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.
Abortion
The Roman Catholic church teaches that all human life is sacred and no one has the right to deliberately take an innocent persons life. 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.
| Arguments Against Abortion l 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.l By allowing abortion, society is taking the easy way out. It should concentrate on improving the quality of life in society.l Even in the womb the unborn child has a right not to be killed.l People with the most awful handicaps can lead happy, creative and fulfilled lives. |
Arguments For Abortion l The decision to have an abortion is never easy, but no-one is better suited than the woman concerned to make that decision.l 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.l Every child has the right to be a wanted child. Abortion saves many children from being unwanted and saves society from many problems.l It is more of a trauma to give up a child for adoption than having an abortion. |
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.
Euthanasia
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.
The Church's position on Euthanasia:
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. 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.
The Church's argument against Euthanasia:
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Only God has the right to take life. Suffering has its own value. The moment of death is too important to take out of God’s handsl
Legal Euthanasia would put pressure on the elderly or sick to take the ‘burden’ off their familyLegal Euthanasia would make it all too easy for doctors to save money by getting rid of elderly patients
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The hospice movement has removed the need even to think about euthanasia. People, through palliative (painkilling) care, can die in dignity, free from painl
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
Arguments for Euthanasia:
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It can quickly and humanely end a patient’s sufferingl
Everyone has a right to decide how they should diel
It can help to shorten the grief and suffering of the patients loved ones