So..here's a thought

[apromisemade]

Another post led me to contemplate this issue.

Some of you may have heard, a while back, the case of the scizophrenic (I hope I spelled that right) mother, who for one reason or another, stopped taking her medicine. She, consequentially, became psychotic and began hallucinating, and then, tragically, purposefully drowned her young children in the ocean. I forget exactly what they said her logic was, but it was something to the effect of “she thought they were demons and were going to harm her.”

So here’s the question. I can imagine no greater evil than the act of a mother delibrately killing her own kids. But…

Would she be accountable for it in the eyes of God, given her state of mind? Given that she, in her own mind, was utterly convinced she acted in self defense.

That almost begs another question. From a religious perspective, would it be better to put her back on her medicine and get her to a more “normal” state of mind so she could repent of her deed? Or would it almost be kinder to let her stay, more or less, in the state of mind she was in, rather than let her come to her senses and realize what she had done? Provided of course she was in a situation where she couldn’t hurt anyone else.

 

[Eucharisted]

Another post led me to contemplate this issue.

Some of you may have heard, a while back, the case of the scizophrenic (I hope I spelled that right) mother, who for one reason or another, stopped taking her medicine. She, consequentially, became psychotic and began hallucinating, and then, tragically, purposefully drowned her young children in the ocean. I forget exactly what they said her logic was, but it was something to the effect of “she thought they were demons and were going to harm her.”

So here’s the question. I can imagine no greater evil than the act of a mother delibrately killing her own kids. But…

Would she be accountable for it in the eyes of God, given her state of mind? Given that she, in her own mind, was utterly convinced she acted in self defense.

That almost begs another question. From a religious perspective, would it be better to put her back on her medicine and get her to a more “normal” state of mind so she could repent of her deed? Or would it almost be kinder to let her stay, more or less, in the state of mind she was in, rather than let her come to her senses and realize what she had done? Provided of course she was in a situation where she couldn’t hurt anyone else.

The worst evil imaginable is killing God.

Who can fathom the mind of the Lord? No one. Let us, instead, entrust the poor soul to His Mercy and trust in Him.

I’m not a doctor, so I can speculate on someone’s medical condition or what would be best for them.

 

[Wildgraywolf]

The first question for me might be: Was she in control of her faculties when she stopped taking her meds?

 

[Trishie]

The first question for me might be: Was she in control of her faculties when she stopped taking her meds?

I agree that this is the issue. Her culpability lies in the degree of freedom of choice in giving up her medication and remaining off it.
Is she capable of an informed and full choice is stopping them?Have they been effective in giving balance and clarity of reasoning? If she freely gave up the necessary medication she has provided the possibility for wrong action. The same is true of those who take drugs and drink to excess.

But only God really knows how much culpability there is in any person’s choices.