Matters of Life and Death

 

A. Death and Life after Death

A.1 Catholic Teaching

Catholics, like all Christians, believe that death is the beginning of new life. People die, they believe, into the love of God. This does not mean that catholics are comfortable with death and the suffering and loneliness it brings. They remember that Jesus himself cried out on the cross: ’My God, my God why did you abandon me?’ (Mark 15:34) Catholics pray that those who have died will share the life of God (eternal life) in heaven, in the company of Jesus and the saints.

A.2 Key beliefs:

Purgatory - The belief that there is a place where people are purified before they see God.

Heaven - The happiness of being with God.

Hell - punishment for the damned, totally separation from God.

Communion of saints - Christians believe that all those, past or present, who  are close to God, are close to each other and form a  communion or community.

Saint- A holy person recognised by the church as having a place in heaven because of their service to God and  neighbour

B. The Sanctity of Human life

The Roman Catholic church teaches that all human life is sacred and no one has the right to deliberately take an innocent person’s life. ‘Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church).

C. Abortion

C.1 Key Background

Abortion: 'premature expulsion of the foetus from the womb'.

'Operation to cause this.'

Foetus: 'Scientific name given to an unborn child.

 

In 1990 parliament passed a bill which changed the law on abortion, abortion is permitted only if the mothers health, mental or physical, is in danger. Abortion is not permitted beyond 24 weeks gestation unless the baby is handicapped in which case he or she can be aborted up to birth.

C.2 Catholic Teaching

Catholics believe that the killing of an unborn baby is morally wrong. This teaching is based upon the belief that life begins at the moment of conception, and that the unborn baby has the same right to life as its mother. This applies even if the baby would be born handicapped - all human beings have a right to life.

C.3 Some Arguments Against Abortion

1. Modern science proves that the unborn child is a separate human being from the moment of conception. It is never just a part of his or her mother's body.

2. By allowing abortion, society is taking the easy way out. It should concentrate on improving the quality of life in society.

3. Even in the womb the unborn child has a right not to be killed.

4. People with the most awful handicaps can lead happy, creative and fulfilled lives.

C.4 Arguments For Abortion

1. The decision to have an abortion is never easy, but no-one is better suited than the woman concerned to make that decision.

2. Taking control of your fertility is everyone's right, but there is no such thing as 100% safe and certain contraception, so women still need abortion.

3. Every child has the right to be a wanted child. Abortion saves many children from being unwanted and saves society from many problems.

4. It is more of a trauma to give up a child for adoption than having an abortion.

D. Euthanasia

D.1 Key word

Euthanasia: ‘an action or omission which, either by itself or by intention, causes death’

A person who is usually incurably ill or old is given drugs to end their life. There is ‘voluntary’ and ‘involuntary’ Euthanasia.

D.2 ‘Double effect’

It is acceptable for a doctor can give pain relieving drugs to a patient even if as a ‘side effect’ it hastens their death because the intention is to relieve pain not to kill.

D.3 ‘Due proportion’

If a person is terminally ill or very old and their heart stops beating the church recognises that it might be inappropriate to resuscitate them. This is not the same as deliberately killling the person.

D.4 Catholic teaching against Euthanasia:

1. The Catholic Church teaches that only God has the right to take life. Also, suffering can have its own value: though it may sometimes seem pointless, suffering can be an inspiration to others. Christians also believe that when someone suffers they are sharing in Jesus’ suffering and he suffers with them. The moment of death is too important to take out of God’s hands.

2. Legal Euthanasia would put pressure on the elderly or sick to take the ‘burden’ off their family.

3. Legal Euthanasia would make it all too easy for doctors to save money by getting rid of elderly patients

4. The hospice movement has removed the need even to think about euthanasia. People, through palliative (painkilling) care, can die in dignity, free from pain.

5. Euthanasia can become the ‘thin edge of the wedge’. Once the principle is accepted, he consequence may be horrific; e.g. ‘We can get rid of people with disabilities’.

D.5 Arguments for Euthanasia:

Although Euthanasia is illegal is almost all countries of the world, some people give reasons in favour of it, such as:

It can quickly and humanely end a patient’s suffering

Everyone has a right to decide how they should die

It can help to shorten the grief and suffering of the patients loved ones.

REVISION ACTIVITIES

1. List the arguments for and against Abortion and Euthanasia.

2. Explain Catholic teaching about (1) Life after Death, (2) the Sanctity of Life, (3)Due proportion and Double effect

3. Should a funeral be a happy or sad occasion? Give reasons for your answer.