Duc in Altum

From the VIS:

The parents of Terri Schiavo met with Renato Cardinal Martino who is president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Bob and Mary Schindler met with the cardinal to express their appreciation for his efforts to help save their daughter who was dehydrated to death in March of this year.

According to a statement released regarding the meeting, the cardinal made reference to Pope Benedict XVI's recent statement that "to kill is not a true freedom, but rather a tyranny that reduces man to slavery". The cardinal added that the Holy Father's statement "not only regards abortion and euthanasia, but also the death penalty, war, terrorism, the destruction or manipulation of human embryos, and extermination through hunger or devastation of the natural environment."

The parents of Ms. Schiavo have once again shown amazing grace in the midst of what must continue to be a devastating time. Their personal thanks to Cardinal Martino illustrates the Christian virtue of love in the midst of sorrow and loss. They have lost their daughter and could well take time off to grieve as surely they have, but they make the effort to thank those who stood by them and worked to save Ms. Schiavo's life. Who is not greatly impressed by this family? If you saw the way that they conducted themselves throughout the final weeks of Ms. Schiavo's life, you cannot fail to be impressed by their grace under tremendous pressure. They are true Christians. Their witness speaks volumes of love overcoming the culture of death. Euthanasia will not be defeated by laws and better judges. Death is destroyed by love, especially love shown in the most difficult situations in which it can be asked of us to give it.