The pro-life Church and attitudes to dangerous things like motorcycle riding, mountain climbing and smoking

[FiveLinden]

If I understand your OP however, you were questioning the amount of risk Which is acceptable within Catholic theology and still be in “pro life boundaries?”

Not really. I was asking about whether the Church had ever made a clear stand against activities people choose which lead to early and/or unnecessary deaths, in the same way it does in relation to abortion and euthanasia. So far the answer seems to be, on consensus, ‘not much really because when people do these things they hope death will not result, so the intention is different’. I appreciate that the Church does encourage people to stay safe in all ways but not with the determination that marks the abortion issues.

 

[JanR]

How about sky diving and hang gliding? Haven’t seen those two mentioned. And these experimental aircraft people can build from kits. John Denver died in an accident with one of those.

The late George Bush (father) was sky diving well into his later years. He did it safely every time, as far as I know.

If these activities are done properly, they’re usually pretty safe. Then again, one never knows when something unanticipated can go wrong.

I wouldn’t consider that reckless, unless someone tried it without any prior training or knowledge of equipment, weather conditions, etc.

 

[Beryllos]

How about sky diving and hang gliding? Haven’t seen those two mentioned.

Yeah, we did kinda get off topic. Sorry.

I think there’s is some value in pushing the limits of what’s humanly possible, like climbing Mount Everest before it became an elite tourist destination, or swimming the English Channel, or going to the bottom of the sea.

Maybe the sin is in risk-taking just for the rush, and seeking ever greater risks as another person might seek higher drug highs. The thrill may become like a false god.

 

[27lw]

That’s usually where these discussions end up…

Dare I add alcohol and cannabis to the mix

Whatta ya mean?
I thought cannabis was the great wonder drug, curing all our ills!

 

[ralfyman]

I think, following Nos. 2288 and 2290, the opposite of “extreme” is “reasonable care” and “temperance.”

 

[ralfyman]

I’m guessing, following what was quoted, that “abuse” and “endanger” are the opposite of “reasonable care” and “temperance,” which is why there is logically wriggle room.

 

[whatistrue]

And these experimental aircraft people can build from kits. John Denver died in an accident with one of those.

The experimental aircraft John Denver died in was built by someone else and purchased later by him. According to crash investigators, the most likely cause for the crash was essentially his unfamiliarity with the aircraft, specifically the fuel level indicators and how to switch from one tank to another, exacerbated by a combination of the location of the tank selector and his physical stature. This can happen in any aircraft, experimental or type certificated (built by a commercial manufacturer such as Cessna or Piper for example under a type certificate issued by the FAA). FAA and NTSB studies indicate that the accident rate for amateur-built/homebuilt aircraft is less than 1% higher than the general aviation fleet and is falling. Also keep in mind that “general aviation” does not include military, aerial work (e.g. agriculture, construction, photography, surveying, etc.), or scheduled passenger operations. Short version is that flying in an amateur-built aircraft, especially one built from an established and well-tested kit strictly according to the designer’s instructions is no more dangerous that flying in any comparable type certificated aircraft.

The late George Bush (father) was sky diving well into his later years. He did it safely every time, as far as I know.

At the risk of being flippant, of course it was safe every time - after all he survived all his jumps, didn’t he?

ETA: Also, the John Denver aircraft, a Long-EZ designed by Burt Rutan, was built from plans using materials (primarily fiberglass formed around shaped foam) sourced by the original builder rather than from a kit like the RV series of metal kit planes from Van’s Aircraft.