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s1 {font-kerning: none} span.Apple-tab-span {white-space:pre} “BBC” (2017) states that Euthanasia, also known as assisted suicide, physician-assisted suicide, doctor-assisted dying, and more loosely termed mercy killing, means to take a deliberate action with the express intention of ending a life to relieve intractable suffering. Euthanasia, directly violates the fifth commandment, followed and held sacred to all christians, but also, disregards the Catholic Church’s perspective of the sacredness of human life.
The action strips an individual of their self dignity, and removes their presence on earth unfaithfully. “A physician is given the ability to end an individuals life which overrides God’s absolute sovereignty over life and death” (Glodowska, 2011). Thus, Euthanasia is morally unjust as it limits human freedom, and is hated by the Catholic Church. To begin, according to the Catholic church, euthanasia is foreseen as the murder and suicide of an individual all at once, which is in contrary to moral law. Specifically, despite the gentle intentions one may have before ending the suffering of the ill individual, the action is still unjustifiable. In the Catechism it is stated that “whatever its motives own means, direct Euthanasia consists in putting an end to life… in order to eliminate human suffering, it constitutes a murder which is gravely contrary to the human person” (CCC, 1997, para 2277). Essentially, eliminating human suffering is still in direct violation of the fifth commandment.
“Compassion opens an individual to sharing in the suffering of the other, on the contrary, pity leaves the person in need in isolation and the inability to fend for themselves” (“Moral Principals”, 2017). Moreover, a murder is constituted by intention and action. As stated in an encyclical, “euthanasia is the administering of a drug that will intentionally kill the patient” (Pius, 1947). An individual carrying out the procedure must look to preserve the sacredness of the individual, rather than strip the person of future life, imposed on us by God. A murder is unacceptable in all aspects if life, weather in the context of criminal law, or mercy the deliberate killing of another individual is wrongful and gravely contradicts moral law. Also,it is crucial to deter from commonalities in the modern day ,which may give rise to one justifying the outright murder of one suffering. “People living in this era experience no anxiety about the meaning of advanced old age and death. They also begin to wonder whether they have the right to obtain for themselves or their fellowmen an “easy death,” which would shorten suffering and which seems to them more in harmony with human dignity” (Rosica, 2002).
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As stated in the quote by Rosica, humans believe that mercy killing restores dignity to the one who is suffering’s life, however, it deters the individual from everlasting peace, and interferes with the individual plan God has set out. Overall, euthanasia is non justifiable as it directly contradicts one of the ten words said by God, and interferes with moral law. Moreover, the Catholic Church correctly identifies that the doctor administering euthanasia as overriding gobs absolute sovereignty over mankind. Specifically, ones duty is to look out for and care for those in need, subsequently, it is not to decide weather or not another individual needs to be put to rest. Euthanasia contradicts the civil law directed by the Catholic Church.
Pope John Paul addresses the action and states: As believers, how can we fail to see that abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide are a terrible rejection of God’s gift of life and love? And as believers, how can we fail to feel the duty to surround the sick and those in distress with the warmth of our affection and t he support that will help them always to embrace life? (Pope John Paul II, 1965)Euthanasia contradicts the civil law directed by the Catholic Church, and the values promoted by the diocese within the religion. Also, many excerpts in the bible reflect on the absolute power that only God himself is entitled to possess. A passage reads, “you have the power over life and death; you lead men down to the gates of heaven and back again” (Wisdom 16:13). It is evident that the passage is stressing the idea that God is the creator of all humanity, thus, holds the power to destroy it. The power God holds is beyond human capacity, when man begins to uphold this power it brings dangerous possibilities, such as complications and deterioration of human dignity.
Furthermore, in a sense the doctor administering this detrimental drug, is superseding their equality with the ill individual. God himself, who is above humanity has the right to take away life, not another human. The value of the life is decreased, and it negates god who is the creator of all life, and by presenting us with life, he gratifies himself the exclusive right to take this life away (Glodowska, 2011, para 9). A person playing the role of God, strips an individual of their dignity and overrides their intended abilities and rights as a human, while taking away the true value and responsibility God has for his people. Essentially, a person using a drug to intentionally kill another human is morally wrong as it negates the ultimate power of God. Finally, Euthanasia blatantly violates the moral law and written law revealed by God, and transmitted by the Church.
Throughout Catholicism, laws and rules are presented to live a dignified and morally right life as a true Catholic. One of the most sacred scriptures within Catholicism is the Ten Commandments, in which the laws are the spoken word of God and are expected to be followed. The fifth commandment states “Thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13), and is in complete disrepute when considering Euthanasia.
The Ten Commandments are the spoken words of God, but also written laws that one is expected to follow. Essentially, euthanasia in any form is the killing of an individual which is certainly unjustifiable and morally unaccepted within Catholic tradition. Thomas Rosica (2002) eloquently sates that according to the church the creator made man responsible for his life. A man should not dispute over his life on his own, he should protect it and manage it with diligence and love. God has given each individual the gift of free will. Some take advantage of this freedom by irresponsibly taking care of their body and nit properly dignifying human life. A true representation of respect for God and proper use of freedom is through respect for human life.
Euthanasia disregards all freedom and abuses the gifts God has given us. Although the act of euthanasia is done with pure intentions the action puts the most sacred morals of God in disrepute and therefore cannot be justified. The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (2016) comments on the seriousness of euthanasia, “no one can make an attempt on the life of an innocent person without opposing Gods love for that person, without violating a fundamental light, and without committing a crime of the utmost gravity”. Essentially, the act of euthanasia simply cannot be justified. It is morally wrong and no permitted within the Catholic diocese. Overall, the laws set out by God are the most sacred aspects of catholicism and the eternal law of all life being sacred, is put in complete disrepute when one is put to rest through euthanasia. In essence, any form of euthanasia goes against the common good, and disregards the fundamental values of the catholic church. The killing of an individual is completely contradictory to the undeniable rights all human possess, initially given to us by God.
An alternative to euthanasia that supports the Church views is palliative care. This allows an ill individual to die in utter peace with the absolute dignity that they deserve, God allows the individual to die peacefully and at the most suitable time. Overall, the impact of euthanasia and its effects is best summarized by Saint Teresa of Calcutta ” for me life is the most beautiful gift of God to mankind, therefore people and nations who destroy life by euthanasia are the poorest. I do not say legal or illegal, but I think that no human hand should be raised to kill life, since life is God’s life in us”.
