Bishops’ Official RE: Congress & Terri Schiavo

"Gail Quinn, Executive Director of the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, made the following statement today on the recent Congressional action on Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman at the heart of a controversy over withholding nutrition and hydration from people with cognitive disabilities:

"'We commend the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 1332 on March 16, 2005 and the U.S. Senate for passing S. 653 the following day.'

"'We strongly support legislation to provide Terri Schiavo access to the federal court so she can present her case in federal court,' she said."

(UPDATE - the trial judge disregarded a Congressional subpoena and allowed the tube removal to proceed. Congressional attorneys have filed appeals. Terri's feeding tube has been removed.)