I can’t really find words to adequately express my grief at what has happened, but the words of Father Frank Pavone (the National director of Priests for Life) is basically also what I feel, so I will quote him:

“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.”

I believe The Political Teen has a video of him saying this, though it’s in wmv format, and I (w/ Linux) have not been able to view it yet.

Update: (1.55PM ET) I rebooted the computer to my windows side, and have been able to watch the video. Here is a transcript:

David Gibbs (lead attorney for Schindler family): …would never arrive is here. Terri Schiavo has passed, has stepped into eternity, at 9.05 this morning. Bob Schindler, her father, and Mary Schindler, her mother asked for us to let you know that, and that they will be grieving personally today, and that Bob will be speaking on behalf of the family later this afternoon. Bobby Schindler junior (Terri’s brother), Susie, and Father Pavone were with Terri up until 10 minutes before she passed, they had the opportunity to be in the room, to be with her up until that point, and again, while they are heartsick, this is indeed a sad day for the nation, this is a sad day for the family, their faith in God remains consistent and strong. They are absolutely convinced that God loves Terri more then they do, they believe that Terri is now ultimately at peace with God himself, and they intend to comfort themselves with their faith and with their family at this time. We would ask respectfully that the media allows them privacy at there home to grieve as you can imagine as a Mom and Dad. This is a very difficult day.

Reporter: Was Micheal Schiavo with Terri when she died?

David Gibbs: I don’t know. Father Pavone is going to give a very brief statement as well as he was in the room with Bobbie and with Suzanne, and Father, if you’d address.

Father Pavone: Thank you. We were, as David said, in Terri’s room about 10 or 15 minutes before she died, all the prayers of the church were offered for her, and the concern of millions of people around this country was expressed to her in no uncertain terms. She felt the solidarity that all of you who have been praying for her, and writing to the family, and asking what you could do. All of that sacrifice, all of that concern was conveyed to Terri by caresses on her hair, holding of her hand, and praying with her right up until her very last moments. Unfortunately, just 10 or so minutes before she died we were told that we had to leave the room because their would be an assessment of her condition, and then a visitation by Michael. Bobby Schindler, her brother said “we want to be in the room when she dies”, Michael Schiavo said no, you cannot. And so his heartless cruelty continues until this very last moment. At the same time, once she did pass away, we were called back into the room, and at that point only the immediate family was able to go in to give her their final embraces. I stood at the doorway and offered the prayers of the church for those who have just died. As has been said, we will have further comments later in the day, let me just one more thing, that 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. Thank you all.

Reporter: Was Michael in the room when they went in for that last time?

Father Pavone: I did not see him at that point, in fact when I went in, after it was announced that she had died, my first question was “Where’s Michael?”. He was nowhere to be seen.

Reporter: What kind of last embrace was given to Terri

Father Pavone: A embrace with tears and with great grief.

Then lot’s of talk, and questions, as Father Pavone leaves. In the part I can decipher, he tells his name, and in an answer to a reporters question, said that her eyes were open till the last moment he was in.