“We mourn the tragic death of Terri Shiavo. Let’s not make this a precedent for euthanasia, but a rallying call to righteousness and justice as we defend the rights of the unborn, the aged, and the disabled who cannot defend themselves.

“Perhaps protecting the innocent like Terri can be expressed in a new law called the Terri Shiavo Bill. It might just unite those on opposite sides of the ‘culture war.’ We’ve slid down the slippery slope long enough. May Solomons rise up among us who have “an understanding heart to judge…to discern good and evil.” (I Kings 3:9)

Hayes Wicker, President, Florida State Baptist Convention, Naples

“America should be hanging its head in shame because of its complicity in the horrible death of Terri Shiavo, a woman whose body committed no crime. No matter what the laws of our land say about euthanasia, and no matter that America slouches toward a culture of selfishness even in death, God is the ultimate authority over life and death.”

Bobby Welch, President, Southern Baptist Convention, Daytona Beach

“An innocent woman died today. She was starved to death while the courts that are supposed to protect the most basic liberties of its citizens stood by and did nothing. It is a sad day for America and a sad day for people who love righteousness. What happened here was wrong and 10,000 judges standing arm in arm from Clearwater to Washington screaming that this is right will never make it so. It was wrong.”

William Rice, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Clearwater

“This is a sad day for America. It’s a particularly sad day for anyone who is physically or mentally handicapped, or seriously and debilitatingly ill, and those who love them… This was done in spite of the heart-wrenching pleas of Terri’s parents, who have loved and nurtured her throughout her life and have repeatedly volunteered to take over responsibility for her care. It’s really hard for millions of American parents to accept the fact that the judicial system in the United States has told a mom and dad they cannot feed their child.”

Richard Land, President, SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

“Every Florida and federal judge who failed to act to spare this precious woman from the torment she was forced to endure is guilty not only of judicial malfeasance - but of the cold-blooded, cold-hearted extermination of an innocent human life. Terri Shiavo has been executed under the guise of law and mercy, for being guilty of nothing more than the inability to speak for herself.”

James Dobson, Founder, Focus on the Family

“Some have spoken of ‘judicial activism’ or ‘imperial judiciary.’ Either way, the judicial system in America is seriously broken and out of control. Nothing is sacred.”

Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas

“Terri’s life must not end in tragedy. She clung to life for 14 days without food and water. Her life struggle should be the catalyst for legislative reform. Terri Shiavo should make us all more sensitive and eager to protect human life from birth to natural death.”

Mathew Staver, President, Liberty Counsel, Orlando

“It was clear from all who were involved in her case that Terri wanted to live and it is extremely disappointing that the legal and legislative efforts made in the past two weeks did not succeed. This is an extremely difficult time for Bob and Mary Schindler, Terri’s parents, and our prayers are with them and their family at this time.”

Jay Sekulow, Chief counsel, American Center for Law and Justice