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Time Running Out for Terri Schiavo; Gas Prices Not Cramping SUV Sales; Pope Misses Holy Week Services Due to Ill Health

Aired March 25, 2005 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Seven days without a feeding tube. Today, Terri Schiavo's parents pray for a miracle in the form of a judge's ruling. We'll have the latest live from Florida.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Also, growing concern across the Middle East. Could terrorist groups have big plans for this Easter weekend? CNN's Barbara Starr is on the story.

O'BRIEN: Plus, gas prices are getting higher, but the cars on the road, they keep getting bigger. Why doesn't anyone seem to care? We've got the Dolans coming up.

PHILLIPS: And then, a quest for justice. We'll take you back to 1965 and the march that changed the course of civil rights history.

From CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips.

O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien. It's Good Friday, March 25, 2005, 1 p.m. in Atlanta, 7 p.m. at the Vatican. CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

PHILLIPS: Well, one side is calling her peaceful. The other says she's being murdered. Terri Schiavo is now contemplating -- or completing, rather, a week without food or water in a Florida hospice. And as she slides closer to death, the legal tug of war over her fate continues.

Right now, we're waiting for another decision after another setback for her parents. Our correspondents are covering all angles of the story for you. Tony Harris is at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, John Zarrella is outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, and Ed Henry is in Tallahassee.

Let's start with you, Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK, Kyra. Well, we've known since about 9 a.m. this morning that the Schindlers were going to appeal the decision of James Whittemore in Tampa here to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. That decision by Judge Whittemore denying the temporary restraining order that would have restored the feeding tube to Terri Schiavo.

The court here in Atlanta was given this notice of appeal just before 10 a.m. this morning. But here we are, shortly after 1 in the afternoon, and we have still not received the official filing from the Schindler's attorney, David Gibbs. We are anxious to get that full filing so that we can sort through it and ferret out some of the new claims that the Schindlers are hoping carry the day today.

The problem is, we've been saying all day here, is that this court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, has said no to the Schindlers and basically the same appeal twice, twice in the same day. First a three-judge battle by a vote of 2-1 and the full court, all 12 members of this court, by a vote of 10-2.

But once the filing gets here, there are a couple of options for this court. First of all, it can deny -- it can decide not to get involved at all. It can also go to a three-judge panel. Ironically, it could ultimately go to the same three-judge panel, judges Wilson, Carnes and Hall, that denied the temporary restraining order on Wednesday morning.

If it happens again today that way, the history from Wednesday tells us that the Schindlers will then file an appeal to the entire court body. But that's getting ahead of ourselves just a bit.

The first thing that needs to happen is the paperwork from the Schindlers. And David Gibbs has to get here to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals for the judges to take any kind of action at all. We're still waiting on it -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And we're waiting, too. Tony Harris outside the courthouse, thanks -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Meanwhile, tension is growing outside the hospice that's been care fog Terri Schiavo, dozens calling for her feed tube to be reinserted camped out outside the facility in Pinellas Park, Florida. And that's where we find CNN's John Zarrella -- John.

ZARRELLA: Miles, those folks, of course, have been here for days and days now, ever since her feeding tube was removed. And now, of course, Terri Schiavo having gone longer than she has ever gone before without that feeding tube. And as we are hearing, she is moving every hour closer and closer to death.

I think it's very interesting to note that the family is really concentrating its efforts now on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, because they had for so long been saying they had hoped the governor of Florida would step in, that the legislature of Florida would step in.

But clearly, that is impossible, it seems, now, the governor saying yesterday he has -- doesn't have the power that everybody thinks he has. So those -- those remarks, those hopes in the 11th Circuit, were echoed today by Terri's father, Bob Schindler.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: Our best hope right now is the appellate court. What's in front of them is very, very -- I can't say how strong it is. And it's important. The legal opinions that we're getting are telling us that this thing should -- the judge's decision last night should be reversed. That's the information we're getting. And we're now hanging and waiting for that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now, on the other side, of course, Michael Schiavo through his attorney, saying that Terri is resting peacefully, and attorney George Felos really saying that it is time now to just let Terri go.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE FELOS, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL SCHIAVO: In this situation, Terri has perhaps a few days remaining. I sincerely hope everyone lets her die in peace. I believe that's what she would have wanted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: At this point, though, things have remained very calm and very peaceful here at the hospice. There are a couple of hundred demonstrators here. We had got word a little while ago there might be another one of these staged or orchestrated arrests where they attempt to go in. They notify police ahead of time they're going to attempt to go in with water to give it to Terri, and then they are, of course, arrested, these people.

But it is very peaceful. They are handling it with the police so that there is no violence, no confrontations. And so far, that's the way it has been here at the hospice -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: John, given all of that, I suspect the authorities are keeping their distance. Is there some concern, as time goes on, though, that emotions might get heated up a little bit and there might be some concern about things becoming a little less peaceful?

ZARRELLA: You know, I'm sure that that is in the back of everyone's mind. There is certainly no indication of that, but if it becomes evident that all is lost in the courts and in every option is totally exhausted, then, certainly, anything is possible.

The police have stayed in the background. There is a presence. It's visible, but it's not as if we have dozens of squad cars here and police wearing armor and bullet proof vests. I mean, there are officers staged here. It is very calm, very peaceful. And that's the way it remains.

But no doubt, Miles, as you say, once all is lost, hope finally goes away in this, if that happens, then that could be a different story -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's John Zarrella at Pinellas Park, thank you -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, the pressure is growing on Florida Governor Bush to take drastic action in this case. A spokesperson for Terri Schiavo's parents says he is only their hope in their call for the state to take the brain-damaged woman into custody.

CNN's Ed Henry joins us live from Tallahassee, Florida.

What's the reality of it, Ed?

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Kyra.

Well, since Governor Bush is a Catholic, protesters today are trying to use the fact that it's Good Friday to appeal to him to try to show mercy and try to save Terri Schiavo's life over this Easter weekend.

In fact, there was a strong religious theme today as a small group of peaceful protesters spent the morning outside the governor's mansion just down the street. They were praying. They were holding signs with some pretty tough talk, things like "Don't be a Pontius Pilate," "Jeb, You Shall Not Murder."

The protesters were led by the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, a spiritual adviser to Terri Schiavo's parents. And Rev. Mahoney grew very agitated when a worker emerged from the mansion to water the governor's plants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. PATRICK MAHONEY, CHRISTIAN DEFENSE COALITION: Governor Bush, please act. Do you see that, brothers and sisters? They're watering the plants at the governor's mansion while Terri is being dehydrated.

Governor Bush, please act. We respect you, sir. Please act on behalf of Terri. If you care enough for the plants in your yard, will you not please care for Terri Schiavo?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: The governor was not home during this protest. He's been in his office behind me all day, working mostly on the Terri Schiavo case, according to staffers, but he's also conducting other routine state business, as well.

An aide said Mr. Bush was disappointed by the latest legal setbacks today. But in the words of this aide the governor is a, quote, "man of deep and abiding faith" who is also described as being hopeful that somehow the appeals process will work. But as John noted earlier, the governor indicated last night he is not planning to take drastic action.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: They're acting on their heart. And I fully appreciate their sentiments and the emotion that go with this. But I cannot go -- and as I've been consistently saying. And I guess you guys haven't been listening and repeating it back, I've consistently said that I can't go beyond what my powers are, and I'm not going to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HENRY: Now, that aide also told me that the governor, basically, all of this is weighing on him, but what he's frustrated by, really, it comes down to the legal setbacks.

He's not upset about the protests. He's not upset about the pressure. He's mostly upset about the fact that this is weighing so heavily on the parents of Terri Schiavo, and he believes he's done just about all he can do, although he's still pursuing every single legal option he can at this point -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ed Henry live from Tallahassee, Florida, thank you -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Many are wondering about Terri Schiavo's condition after a week without food or water. But just like everything else in this case, what she looks like now depends on whom you ask. Both sides spoke to CNN last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUZANNE VITADAMO, TERRI SCHIAVO'S SISTER: I was in there about a half hour ago. And it's very troubling. It's very disturbing for us to go in there. She looks like she came out of a concentration camp. Her face is beginning to sink in, and it's just -- it's very difficult to watch.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Doctors say...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN SCHIAVO, MICHAEL SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: ... seeing her, and the only way how I can describe this is she's peaceful. She's laying there. Sometimes her mouth is agape and you know, she's peaceful. She's not writhing in pain. You know, she's really not too different than I saw her the day -- you know, the day before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Doctors say Terri Schiavo could survive up to two weeks without her feeding tube. The longest it had been disconnected before was six days and five hours.

PHILLIPS: Christians are observing Good Friday. And for the first time in his papacy, Pope John Paul II isn't able to preside over Holy Week services. We're going to have the latest on his condition and the Easter weekend in a live report from Rome.

But first, with rising gas prices, why are so many car makers still offering large models? Ken and Daria Dolan start their engines next.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: This from your Department of Energy, average nationwide price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas today, $2.10. Lowest state: Missouri, $2.04. Highest? No surprise: California, $2.38 there.

Are rising gas prices affecting the way people approach their cars and their car purchases? The Dolans have the answer. Ken and Daria Dolan, a couple...

KEN DOLAN, CO-HOST, "DOLANS UNSCRIPTED": Hey, Miles.

O'BRIEN: ... a couple that have turned everybody's marital spats into a cottage industry, joining us now to tell us about their program.

What have you got?

DARIA DOLAN, CO-HOST, "DOLANS UNSCRIPTED": You, too, could get paid for divorcing.

O'BRIEN: It's a living. All right. Go ahead.

K. DOLAN: Miles, I want to know where I can get $2.10 gas. I just spent -- pulled up to the pump the other day and spent $45 and it the thing went boink at three-quarters.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

K. DOLAN: Why aren't we buying American cars? The price of gas is not at al all-time but it's pretty high. Is it artificially high? The auto industry is a disaster.

O'BRIEN: Let's -- let's -- hey...

D. DOLAN: Would you guys like an answer to the car part? Would you guys like an answer to the car part?

O'BRIEN: Yes. Let's talk cars and then I want to talk about the conspiracy theories on gas.

K. DOLAN: OK.

O'BRIEN: And you went to the New York auto show.

D. DOLAN: I did, indeed.

O'BRIEN: Which is kind of the second fiddle to the Detroit auto show, right, isn't it?

D. DOLAN: I...

K. DOLAN: No.

D. DOLAN: It is not the biggie. You're right.

O'BRIEN: Nonetheless...

D. DOLAN: But for here it is.

O'BRIEN: You still got to kick the tires a little bit. What did you see, Daria?

D. DOLAN: Well, I saw one of the reasons why Americans are not buying American cars, because Detroit has focused on putting out trucks, trucks in the way of real trucks and trucks in the way of SUVs. And America has wanted that.

And so, consequently, we are losing in the sales of cars, which traditionally, because of their smaller size guzzle less gas. We need to revamp what we're doing.

It's really depressing when you stop by the Honda Accord, which is now one of those hybrid cars, and by the Toyota Prias and see mileage like 40 to 60 Miles per gallon on the highways. Are we nuts?

O'BRIEN: Here's what I don't get here. I grew up in Detroit in the '70s. I eventually read the book "The Reckoning" by Halvestom (ph), where -- they where they -- you know, they just didn't get it when prices went up in the '70s, and the Japanese came in and took their markets. Are we seeing a repeat of this?

K. DOLAN: Yes, you are seeing a repeat of it. And you know what you're seeing, Miles O'Brien, my friend? What you are seeing is you are seeing America in the steel industry, you are seeing full -- which is what happened to the steel industry.

You are also seeing full-fare airlines. And the next stop will be the three car makers because they are anachronistic. They are living in the past.

Here's one, Miles. Quickly. Hold on. Why a -- do cars cost so much and why we buy them? How do you believe that the cost of repaying a retiree from Detroit is $2,500 a car? Let's start there.

O'BRIEN: OK. Fair enough, unless you happen to know that retiree, but that's another problem, right? Daria, go ahead.

D. DOLAN: That's a different story. Regarding gas prices, though, and the big threes, addition to the problem with all these big SUVs and off-road vehicles that they've been building and we've been buying, I will go to my grave in the belief that the federal government and Detroit are hand in glove, because they want us, even though we don't have the supply here, to use raw gas...

K. DOLAN: Wrong!

D. DOLAN: Let me finish. Use more gas so that they can continue to collect the taxes on the gas. We start driving less or using fuel- efficient cars...

O'BRIEN: Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

D. DOLAN: ... they don't get tax bucks.

O'BRIEN: If they want more tax money, why don't they raise the gas tax? And wouldn't that solve a lot of problems for our nation?

D. DOLAN: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Wouldn't that force us into those smaller cars, force us into conservation?

D. DOLAN: Which would then lower -- then would lower the gallons that we use, which would lower the amount of taxes they collect.

K. DOLAN: Can I get a word in with you two guys for one darn minute?

O'BRIEN: Yes, you may. Yes.

K. DOLAN: Thank you, Miles. There's 7 1/2 percent more gasoline in stock this week than there was this time last week.

O'BRIEN: Wait, wait. Supply and demand, right?

K. DOLAN: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Prices go down now, right?

K. DOLAN: Yes. But here's the point. Back in 1999 was when we had as much gasoline we had in inventory as we have now, and gas was $1.01 a gallon. Conspiracy theory, that's my opinion.

D. DOLAN: No.

O'BRIEN: So who is doing it? The oil companies?

K. DOLAN: I'm not telling.

D. DOLAN: No, the traders on the floor of the commodity exchanges worldwide. And don't forget, guys, that we had an explosion in a refinery in Texas this week that supplies fully three percent of our use of gas here domestically.

O'BRIEN: Yes. All right.

D. DOLAN: That has added to the problem.

O'BRIEN: All right. So finally, I've got to ask you: what car did you have your eye on while you were there?

D. DOLAN: I'll tell you, if I was in the market for one right now, I'd buy that Prias. It was a hatchback. It was sweet.

K. DOLAN: Well, the problem with America is they want a car big enough to dock. That's the problem. Because we are fat and happy with our gas. And until we get more responsible, Miles O'Brien and other friends watching, until we get more responsible and stop buying gas guzzlers, 1973 will be revisited every 20 years in America.

D. DOLAN: Stick the kids and the dog -- stick the kids and dog in the hatchback. O'BRIEN: All right.

K. DOLAN: Time is up, Daria. Say good-bye to Miles.

O'BRIEN: I'm going to have to get rid of that GMC Zip Code in my driveway. All right, Ken and Daria Dolan. The program, of course, is -- includes this and so much more. Much more on this subject and everything else. Join Ken and Daria for the "DOLANS UNSCRIPTED," 10 a.m. Eastern. At issue, American automobiles, why we don't buy the cars, all that stuff. It's tomorrow and each Saturday morning at 10 Eastern. Marital Spats, Inc., are the Dolans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Next on LIVE FROM, the story of Hugh Finn. Much like the Terri Schiavo case his story is one of a family is torn apart and a spouse forced to make the ultimate decision.

And later, passing the time and counting down the days in Iraq. CNN's Jane Arraf on the long and sometimes difficult journey home.

And coming up Monday on LIVE FROM, a key ruling is expected in the Michael Jackson case. Could past allegations of molestation play a role in the pop star's current legal battle? Both sides weigh in Monday on CNN's LIVE FROM.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Live to Rome now as Good Friday services commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The absence of an ailing Pope John Paul II, it's all being keenly felt today.

CNN's Alessio Vinci joins me live from Rome with more on increasing concern about the pope's condition as he misses the spiritually significant events of Holy Week.

Hi, Alessio.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

Yes, Catholics around the world on this Good Friday commemorate Jesus' pain and suffering in the hours before being crucified. The theme of suffering is taking a whole new dimension here with the suffering of the pope himself in center stage.

The pope has missed all of the events throughout this Holy Week, including this morning in the St. Peter's Basilica, an event he himself usually attends by listening to the confessions of ordinary pilgrims.

And then later today he also will miss the ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica to recall the steps of Jesus on his way to crucifixion. It's the Liturgy of the Passion. And these pictures you can see now of just a few moments ago in St. Peter's square. The -- it was presided over by an American cardinal, James Francis Stafford, who stands in for the pope, unexpected.

And then tonight, for the first time in his papacy, Pope John Paul II unable to travel across town to the coliseum where there will be a procession reenacting Jesus' last moments before dying. That's the Way of the Cross. For the first time, again, the pope not well enough to be able to make that trip.

We do understand from Vatican officials that there will be perhaps a video link established between the Vatican and the coliseum, and the pope may make an appearance so the pilgrims in the coliseum are able to see him. But that is still not confirmed by Vatican officials, who want to leave that option open until the very last moment.

Indeed, the health of the pope is a concern to many Vatican officials. And at this time, they want to keep him as much as possible away from public eye, because they want as much as possible for him to recover as quickly as possible, of course.

Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Alessio, what can you tell us about his condition, if the Vatican is releasing any details, just about how he is moment by moment?

VINCI: Absolutely not, Kyra. We have not heard from the Vatican ever since the pope left the hospital back in mid-March. There's been no medical bulletins, no update.

What we do know is what Vatican officials are telling us on background, and that is that the recovery of the pope is going not as fast and as easy as they had originally anticipated.

But at the same time they also say that there is no cause for alarm, that there are no plans at this point to bring the pope back to the hospital. And those cardinals who have seen the pope in recent days say he is extremely lucid. So listen to what the Vatican is saying, officially the pope is, yes, frail. His health is a concern. But he's recovering, perhaps not as fast as they originally anticipated. But he is on his way to recovery -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Alessio Vinci live from Rome. We'll check in with you also next hour. Thank you -- Miles

O'BRIEN: The Terri Schiavo case isn't the first time a family, of course, has fought over the fate of a loved one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I knew what he wanted, and if I did not do it, nobody would, and he would not have what he wanted.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a murder, because you put him to death.

(END VIDEO CLIP) O'BRIEN: Up next, one Virginia's woman story about her battle to honor her husband's wishes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired March 25, 2005 - 13:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Seven days without a feeding tube. Today, Terri Schiavo's parents pray for a miracle in the form of a judge's ruling. We'll have the latest live from Florida.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Also, growing concern across the Middle East. Could terrorist groups have big plans for this Easter weekend? CNN's Barbara Starr is on the story.

O'BRIEN: Plus, gas prices are getting higher, but the cars on the road, they keep getting bigger. Why doesn't anyone seem to care? We've got the Dolans coming up.

PHILLIPS: And then, a quest for justice. We'll take you back to 1965 and the march that changed the course of civil rights history.

From CNN center in Atlanta, I'm Kyra Phillips.

O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien. It's Good Friday, March 25, 2005, 1 p.m. in Atlanta, 7 p.m. at the Vatican. CNN's LIVE FROM starts right now.

PHILLIPS: Well, one side is calling her peaceful. The other says she's being murdered. Terri Schiavo is now contemplating -- or completing, rather, a week without food or water in a Florida hospice. And as she slides closer to death, the legal tug of war over her fate continues.

Right now, we're waiting for another decision after another setback for her parents. Our correspondents are covering all angles of the story for you. Tony Harris is at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, John Zarrella is outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida, and Ed Henry is in Tallahassee.

Let's start with you, Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK, Kyra. Well, we've known since about 9 a.m. this morning that the Schindlers were going to appeal the decision of James Whittemore in Tampa here to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. That decision by Judge Whittemore denying the temporary restraining order that would have restored the feeding tube to Terri Schiavo.

The court here in Atlanta was given this notice of appeal just before 10 a.m. this morning. But here we are, shortly after 1 in the afternoon, and we have still not received the official filing from the Schindler's attorney, David Gibbs. We are anxious to get that full filing so that we can sort through it and ferret out some of the new claims that the Schindlers are hoping carry the day today.

The problem is, we've been saying all day here, is that this court, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, has said no to the Schindlers and basically the same appeal twice, twice in the same day. First a three-judge battle by a vote of 2-1 and the full court, all 12 members of this court, by a vote of 10-2.

But once the filing gets here, there are a couple of options for this court. First of all, it can deny -- it can decide not to get involved at all. It can also go to a three-judge panel. Ironically, it could ultimately go to the same three-judge panel, judges Wilson, Carnes and Hall, that denied the temporary restraining order on Wednesday morning.

If it happens again today that way, the history from Wednesday tells us that the Schindlers will then file an appeal to the entire court body. But that's getting ahead of ourselves just a bit.

The first thing that needs to happen is the paperwork from the Schindlers. And David Gibbs has to get here to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals for the judges to take any kind of action at all. We're still waiting on it -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And we're waiting, too. Tony Harris outside the courthouse, thanks -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Meanwhile, tension is growing outside the hospice that's been care fog Terri Schiavo, dozens calling for her feed tube to be reinserted camped out outside the facility in Pinellas Park, Florida. And that's where we find CNN's John Zarrella -- John.

ZARRELLA: Miles, those folks, of course, have been here for days and days now, ever since her feeding tube was removed. And now, of course, Terri Schiavo having gone longer than she has ever gone before without that feeding tube. And as we are hearing, she is moving every hour closer and closer to death.

I think it's very interesting to note that the family is really concentrating its efforts now on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, because they had for so long been saying they had hoped the governor of Florida would step in, that the legislature of Florida would step in.

But clearly, that is impossible, it seems, now, the governor saying yesterday he has -- doesn't have the power that everybody thinks he has. So those -- those remarks, those hopes in the 11th Circuit, were echoed today by Terri's father, Bob Schindler.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: Our best hope right now is the appellate court. What's in front of them is very, very -- I can't say how strong it is. And it's important. The legal opinions that we're getting are telling us that this thing should -- the judge's decision last night should be reversed. That's the information we're getting. And we're now hanging and waiting for that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now, on the other side, of course, Michael Schiavo through his attorney, saying that Terri is resting peacefully, and attorney George Felos really saying that it is time now to just let Terri go.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE FELOS, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL SCHIAVO: In this situation, Terri has perhaps a few days remaining. I sincerely hope everyone lets her die in peace. I believe that's what she would have wanted.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: At this point, though, things have remained very calm and very peaceful here at the hospice. There are a couple of hundred demonstrators here. We had got word a little while ago there might be another one of these staged or orchestrated arrests where they attempt to go in. They notify police ahead of time they're going to attempt to go in with water to give it to Terri, and then they are, of course, arrested, these people.

But it is very peaceful. They are handling it with the police so that there is no violence, no confrontations. And so far, that's the way it has been here at the hospice -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: John, given all of that, I suspect the authorities are keeping their distance. Is there some concern, as time goes on, though, that emotions might get heated up a little bit and there might be some concern about things becoming a little less peaceful?

ZARRELLA: You know, I'm sure that that is in the back of everyone's mind. There is certainly no indication of that, but if it becomes evident that all is lost in the courts and in every option is totally exhausted, then, certainly, anything is possible.

The police have stayed in the background. There is a presence. It's visible, but it's not as if we have dozens of squad cars here and police wearing armor and bullet proof vests. I mean, there are officers staged here. It is very calm, very peaceful. And that's the way it remains.

But no doubt, Miles, as you say, once all is lost, hope finally goes away in this, if that happens, then that could be a different story -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's John Zarrella at Pinellas Park, thank you -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, the pressure is growing on Florida Governor Bush to take drastic action in this case. A spokesperson for Terri Schiavo's parents says he is only their hope in their call for the state to take the brain-damaged woman into custody.

CNN's Ed Henry joins us live from Tallahassee, Florida.

What's the reality of it, Ed?

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Kyra.

Well, since Governor Bush is a Catholic, protesters today are trying to use the fact that it's Good Friday to appeal to him to try to show mercy and try to save Terri Schiavo's life over this Easter weekend.

In fact, there was a strong religious theme today as a small group of peaceful protesters spent the morning outside the governor's mansion just down the street. They were praying. They were holding signs with some pretty tough talk, things like "Don't be a Pontius Pilate," "Jeb, You Shall Not Murder."

The protesters were led by the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, a spiritual adviser to Terri Schiavo's parents. And Rev. Mahoney grew very agitated when a worker emerged from the mansion to water the governor's plants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. PATRICK MAHONEY, CHRISTIAN DEFENSE COALITION: Governor Bush, please act. Do you see that, brothers and sisters? They're watering the plants at the governor's mansion while Terri is being dehydrated.

Governor Bush, please act. We respect you, sir. Please act on behalf of Terri. If you care enough for the plants in your yard, will you not please care for Terri Schiavo?

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HENRY: The governor was not home during this protest. He's been in his office behind me all day, working mostly on the Terri Schiavo case, according to staffers, but he's also conducting other routine state business, as well.

An aide said Mr. Bush was disappointed by the latest legal setbacks today. But in the words of this aide the governor is a, quote, "man of deep and abiding faith" who is also described as being hopeful that somehow the appeals process will work. But as John noted earlier, the governor indicated last night he is not planning to take drastic action.

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GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: They're acting on their heart. And I fully appreciate their sentiments and the emotion that go with this. But I cannot go -- and as I've been consistently saying. And I guess you guys haven't been listening and repeating it back, I've consistently said that I can't go beyond what my powers are, and I'm not going to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HENRY: Now, that aide also told me that the governor, basically, all of this is weighing on him, but what he's frustrated by, really, it comes down to the legal setbacks.

He's not upset about the protests. He's not upset about the pressure. He's mostly upset about the fact that this is weighing so heavily on the parents of Terri Schiavo, and he believes he's done just about all he can do, although he's still pursuing every single legal option he can at this point -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ed Henry live from Tallahassee, Florida, thank you -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Many are wondering about Terri Schiavo's condition after a week without food or water. But just like everything else in this case, what she looks like now depends on whom you ask. Both sides spoke to CNN last night.

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SUZANNE VITADAMO, TERRI SCHIAVO'S SISTER: I was in there about a half hour ago. And it's very troubling. It's very disturbing for us to go in there. She looks like she came out of a concentration camp. Her face is beginning to sink in, and it's just -- it's very difficult to watch.

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O'BRIEN: Doctors say...

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BRIAN SCHIAVO, MICHAEL SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: ... seeing her, and the only way how I can describe this is she's peaceful. She's laying there. Sometimes her mouth is agape and you know, she's peaceful. She's not writhing in pain. You know, she's really not too different than I saw her the day -- you know, the day before.

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O'BRIEN: Doctors say Terri Schiavo could survive up to two weeks without her feeding tube. The longest it had been disconnected before was six days and five hours.

PHILLIPS: Christians are observing Good Friday. And for the first time in his papacy, Pope John Paul II isn't able to preside over Holy Week services. We're going to have the latest on his condition and the Easter weekend in a live report from Rome.

But first, with rising gas prices, why are so many car makers still offering large models? Ken and Daria Dolan start their engines next.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: This from your Department of Energy, average nationwide price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas today, $2.10. Lowest state: Missouri, $2.04. Highest? No surprise: California, $2.38 there.

Are rising gas prices affecting the way people approach their cars and their car purchases? The Dolans have the answer. Ken and Daria Dolan, a couple...

KEN DOLAN, CO-HOST, "DOLANS UNSCRIPTED": Hey, Miles.

O'BRIEN: ... a couple that have turned everybody's marital spats into a cottage industry, joining us now to tell us about their program.

What have you got?

DARIA DOLAN, CO-HOST, "DOLANS UNSCRIPTED": You, too, could get paid for divorcing.

O'BRIEN: It's a living. All right. Go ahead.

K. DOLAN: Miles, I want to know where I can get $2.10 gas. I just spent -- pulled up to the pump the other day and spent $45 and it the thing went boink at three-quarters.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

K. DOLAN: Why aren't we buying American cars? The price of gas is not at al all-time but it's pretty high. Is it artificially high? The auto industry is a disaster.

O'BRIEN: Let's -- let's -- hey...

D. DOLAN: Would you guys like an answer to the car part? Would you guys like an answer to the car part?

O'BRIEN: Yes. Let's talk cars and then I want to talk about the conspiracy theories on gas.

K. DOLAN: OK.

O'BRIEN: And you went to the New York auto show.

D. DOLAN: I did, indeed.

O'BRIEN: Which is kind of the second fiddle to the Detroit auto show, right, isn't it?

D. DOLAN: I...

K. DOLAN: No.

D. DOLAN: It is not the biggie. You're right.

O'BRIEN: Nonetheless...

D. DOLAN: But for here it is.

O'BRIEN: You still got to kick the tires a little bit. What did you see, Daria?

D. DOLAN: Well, I saw one of the reasons why Americans are not buying American cars, because Detroit has focused on putting out trucks, trucks in the way of real trucks and trucks in the way of SUVs. And America has wanted that.

And so, consequently, we are losing in the sales of cars, which traditionally, because of their smaller size guzzle less gas. We need to revamp what we're doing.

It's really depressing when you stop by the Honda Accord, which is now one of those hybrid cars, and by the Toyota Prias and see mileage like 40 to 60 Miles per gallon on the highways. Are we nuts?

O'BRIEN: Here's what I don't get here. I grew up in Detroit in the '70s. I eventually read the book "The Reckoning" by Halvestom (ph), where -- they where they -- you know, they just didn't get it when prices went up in the '70s, and the Japanese came in and took their markets. Are we seeing a repeat of this?

K. DOLAN: Yes, you are seeing a repeat of it. And you know what you're seeing, Miles O'Brien, my friend? What you are seeing is you are seeing America in the steel industry, you are seeing full -- which is what happened to the steel industry.

You are also seeing full-fare airlines. And the next stop will be the three car makers because they are anachronistic. They are living in the past.

Here's one, Miles. Quickly. Hold on. Why a -- do cars cost so much and why we buy them? How do you believe that the cost of repaying a retiree from Detroit is $2,500 a car? Let's start there.

O'BRIEN: OK. Fair enough, unless you happen to know that retiree, but that's another problem, right? Daria, go ahead.

D. DOLAN: That's a different story. Regarding gas prices, though, and the big threes, addition to the problem with all these big SUVs and off-road vehicles that they've been building and we've been buying, I will go to my grave in the belief that the federal government and Detroit are hand in glove, because they want us, even though we don't have the supply here, to use raw gas...

K. DOLAN: Wrong!

D. DOLAN: Let me finish. Use more gas so that they can continue to collect the taxes on the gas. We start driving less or using fuel- efficient cars...

O'BRIEN: Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

D. DOLAN: ... they don't get tax bucks.

O'BRIEN: If they want more tax money, why don't they raise the gas tax? And wouldn't that solve a lot of problems for our nation?

D. DOLAN: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Wouldn't that force us into those smaller cars, force us into conservation?

D. DOLAN: Which would then lower -- then would lower the gallons that we use, which would lower the amount of taxes they collect.

K. DOLAN: Can I get a word in with you two guys for one darn minute?

O'BRIEN: Yes, you may. Yes.

K. DOLAN: Thank you, Miles. There's 7 1/2 percent more gasoline in stock this week than there was this time last week.

O'BRIEN: Wait, wait. Supply and demand, right?

K. DOLAN: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Prices go down now, right?

K. DOLAN: Yes. But here's the point. Back in 1999 was when we had as much gasoline we had in inventory as we have now, and gas was $1.01 a gallon. Conspiracy theory, that's my opinion.

D. DOLAN: No.

O'BRIEN: So who is doing it? The oil companies?

K. DOLAN: I'm not telling.

D. DOLAN: No, the traders on the floor of the commodity exchanges worldwide. And don't forget, guys, that we had an explosion in a refinery in Texas this week that supplies fully three percent of our use of gas here domestically.

O'BRIEN: Yes. All right.

D. DOLAN: That has added to the problem.

O'BRIEN: All right. So finally, I've got to ask you: what car did you have your eye on while you were there?

D. DOLAN: I'll tell you, if I was in the market for one right now, I'd buy that Prias. It was a hatchback. It was sweet.

K. DOLAN: Well, the problem with America is they want a car big enough to dock. That's the problem. Because we are fat and happy with our gas. And until we get more responsible, Miles O'Brien and other friends watching, until we get more responsible and stop buying gas guzzlers, 1973 will be revisited every 20 years in America.

D. DOLAN: Stick the kids and the dog -- stick the kids and dog in the hatchback. O'BRIEN: All right.

K. DOLAN: Time is up, Daria. Say good-bye to Miles.

O'BRIEN: I'm going to have to get rid of that GMC Zip Code in my driveway. All right, Ken and Daria Dolan. The program, of course, is -- includes this and so much more. Much more on this subject and everything else. Join Ken and Daria for the "DOLANS UNSCRIPTED," 10 a.m. Eastern. At issue, American automobiles, why we don't buy the cars, all that stuff. It's tomorrow and each Saturday morning at 10 Eastern. Marital Spats, Inc., are the Dolans.

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PHILLIPS (voice-over): Next on LIVE FROM, the story of Hugh Finn. Much like the Terri Schiavo case his story is one of a family is torn apart and a spouse forced to make the ultimate decision.

And later, passing the time and counting down the days in Iraq. CNN's Jane Arraf on the long and sometimes difficult journey home.

And coming up Monday on LIVE FROM, a key ruling is expected in the Michael Jackson case. Could past allegations of molestation play a role in the pop star's current legal battle? Both sides weigh in Monday on CNN's LIVE FROM.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Live to Rome now as Good Friday services commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The absence of an ailing Pope John Paul II, it's all being keenly felt today.

CNN's Alessio Vinci joins me live from Rome with more on increasing concern about the pope's condition as he misses the spiritually significant events of Holy Week.

Hi, Alessio.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.

Yes, Catholics around the world on this Good Friday commemorate Jesus' pain and suffering in the hours before being crucified. The theme of suffering is taking a whole new dimension here with the suffering of the pope himself in center stage.

The pope has missed all of the events throughout this Holy Week, including this morning in the St. Peter's Basilica, an event he himself usually attends by listening to the confessions of ordinary pilgrims.

And then later today he also will miss the ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica to recall the steps of Jesus on his way to crucifixion. It's the Liturgy of the Passion. And these pictures you can see now of just a few moments ago in St. Peter's square. The -- it was presided over by an American cardinal, James Francis Stafford, who stands in for the pope, unexpected.

And then tonight, for the first time in his papacy, Pope John Paul II unable to travel across town to the coliseum where there will be a procession reenacting Jesus' last moments before dying. That's the Way of the Cross. For the first time, again, the pope not well enough to be able to make that trip.

We do understand from Vatican officials that there will be perhaps a video link established between the Vatican and the coliseum, and the pope may make an appearance so the pilgrims in the coliseum are able to see him. But that is still not confirmed by Vatican officials, who want to leave that option open until the very last moment.

Indeed, the health of the pope is a concern to many Vatican officials. And at this time, they want to keep him as much as possible away from public eye, because they want as much as possible for him to recover as quickly as possible, of course.

Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Alessio, what can you tell us about his condition, if the Vatican is releasing any details, just about how he is moment by moment?

VINCI: Absolutely not, Kyra. We have not heard from the Vatican ever since the pope left the hospital back in mid-March. There's been no medical bulletins, no update.

What we do know is what Vatican officials are telling us on background, and that is that the recovery of the pope is going not as fast and as easy as they had originally anticipated.

But at the same time they also say that there is no cause for alarm, that there are no plans at this point to bring the pope back to the hospital. And those cardinals who have seen the pope in recent days say he is extremely lucid. So listen to what the Vatican is saying, officially the pope is, yes, frail. His health is a concern. But he's recovering, perhaps not as fast as they originally anticipated. But he is on his way to recovery -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Alessio Vinci live from Rome. We'll check in with you also next hour. Thank you -- Miles

O'BRIEN: The Terri Schiavo case isn't the first time a family, of course, has fought over the fate of a loved one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I knew what he wanted, and if I did not do it, nobody would, and he would not have what he wanted.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a murder, because you put him to death.

(END VIDEO CLIP) O'BRIEN: Up next, one Virginia's woman story about her battle to honor her husband's wishes.

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