AR: Ave Maria University establishes Schiavo scholarship

[Bleacher Creature]

A story that leaves me at a loss for words. These people are nuts. I just don't know what else I can say. When you look up "batshit crazy" in the dictionary, this should be what you find.
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http://www.detnews.com/2005/schools/0507/09/-241883.htm

Ave Maria University establishes Schiavo scholarship
Associated Press

NAPLES, Fla. -- The fledgling Ave Maria University has established a scholarship in the name of Terri Schiavo for students planning careers in the priesthood, officials announced Friday.

The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Scholarship for pre-theologate students aims "to carry on Terri's name and assist future priests and laypersons in creating and developing a Catholic culture of life," the university said in a statement.

The liberal arts school was founded by Domino's Pizza magnate Thomas Monaghan, a supporter of conservative Catholic causes in Michigan and elsewhere.

<SNIP>

"It's great to have an institution willing to take on something like this," said her father, Bob Schindler. "We feel that Terri was chosen by God to combat evil, and what a fine way to pay tribute to her life."

<SNIP>

And by the way -- it's Papa Johns from here on out!!!

[Bozita]

1. Monaghan's one of the Catholic Taliban

Just another religious extremist with more money than brains.

[democracyindanger]

2. I think Michael Schiavo would have a case

insisting that he owns the rights to his late wife's name and image.

[datasuspect]

3. dominoes is some shit pizza

and the rest of the story is just nuts

[JVS]

4. Is it for students in persistant vegitative states?

[aquart]

5. The priesthood????

[fricasseed_gourmet_rat]

6. As a Catholic I am disgusted

This "culture of life" is so twisted -- it's all about self-elevation, greed, and media attention. I bet the tuitions at Ave Maria will be sky-high and Monaghan will reap the profits. Whatever happened to the religion of Mother Teresa and Dorothy Day? Back then it wasn't about making sure women didn't take the Pill, it was about making sure they had enough food for their children and could find a job.

I'd like to see when Thomas Monaghan has ever contributed to Catholic relief in the Third World. The Church has done so many wonderful things (usually not at the level of the papacy) and people like this are just spoiling its image for the entire world.

(My prediction is that he has a gambling habit and it will surface in a future scandal...)

[Bozita]

8. He spent millions to rebuild a CentAmer church damaged by a mudslide

Gave nothing for the peasants whose homes were gone ... totally gone.

[delete_bush]

7. Even bat shit is sane compared to this group

At least I'm getting to the point where this stuff is more humorous than anything else. The competition on the right to out-Jesus, out-Patriot one another is amazing.

The problem is, they don't have to answer to anyone for their lunacy. They only respond in sophomoric platitudes that makes one want to beat them over the head with a rubber mallet until they offer up a sane response.

I could only respect them if they would agree to sign a living will specifying that if they were to find themselves in the same condition as Terri they would want to be kept alive as long as possible, by any means available. Make it legal, make it public, and I would at least say they are not being hypocritical.

Any guess as to how many takers there would be?

[DemBones DemBones]

9. Suppose John Kerry chose to fund an Andy Stephenson scholarship

at a liberal arts Catholic college. . . Could you stop the Catholic-bashing long enough to appreciate the gesture?

Monaghan is helping future students and honoring Terri Schiavo's memory, both worthy acts. The Terri-should-have-died-sooner mentality here is sickening.

[Bleacher Creature]

10. This is not a "gesture," it's exploitation -- plain and simple.

And I would say that regardless of the religion involved.

If you take a step back from this, what do you have? Someone naming a scholarship after someone who hasn't spoken a word for 15 years, and who before that was as anonymous as anyone walking down the street.

This is nothing at all like deciding to honor someone for their accomplishments. I'll let others get into what Andy Stephenson did since there are many who could do a far better job than me.

I mean, come on. Just look at the name on the scholarship -- it's called the "Terri Schindler-Schiavo Scholarship." That wasn't her name. The crazies just added the Schindler back as a way to side with the parents over the husband.

But to simply jump up and cry Catholic bashing is missing the point, since we all know that there are plenty of Catholics and people of all faiths out there who are horrified by stuff like this.

[DemBones DemBones]

11. Terri Schindler Schiavo is being remembered

as a victim of euthanasia. The courts chose to see her as a "right to die" case despite the fact that the "evidence" that she would have wanted to be inhumanely dehydrated and starved until she died was purely hearsay from her husband, who was ready to re-marry and "move on" with his new family, and from his brother and sister-in-law, who also can't be considered impartial witnesses. Doctors could not determine for sure that she was in a persistent vegetative state until she was dead and an autopsy could be performed.

Many people, particularly those of us with disabilities, don't think it's exactly fair to kill a profoundly disabled person so you can get a better diagnosis of her disabilities at autopsy.

Catholics believe euthanasia is morally wrong, regardless of disability. Terri Schiavo was Catholic, Ave Maria University is a Catholic college, Tom Monaghan is a Catholic. Such memorials to her are to prevent people, Catholics and others, from forgetting what happened to Terri Schiavo and to encourage them to fight against the encroaching acceptance of euthanasia in our society.

As for the name used: any married woman can properly be called by her given name, maiden surname, and husband's surname. The Schindler family fought to keep her alive; that's part of her legacy. She's a symbol with a legacy because of what happened to her, like other victims of various sorts who were "as anonymous as anyone walking down the street" in their lifetimes.

Matthew Shephard was an anonymous gay man, now remembered as a symbolic victim of anti-gay bigotry. James Byrd was an anonymous black man, now remembered as a symbolic victim of anti-black bigotry. Terri Schiavo was an anonymous profoundly disabled woman, now remembered by many as a victim of anti-disabled bigotry and pro-euthanasia propaganda. Others, of course, remember her as a burden on her husband who "should" have died years before she did because she "had no brain."

No liberal was glad when Matthew Shephard or James Byrd died; many cheered when Terri Schiavo died. That's frightening to those of us who are disabled. It should be frightening to anyone who has the sense to see that disability can strike anyone at any time.

[Bleacher Creature]

12. DemBones -- I do respect what you have to say

but in this case, we may have to agree to disagree. It's not that I disagree with anything that you actualy wrote, I just can't bring myself to the belief that the people involved with this have as pure a motive as yourself. Call me cynical, but I just see politics as being the central (and possible sole) motivation behind a lot of these folks. Anyway, that's just my two cents -- so take it for what it's worth.