Is it a sin to get medical care?

[Catholic90]

So where did it come from, that God allowed it? Some power other than God?

Or, a slightly different take…God has the power to not allow it, but chose to allow it? Isn’t that essentially the same as saying it came from God?

Well, there is that “other” guy downstairs…he puts all sorts of nasties out there.

Choosing to allow it does not mean it came from God.

If my kids come home eating candy before dinner, I did not provide it, but I chose to allow them to continue eating it.

 

[Catholic90]

God may choose to allow this so we learn…or that others may learn.

We can learn much through suffering…patience, trust, empathy, love.

I may allow my kids to eat the candy before dinner. They will learn they aren’t as hungry, and therefore might miss the great dessert I made, because they are full. Suffering…

 

[diggerdomer]

Well, there is that “other” guy downstairs…he puts all sorts of nasties out there.

Choosing to allow it does not mean it came from God.

If my kids come home eating candy before dinner, I did not provide it, but I chose to allow them to continue eating it.

So the Devil (I assume that’s whom you are referring to) can introduce things into our world without God’s acquiescence? Therefore, diseases are evil? How does this cohere with Christian belief of God (and only God) as Creator?

 

[Catholic90]

So the Devil (I assume that’s whom you are referring to) can introduce things into our world without God’s acquiescence? Therefore, diseases are evil? How does this cohere with Christian belief of God (and only God) as Creator?

Diseases are not created. They are when something goes wrong. Cancer, for example, is the uncontrolled growth of cells (sometimes being able to be traced to an obvious cause - ie. smoking, but not always). Other diseases are when neurons misfire, or plaque builds up, or body parts stop functioning as they should. Nothing NEW is being introduced or created…it is the OLD things that are malfunctioning. Some can be traced to human “error”, while others cannot. Sometimes it just happens…cells divide incorrectly, or a chromosome does not split right. Yet, nothing is CREATED.

 

[diggerdomer]

Diseases are not created. They are when something goes wrong. Cancer, for example, is the uncontrolled growth of cells (sometimes being able to be traced to an obvious cause - ie. smoking, but not always). Other diseases are when neurons misfire, or plaque builds up, or body parts stop functioning as they should. Nothing NEW is being introduced or created…it is the OLD things that are malfunctioning. Some can be traced to human “error”, while others cannot. Sometimes it just happens…cells divide incorrectly, or a chromosome does not split right. Yet, nothing is CREATED.

If it “just happens”, is that due to the design God put in place, or some other influence that is not of God?

 

[pipper]

So the Devil (I assume that’s whom you are referring to) can introduce things into our world without God’s acquiescence? Therefore, diseases are evil? How does this cohere with Christian belief of God (and only God) as Creator?

But God also created the micro-organisms that make us ill. Does that make God evil?

 

[Catholic90]

If it “just happens”, is that due to the design God put in place, or some other influence that is not of God?

It is due to our FALLEN STATE. Sin is in this world.

But God also created the micro-organisms that make us ill. Does that make God evil?

God also created the microorganisms that keep us healthy!! He also gave us common sense and intelligence to prevent or lessen the chances of contracting these microorganisms (ie. the aversion to eating feces or bloody meat). He also created us with amazing immune systems that “learn” to fight known microorganisms if the body has seen them before. It is quite amazing, if you study immunology.

However, again, we live in a fallen world. Illness is all a result of that.

 

[LindyLou]

Here’s a good story from a homily I heard a while ago. I may get some points wrong but here’s the most I can share.

A man is dying. He prays that his life is spared. He has such strong faith that he truly believes God will let him live. One day a doctor comes in and asks if the patient wants to try this treatment. The man refuses because he is expecting a miracle. He eventually dies. He goes to heaven and tells God “thanks for everything, but why did you not help me at that time?” God answers “I did, do you not remember that treatment you were asked to try?” The man goes “Oh.”

I bet this story was for another reason, but the point that God can work in any way is true to your question.

Everyone, please argue if I am wrong.

You are not wrong and I have heard that before. God also gave us free will

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

That’s a very good story…but what if it’s God that gives you the ailments? and it indicates how long you will live? This is something we will never know.

I apologize that I have no answer to that question.

God Bless

There is a very good answer to that question.

I God has given the aliments and they are to indicate how long you will live then the treatment for those aliments will not work. Or do you believe that God can not do that?

But I do not believe that God would inflict such aliments on a person to shorten their life.

Disease is an evil, not a moral evil but an is known of as an evil becuase it is not what God had intended for our bodies. Disease entered the world though Sin, if Adam and Eve had not sinned then there would be no Disease. Our perfect, glorified bodies, will not suffer from any aliments.

 

[Mattapoisett64]

Getting beyond how bizzare and un-Catholic I think the original question is, it would seem to me that there are several serious sins involved in NOT getting medical care:

– The sin of presumption (“Jesus will do a miracle on demand and heal me”)

– A sin against the 5th commandment (Deliberately endangering our health by ignoring problems, not taking or obtaining needed medications such as for blood pressure)

– A sin against your family and dependents by endangering one’s health and risking your loss to them as a parent and breadwinner.

 

[ProVobis]

Why do you assume the sin of presumption where medical care is refused? Can’t we accept that God gave us life and can take it back anytime? Maybe I can use the argument that perhaps we are defying God by using all this expensive modern gadgetry to extend life by a few months or years when the rest of the body is deteriorating. And must we use up all our family resources to do this?

There are people including me that just don’t trust the medical profession, who hate doctor’s offices and hospitals. Does that make us evil?

 

[Catholic90]

Why do you assume the sin of presumption where medical care is refused? Can’t we accept that God gave us life and can take it back anytime? Maybe I can use the argument that perhaps we are defying God by using all this expensive modern gadgetry to extend life by a few months or years when the rest of the body is deteriorating. And must we use up all our family resources to do this?

There are people including me that just don’t trust the medical profession, who hate doctor’s offices and hospitals. Does that make us evil?

Do you really think that if God wanted us NOW that he would allow the “expensive modern gadgetry” to keep us here longer than HE wanted?? I think if God wanted us NOW, He would get us NOW, whether we were hooked up to life support at Mayo Clinic or lying in a gutter in Africa.

Personally, I find doctor’s offices and hospitals fascinating places…I have often thought I should have gone into medicine…I did earn a degree in biology in colllege.

 

[LilyM]

Why did Jesus heal illnesses if we are all supposed to merely suffer?

Allowing one’s own death when one has effective means to preserve one’s life is (absent very specific exceptions which Church teaching goes into in great detail) equivalent morally to suicide or euthanasia.

Take the words of Sirach (Chapter 38) to heart -

"Hold the physician in honor, for he is essential to you, and God it was who established his profession. From God the doctor has his wisdom, and the king provides for his sustenance. His knowledge makes the doctor distinguished, and gives him access to those in authority.

God endows men with the knowledge to glory in his mighty works, through which the doctor eases pain and the druggist prepares his medicines; Thus God’s creative work continues without cease in its efficacy on the surface of the earth.

Then give the doctor his place lest he leave; for you need him too. There are times that give him an advantage, and he too beseeches God That his diagnosis may be correct and his treatment bring about a cure.

He who is a sinner toward his Maker will be defiant toward the doctor."

 

[CherishNY]

Do you really think that if God wanted us NOW that he would allow the “expensive modern gadgetry” to keep us here longer than HE wanted?? I think if God wanted us NOW, He would get us NOW, whether we were hooked up to life support at Mayo Clinic or lying in a gutter in Africa.

Well, if we were hooked up to life support, having air forced into our lungs, aren’t we keeping Jesus from taking us? There are people who are on life support for years on end that will never regain consciousness.

 

[RoryMcKenzie56]

Why did Jesus heal illnesses if we are all supposed to merely suffer?

Allowing one’s own death when one has effective means to preserve one’s life is (absent very specific exceptions which Church teaching goes into in great detail) equivalent morally to suicide or euthanasia.

Take the words of Sirach (Chapter 38) to heart -

"Hold the physician in honor, for he is essential to you, and God it was who established his profession. From God the doctor has his wisdom, and the king provides for his sustenance. His knowledge makes the doctor distinguished, and gives him access to those in authority.

God endows men with the knowledge to glory in his mighty works, through which the doctor eases pain and the druggist prepares his medicines; Thus God’s creative work continues without cease in its efficacy on the surface of the earth.

Then give the doctor his place lest he leave; for you need him too. There are times that give him an advantage, and he too beseeches God That his diagnosis may be correct and his treatment bring about a cure.

He who is a sinner toward his Maker will be defiant toward the doctor."

That’s pretty powerful and conclusive. I had already mentioned the “beloved physician” who wrote the Gospel and the Book of Acts. Would St. Paul have referred to the “beloved physician” if it is “a sin to seek medical care”? In consideration of the history of the Church, with saints who established medical facilities, the expansion of Catholic hospitals, and the biblical record, I think one could go so far as to say it is heretical for a Catholic to say that it is a sin to seek medical care.

Iin light of what has been brought forward it seems that it might be sinful in many circumstances to refuse medical care.

 

[Catholic90]

Well, if we were hooked up to life support, having air forced into our lungs, aren’t we keeping Jesus from taking us? There are people who are on life support for years on end that will never regain consciousness.

How do YOU know? Who are YOU to say? The fact is, YOU really do NOT KNOW what will happen. This definitely was not true for these people!! See the links. Again, if God REALLY wanted someone, do you think a silly little machine made by men would prevent that?? What arrogance!!

For these people in comas…you have NO IDEA what is going on with them on a spiritual level. Sure, they may not be responding to other humans here on earth, but WHO KNOWS what is going on with them on a spiritual plane! AND, just as important, how is this comatose person affecting and influencing those around him or her? How is that person aiding in those people’s journey’s and development? (I was sick and you visited me…). Or is it simpler to pull the plug, cuz it is “easier” and “less trouble” for US?

nctimes.com/articles/2009/02/16/news/coastal/oceanside/z2c380328ce6aed428825755f007dcc90.txt

lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08052709.html

news.com.au/story/0,27574,24927740-13762,00.html

shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=70942

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4515711.stm

 

[Mattapoisett64]

Why do you assume the sin of presumption where medical care is refused? Can’t we accept that God gave us life and can take it back anytime? Maybe I can use the argument that perhaps we are defying God by using all this expensive modern gadgetry to extend life by a few months or years when the rest of the body is deteriorating. And must we use up all our family resources to do this?

There are people including me that just don’t trust the medical profession, who hate doctor’s offices and hospitals. Does that make us evil?

Not trusting the medical profession doesn’t make you evil, although that feeling might have other characterizations. I believe the real issue was the presumptive expectation that “trusting Jesus” could amount to expecting God to perform miracles-on-demand in lieu of reasonable steps to preserve life – as have been recently in the news concerning children whose fundamentalist parents have resorted to prayer instead of doctors, with dead children as a result.

Please note this is not denying God’s power to work miracles. But if one should collapse with a sudden hemorrhage, one could lay on the floor bleeding copiously and decide to pray, or one could call 911 and also pray. And that isn’t evil, either, nor indicative of a lack of faith. The idea that seeking medical care is somehow sinful is twisted beyond words.