The Catholic Church also believes that abortion is the last form of contraception. There are other alternatives to abortion including adoption. Adoption allows the child an opportunity to live. This is a decision a woman can make for herself or with help from family members or Pro-life centres. It is possible for both mother and child to live without purposely harming any of them.
As Catholics we believe that God himself became human through Jesus Christ and thereby united every human being, including life in the womb to himself. If we were to carry out abortion and to attack a human life aren’t we in some way attacking God himself.
Although the Catholic Church presents some very good reasons against abortion there are some people who believe that abortion is acceptable in certain cases. They believe that abortion is a personal choice for a woman and a woman only. What gives other people the right to decide what might affect the rest of her life? If a woman is to have the right of freedom then shouldn’t she have control over her own body?
And how can anyone expect a woman to go thorough with pregnancy if the baby was conceived through rape or incest. She would be living with constant reminders of her terrible ordeal causing great emotional pain and suffering.
The abortion of a disabled pre-born child will not only benefit the mother but the child too. Couples who have a mentally or physically handicapped child may face economic hardship due to medications, treatments, surgery, therapy etc. Why should they have to face these personal struggles and pressures?
Although Pro-choice supporters present very good arguments, the Catholic Church still view abortion as an unnecessary procedure that will end a human beings life. This opinion is expressed by many religious figures throughout the years. Mother Theresa once said: “The fate of the unborn child is the fate of the human race. We are all one family and thus when the rights of any part of that family are denied it is of concern to all of us”
Another procedure the Catholic Church is firmly against is the act of euthanasia. This is the intentional killing of a patient, usually someone who is incurably ill and in great pain. Catholics believe that it is wrong, unacceptable and sinful. The strong argument that the Catholic Church presents once again is “Only God can give life and only God has the right to take it away,” Although this is only one of many.
They believe that any form of suicide is devasting for the people who are left behind, who loved the person who has decided that his or her life is no longer worth living. Think of the children especially.
Many people who are diagnosed terminally ill recover from their illness. It is also impossible for a doctor to state the exact life expectancy of a patient. Somebody could be given only months to live and survive for years. There are also pain-killing drugs that can help end a patients suffering without ending their life. This lets the patient die with respect and dignity.
Emotional pressures could become too over powering for depressed patients. They may feel that they are a burden to their loved ones and may choose euthanasia as a result of feeling guilty.
Many people agree with what the Catholic Church has to say but there are people who think that to end a patients suffering is better in the long run. If a person was to endure the appalling agony of the terminal stages of a disease such as cancer, would it not be better for that person and there loved ones to die a far kinder way when he or she wishes without pain and suffering.
What if a person was disabled or handicapped? The person may no longer enjoy life and feel that it is their time to die. Is keeping someone alive against their own will not worse than ending their life?
Lastly, if a person is in a coma or brain dead, then what’s the point in keeping that person alive? He or she is existing more like a vegetable than living a human life. There loved ones are spared the burden of looking after an individual who is not really conscious of what is happening. Maybe if the money spent on them through health workers, nurses, medicine and medical machines, could be more beneficial to someone who could recover to full health.
Abortion and euthanasia are two very highly debated subjects. I believe that no one can give an informed answer unless they are in that situation themselves. No one can make a choice for another person
