The Roman Catholic Church also states that ant attempt at ending human life is opposing God’s love for that person. They believe that circumstances such as long illness actually help people to face death, even though it is frightening however the Church believes that when doctors are faced with a patient who is terminally they should either:
* Not give anything with the deliberate intention of killing the patient.
* They may giver pain relief even if it has a side effect of the patients life is shortened, as long as the patient does not become so confused that he or she cannot prepare properly for the death.
The Roman Catholic Church teaching highlights the belief in the sanctity of life as an extremely important teaching and therefore this places the highest value on human life. In their view suffering and pain do not stop life being valuable and it is therefore not a reason for ending life. Therefore the Church believes that people should leave the dying process to God, not to humans who by allowing euthanasia are, for some Roman Catholics devaluing life and making it seem disposable. Instead people should die with dignity and let them be loved unconditionally by God until the end of their earthy life. Therefore the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching opposes euthanasia completely and therefore the Christians from this denomination or followers of this church may respond to euthanasia by following the clear teachings and guidelines set by the Church therefore oppose euthanasia because it is a clear violation of one of the direct commandments that God has sent Christians also euthanasia is opposing God’s love for that person and because God calls for them to preserve their lives as Christians, they believe that euthanasia is wrong.
To add to that, the Salvation Army, whilst a protestant group, also has an absolute views on euthanasia and that it is always wrong. They believe that people do not have the right to choose when they die and only God can make the decision between life and death. The Salvation Army looks at the Bible for their response to euthanasia and the Bible clearly states that the killing or taking away of life is wrong therefore they believe that euthanasia is always wrong because during euthanasia a life is taken away and they see this as killing. The Salvation Army also believe that people should be given compassion to the very end therefore they may encourage their followers or individuals may choose to be actively involved in the hospice movement. Therefore followers of this denomination may respond to the question of euthanasia by following the guidelines of their church and would therefore oppose euthanasia because it is the taking away of life, which the Church is against.
However not all Roman Catholics and Salvation Army followers will follow this view. Some, for example, believe in the Christian teaching of free will. This is the idea that because humans were made separate from God we have the ability to make choices about our lives therefore some Christians would say that we should be able to choose when we die therefore this supports euthanasia because euthanasia makes people able to choose when they and therefore lets humans carry out free will. Also some may support euthanasia because of situation ethics, this is the idea that in some situations the most loving action to do is to allow euthanasia, this follows the great commandment:
“Love your neighbour.”
This is a direct commandment from God so therefore Christians believe they have the responsibility to out upon it and they may do this by allowing somebody who has a terminal illness and is in a lot of pain to be given euthanasia therefore this teaching can be used to support euthanasia because in some situations it can be see that euthanasia is the most loving action in some cases.
A Church that presents a none absolute view on euthanasia are the Quakers. They do not have a definite view. Most Quakers however do support euthanasia:
“it would not be easy deciding to switch off a life support machine, most Quakers would probably feel this might be the right thing to do.”
Some Quakers may believe this because of the Quaker peace testimony. This is a statement that the Quakers believe and from this the Quaker’s believe that they should
“Appeal to the something of God in everybody.”
Quakers can turn to their peace testimony if they are looking for help or support, also when looking for decisions on moral issues they begin to look at “Quaker faith and practice” for help. Some Quakers however oppose euthanasia because they say that because of their peace testimony they do not see violence or the taking of life as a problem solving method therefore because euthanasia is the taking of life it goes against their peace testimony so they see this as wrong. Other Quakers would say that if people for each other, offer proper support and pain relief, euthanasia should not be needed therefore this could be used against euthanasia because euthanasia is not there to give pain control but to end a life therefore ending pain completely. Some Quakers work in the hospice movement, which seeks to care for patients so that the quality of life is maintained as death approaches. Some Quakers hold 'clearness meetings' to prepare themselves and make decisions about how they wish to be treated, when they know that their death is likely.
Some Christians however may respond to the question of euthanasia by supporting groups such as VES (the voluntary euthanasia society.) VES is an organisation, which is campaigning for euthanasia to be made legal in the UK for patients suffering from terminal illnesses. Some Christians may support the work of VES because it incorporates the believe in the teaching of free will, the ability to make choices about our own lives, VES supports this because it is trying to let humans decide and have the right to say when they want to die which is free will. Also it supports the Christian teaching of love. Love is at the heart of Christian ethics so therefore some Christians see it as morally right to act out in a loving way to people, this supports euthanasia because in some cases where the patient has a terminal illness and is in a lot of pain euthanasia is the most loving action to take. Another view that supports this is that of Dr Peter Admiral:
Dr Peter Admiral is a retired anaesthetist for worked in a hospital in Delta where he carried out euthanasia and is now one of the strongest supporters of euthanasia in the Netherlands. He worked with terminally ill cancer patients and gave palliative care to them to try and ease their pain, which he felt was not good enough;
“even with the best palliative care you cannot stop all the suffering.” Euthanasia: The heart of the matter.
Therefore it can be seen that he supported euthanasia because he felt that although there are painkilling drugs they do not stop all the pain and he believes that the most loving action to do is to allow euthanasia. Another view, which supports that of Dr Peter’s, is that of Jane Macdonald, she is a campaigner for VES and is herself suffering from MS, which will lead to her premature death. She believes like Dr Peter Admiral that euthanasia should be allowed because in some cases it is the most loving thing to do when people are suffering from terminal illnesses and she also believes that she should have the choice weather to end her own life when it comes to it to save her having to lose her sense of dignity;
“ Life’s not so bad, and the only thing I fear is the loss off dignity at the end...” Nursing times, 18th November 1998.
From these statements some Christians would say that they clearly show that in some situations euthanasia is the most loving action to be undertaken and so therefore support euthanasia.
On the other hand, Most Christians are against euthanasia and may therefore respond to the question of euthanasia with the hospice. A hospice is a place where people with a terminal illness are treated until the end of their earthly lives. The hospice movement came about in the 1960’s ad specialises in pain control and the aim of the hospice movement is to give pain control and the aim of the hospice is to give people with a painful terminal illness the best possible quality of life. Although many of today’s hospices have a Christian foundation the staff and patients can be of any faith, or none. The hospice also not only looks after the patients disease and controls pain for them but it prepares them for death both physically, mentally, and spiritually. The hospice also aims to give the family of a loved one care, help and guidance through the last part of that loved ones life and after the death of the loved one;
“It is also looking at the emotional and mental pain, family pain and spiritual pain – looking at the patient as a whole person.” Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the hospice movement.
From this Some Christians would say that the hospice is the most loving place for somebody with a terminal illness to be because it takes care of the whole person and prepares the patient and family for the death whereas in euthanasia they might say, no respect is given to the patient and no compassion is given but they are instead made to seem disposable. Therefore a Christian who opposed euthanasia could respond to the to the question of euthanasia by suggesting the hospice.
In conclusive, it can be seen that there are many different views in Christianity about euthanasia and many ways in which a Christian can respond to euthanasia even though euthanasia is not mentioned in the Bible.
