Why should euthanasia be sinful?

[mark_a]

So sorry for your brother.

Just in case no one has made the point yet:

But it troubles me deeply to see pain and suffering

The Catholic Church feels the same way. Check out the CCC 2279.

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.

 

[mlz]

Truth be told, this is a difficult time for you and it is completely understandable. Suffering and pain is so very hard to deal with, suprisingly more difficult to watch and have no “control” as it pains us to see. So…you’re dilema is not really about euthanasia so much as about suffering and pain which must be so difficult for you after the loss of your mother and now brother. I am in prayer for you. I would ask that you insist with the doctors that your brother be medicated to the fullest as to keep him as pain free as is possible. If he is dying he deserves to have whatever pain meds he needs and you must be his advocate!! (so many times family don’t speak up and ask…speak for him!!!) I would do the same for my family as I’m sure you will do (and I’ve asked the same) I’ve been in many hospitals and it amazes me how little is done until the family “speaks up”. So, be a voice for your brother and help this be as comfortable as a time as possible while praying for his soul to be ready for his Lord. I know you will do what you can and want you to know I am praying for you and your brother.

In Him,
mlz

 

[vera_dicere]

The 5th Commandment is not subject to interpretation. The Commandment in Hebrew is clear. It means you must not commit unlawful killing (i.e. murder).

Abortion is lawful.

Euthanasia is lawful in the Netherlands.

So, the morality of killing is based solely on what country you’re in. Abortion in Ireland you’re a murderer, get on a boat for a few hours and arrive in England and suddenly you’re not?

The laws of the OT have passed, we’re under a new covenant, the DP was fine for them then, it is not now. Just ask Troy Davis.

 

[thistle]

Abortion is lawful.

Euthanasia is lawful in the Netherlands.

So, the morality of killing is based solely on what country you’re in. Abortion in Ireland you’re a murderer, get on a boat for a few hours and arrive in England and suddenly you’re not?

The laws of the OT have passed, we’re under a new covenant, the DP was fine for them then, it is not now. Just ask Troy Davis.

Only the old ritual laws have passed. The 10 Commandments are still in full force.

I’m talking about lawful or unlawful with regards to the 10 Commandments and not lawful or unlawful according to a government.
A government does not determine what is lawful or not in the eyes of God and his Church.
Abortion and euthanasia may be legal some countries but they are still unlawful in the eyes of God.

 

[prh546k]

It is very simple.
Euthanasia is murder. Capital punishment is not.
Murder is forbidden by God. Capital punishment is not.

You recently quoted my post and stated the above.

I think you misread my post.

I am opposed to euthanasia and to that end I have an Advanced HealthCare Plan in place which I have discussed in detail with one of my sons who is to act as my advocate and with our local Parish Priest, to ensure that it is in keeping with the teachings of the Church - which I love and respect.

Since reading your posting I have taken one further step and had the ACP reviewed by Father Rod Ward, a Member of the Medical Ethics Committee here in Queensland, who is uniquely qualified firstly as a Medical Practitioner and Secondly as a Late Calling Catholic Priest.

His only comment was that the provision that my ACP covered where I would permit the use of such a high dose of Analgesia to be used that the ***side effect ***of reducing my pain to bearable levels is not necessary in Australia as there are methods of Pain blocking which would not result in the depression of my life systems to the point where as a secondary effect the analgesia would shorten my life. He did offer the comment that I was correct at the time the ACP was drafted and that it is the intent of the delivery - the removal of pain or the act of killing - which is the determining factor. As I am still required to travel to 3th world locations where there use of advanced pain blocking tecniques are not available I have left the provision in place but with the specific provision that it only apply if safer pain reduction is not available. I am not talking of mild pain - I function - and function well each day through the use of Narcotic Pain Relief such as Oxynorm, Oxycontin and Codeine Phosphate each day - and except when I have been hospitalised it (pain) has never stopped me doing my duty to my Church, my Country or my Students. It is something that I accept as part of my life, a life given by My Lord God.

You also made a comment on Capital Punishment that I fail to see as being related to my posting here.

But as you raised it I will expand on my view in this area. I do not believe that the Death Penalty is justified for any “normal” - no matter how loathsome - crime. My one exception is Crimes Against Humanity where a person by way of their accrual of power over the general population- no matter how this power is obtained (by election, birth, coup d’etat et al) enters into a program of direct or indirect genocide. I do not believe that the death penalty is a deterrent to common killers, drug dealers or other low level criminals and it denies the opportunity of the guilty to possibly find the truth of salvation not by loving God but through Gods LOVE. After all he died for ALL our sins - including those of killers and drug dealers who are for the most part to be pitied as well as punished.

As to killing in war. I believe that I have the right to protect my life up to and including taking the life of an attacker. Unfortunately this is not a theoretical stance on my part - I have killed in battle and I pray every day for the forgiveness of those I killed and the repose of their souls and for the easing of the horror I feel at the memory of those acts.

 

[prh546k]

First of all, for most people that live in modern countries, there is no necessity that they suffer unendurable pain while dying. They can (and in MOST cases do) receive adequate pain medication that their suffering is minimal.

But the pain and suffering have nothing to do with why the Church is against euthanasia. Euthanasia does not allow for the possibility of a cure, it is simply putting a human being to death before their time.

Many people have undergone great spiritual conversions while dying of dreaded diseases. Many people have found God, for the first time in their lives, while dying of some dread disease of process.

To kill them, in an attempt to be “merciful” cuts off any chance of this happening. The persons who chose to kill the patient have substituted their choices for Gods. They have, in effect, decided who shall live and who shall die.

I hate to labour a point but this is the point I was attempting to make in my earlier posting - which was seen by some as pro - euthanasia - a stance that I would never take or support. It is for this reason that I have prepared an advavance heatlth care plan and had it put in place - to protect my life when it is in the hand of medical proffessionals who may NOT share my values.