MSNBC Focuses on "Bitterness" of Priest

Priest blasts Schiavo's husband as 'heartless'
Parents' adviser issues bitter denunciation outside hospice

MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 11:45 a.m. ET March 31, 2005

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. - Terri Schiavo’s death Thursday brought immediate and bitter denunciations of her husband, Michael Schiavo, from a priest who was advising the brain-damaged woman’s parents.

Michael Schiavo’s “heartless cruelty” in insisting that his wife’s feeding tube be removed so she would die continued to the end of her life as he refused to let the woman’s parents be with her at the end, said the Rev. Frank Pavone.

Pavone said Mary and Bob Schindler, who had battled Michael Schiavo for years to keep their daughter's feeding tube in place, wanted to be with their daughter when she died. They were with Terri Schiavo until 10 to 15 minutes before her death, but were then asked to leave, Pavone said.

"And so his heartless cruelty continues until this very last moment,” he said.

“This is not only a death, with all the sadness that brings, but this is a killing, and for that we not only grieve that Terri has passed but we grieve that our nation has allowed such an atrocity as this and we pray that it will never happen again,” the priest added.
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Rather than pointing out Fr. Pavone's "bitterness" and his description of Schiavo as "heartless," as though this was somehow uncalled for, perhaps MSNBC should stress the fact that Schiavo refused to allow Terri's family to be with her when she died.

That sounds heartless to me and a completely appropriate characterization of Michael Schiavo.