Voluntary Euthanasia - A sin against the Holy Spirit?

[Protector]

One of Australia’s State Politicians (Nick McKim of The Greens), has been making moves to introduce a Bill into State Parliament (Tasmania) to make assisted suicide legal in certain cases, e.g. terminal illness where the patient is in severe pain continually. Would this be considered a sin against the Holy Spirit? My own opinion is, “Yes, it would”, but I would value comments from the Forum members. Just as a side issue, that same person recently introduced a Bill for an “in-principle” acceptance of the idea of same-sex marriage.

Protector.

 

[Philotheatoo]

I have copied several wonderful quotes from the Vatican website after searching and reading extensively on the subject. What continued to be stated over and over were the words “until NATURAL death”.

“There is a growing exchange of ideas, but the very words by which key concepts are expressed take on quite different meanings in diverse ideological systems. Finally, man painstakingly searches for a better world, without a corresponding spiritual advancement.”

"Christians are called to be active in the real world of today: uncertain and changing, tempted to sacrifice transcendence to immanence and the supreme values to prosperity, they are also prompted to take refuge in pragmatic and utilitarian conventionalism, rather than to ally themselves with truth and reason. However, our hope is based not only on help from the Lord of life but also on the conviction that the sacred value of human life can be recognized in the natural law alone, written in the human heart, disregard for which is at the root “of a tragic obscuring of the collective conscience” (Evangelium vitae, n. 70).

" The changing of laws must be preceded and accompanied by the changing of mentalities and morals on a vast scale, in an extensive and visible way. In this area the Church will spare no effort nor can she accept negligence or guilty silence" (ibid., n. 6).
We, academicians, fully agreed with the Holy Father’s statement that “there is no reason for that type of defeatist mentality which claims that laws opposed to the right to life - those which legalize abortion, euthanasia, sterilization and methods of family planning opposed to life and the dignity of marriage - are inevitable and now almost a social necessity. On the contrary, they are a seed of corruption for society and its foundations. The civil and moral conscience cannot accept this false inevitability, any more than the idea that war or interethnic extermination is inevitable” (ibid.).

 

[BigFellaMick]

well seeing as the same person/people are also pushing the gay agenda at the same time I would have to say absolutely. It’s hard to deny someone when they are suffering because who wants someone to suffer? Especially themselves or a loved one? But suffering is an act of love by God. It is a cross given us to bear in His honor. It’s not an easy cross and one I pray none have to carry but the reality is God does ask us all to suffer in some way at least once in our lives. It is part of our journey. Of course this is easy for me to say as I have so far been blessed with good health, but I feel the only proper response to the situation of finding yourself terminally ill, is prayer. Avail yourself to any kind of medicine doctors can help give you to prolong your life or to “ease” the passing but to quicken the passing (big distinction there) is suicide. No matter how they pretty up the word. And suicide is a bad thing.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

It is a sin against the fifth commandment, certainly. To say it is a sin against the Holy Spirit would suggest it is an unforgivable sin, which is not true at least for the person committing the murder. Even the person being killed, if they voluntarily chose it, might be forgiven if they repent after the lethal drug is administered (or however it works in a particular case) but before they die. For this reason I would avoid the “sin against the Holy Spirit” language.

 

[Trishie]

It is the sin against the priceless gift of life and self given by God.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding the fifth Commandment of God :
#2277 …Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator…
#2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of “over-zealous” treatment…
#2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable. Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.
#2280…It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.
#2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.

 

[runningdude]

We would have the same hope for a euthanasia victim as we would for an ordinary suicide victim, especially if it were motivated by extreme pain nearing the end of one’s life. Pain and mental distress can detract from the victim’s personal guilt. We have only hope, however, not any proof of salvation.

Euthanasia is insidious, however, in that doctors and nurses who are ordinary charged with providing care and comfort are instead causing death. It turns life savers into murders. It personally endangers their mortal souls, destroys hospital morale, and builds tolerance to death and violence.

 

[St_Francis]

To commit an act for the purpose of causing the death of an innocent person, even oneself, is a grave sin.

To refuse or withdraw extraordinary treatment is not killing someone, but allowing nature to take its course. Nutrition and hydration are ordinary, not extraordinary treatments and cannot be withdrawn unless they are doing more harm than good, as often happens in the course of dying when the organs are shutting down.

A dying person’s pain should be alleviated lest they fall into despair. If the amount of painkiller required to quell the pain is an amount which possibly or even probably will kill the patient, that amount can be given if/since the reason is to alleviate their pain rather than to cause death. That falls under the principle of double effect.

HTH

 

[thistle]

One of Australia’s State Politicians (Nick McKim of The Greens), has been making moves to introduce a Bill into State Parliament (Tasmania) to make assisted suicide legal in certain cases, e.g. terminal illness where the patient is in severe pain continually. Would this be considered a sin against the Holy Spirit? My own opinion is, “Yes, it would”, but I would value comments from the Forum members. Just as a side issue, that same person recently introduced a Bill for an “in-principle” acceptance of the idea of same-sex marriage.

Protector.

Plain and simple. Voluntary Euthanasia is suicide. A grave sin.

 

[Protector]

St Francis;8480208]… If the amount of painkiller required to quell the pain is an amount which possibly or even probably will kill the patient, that amount can be given if/since the reason is to alleviate their pain rather than to cause death. That falls under the principle of double effect.

I catch your drift - rather like saying, “The operation was a success, but the patient died”
It does however, sound like “using the means to justify the end”, and would I feel sure, be open to abuse don’t you agree?

Thank you to all of the posters to my thread. If I’d known that the Church had already put out reams of documentation in regard to the subject of suicide and euthanasia I would have most likely still have posted, if for no other reason than for the benefit of others not so well informed. Just as an interesting aside, I did read somewhere that suicide was considered a criminal offence in the United Kingdom back in the 50’s, but don’t quote me on that because it sounds like a law that could not realistically be enforced. However, I believe that for the purposes of life insurance policies, suicide of the insured voids the policy.

Protector.

 

[Semper_Zelare]

I hate to be crass… but quite frankly I think all people suffering from horribly painful illnesses… all the people who might consider euthanasia should do one thing: look at the latter life of John Paul II.

He chose to suffer. That is what you’re supposed to do. Suffer.

And, in keeping with “do unto others as you would have done unto yourself”. I would choose to suffer. It’s a consequence that we reap from the fall of man.