to the Associaed Press.
"She received the blood of Christ," said Malanowski, who added he could not give her a fleck of bread because her tongue was so dry.
The priest also added that "death is imminent" for the disabled 41-year-old woman whose feeding tube was removed 10 full days earlier.
Meanwhile, protestors vowed to continue fighting for Terri’s life and pledge to go to Washington to let their voices be heard.
"We are Terri's voice. Right now, Terri is fighting for her life," the Rev. Patrick Mahoney shouted Sunday, his face reddening.
But with increasing arrests and a rising tide of violence by supporters, Bobby Schindler, Schiavo’s brother, asked demonstrators to keep their means peaceful.
"We're not going to solve this problem today by getting arrested," Schindler said.
But his plea was not effective, as five people were arrested for attempting to bring in water. One man was arrested before dawn for trying to bring a jug of water to Schiavo. Most of the 75-100 protestors were telling Governor Bush to take custody over Terri and feed her water.
Currently, at least two more appeals are pending by the state and Gov. Bush. However, those challenges are placed before the state 2nd District Court of Appeal, which rejected Bush’s previous efforts in the Terri Schiavo case last year.
Pauline J. Chang
Ecumenical Press
