When we take care of the vulnerable members of our society we put into practice one of the greatest commandments:
“The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself. There is no other commandment more important than these two.”
Parents show that they love their young child by having them baptised by recognising that their child is a gift form God and that they are willing to introduce their child to the Christian Church. Christian groups also help expectant mums come to terms with having a baby and making sure that the child will be brought into a caring loving family. They also offer support for those who wish their child to be adopted for various reasons. Pro – life is another Christian organisation that supports life and opposes abortions and euthanasia believing that everybody has the right to live. Hospices where set up by Christians to ensure that people who are dying and very ill can die with dignity away from the hospitals with their friends and family around them in a warm atmosphere compared to the sickliness and uncompassionate feeling of the hospitals. Catholics also practice the sacrament of the Anointing of the sick – cleansing the person form all sin before dying so that they can go to heaven.
Overall, I think that the Catholics are the most concerned for life at the beginning and the end of life because of the teaching; they are the most stringent in their thinking. Most Christians however does show compassion for the vulnerable and this shows that they share the same responsibilities and they understand what responsibilities that they have that God has given us.
Explain the different ways Christians might respond when faced with the issues of abortion and contraception.
The loss of a child before birth can occur naturally but when this loss or death of a baby is induced artificially, it is an unnatural method of miscarriage or procured abortion. It is the termination of the unborn baby in the womb, which can involve an operation to remove the foetus. Abortions in the first 28 weeks where made legal with the passing of the Abortion Act in 1967 in the hope to reduce the number of ‘back-street’ abortionists. 6 million babies have been aborted since 1967. Abortions are legal as long as one of the following circumstances exists and two doctors agree with the fact:
- There is risk to the life of the mother
- There is risk of injury to the mental or physical health to the mother
- The child is at risk from physical or mental abnormalities
- Her existing children are at risk to physical or mental well-being
Most Christians would oppose abortions but they do agree that there are certain instances in which abortions would be accepted as the last resort and where upon an abortion would be the kindest thing to do for the mother and the child. Some Christians like the Protestants believe that life begins at week 14 so therefore the termination of a child before this stage would not be classed as killing an unborn child but the removal of a bundle of cells. Catholics on the other hand are much more firm in their beliefs believing that life begins at conception so this would be murder and the breaking of the sixth commandment.
“Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been wiled for its own sake in the image and the likeness of the living and holy God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
For the people who live by the teachings of the Christian church they must plan their families to ensure that they do not have an unwanted child. For many people this results in contraception. The Catholic Church and many other Christians prohibit all contraceptives. The church teaches that sex before marriage is wrong because sex should only be undertaken in marriage:
“All sexual intercourse in marriage should be natural and open to the possibility of a new human life. The only form of family planning would therefore be the natural method of using the infertile period of the woman. All artificial chemical and physical methods of contraception are rejected by the teaching authority of the church.”
(Anne Burke: Dimensions of Christianity. Summary of Humanae Vitae)
When a couple marry, they take vows to be exclusive to one another, for their marriage to be permanent and for sex to be open to the possibility of children. If a Christian couple are using contraceptives, they are not open to the possibility of children and are therefore not keeping their vows to one another. Christian couples should carefully plan their children using the woman’s infertile period to ensure that a child is brought into a stable loving relationship that can look after the children’s needs.
Other Christian Churches do believe that contraceptives can be used to help the process of sensible family planning they also think that contraceptives can reduce the amount of sexually transmitted diseases and the number of unwanted pregnancies.
Christian must also think about their places in society when they follow the Church’s teaching on abortion and contraception. Could a Christian doctor perform or even agree to a woman having an abortion just for social reasons? Could a Catholic chemist sell the morning after pill or condoms over the counter? These are all questions that we have to ask and we have to learn to respect other people’s opinions on abortions and contraceptives and the way that this affects them in everyday life.
“Christian belief about the sanctity of life is no longer relevant in a modern secular society”
Do you agree? Give reasons.
We must value all life, which has been bestowed upon us by God. We all have the right to life whether this is an unborn baby or terminally ill patients, this life must recognised as sacred and this life whether young or old should be valued and equal.
In the modern world today there are huge increases in abortions, use of contraception, euthanasia, IVF treatment and the fall in church numbers do imply that many people do not value life in the same way. If someone is in great pain and suffering greatly why can they not have their own say in whether or not they wish for their suffering to end. Surely, it is the loving thing to do to make sure that they die peacefully with their family around them or that an unborn child that is not wanted should be terminated rather than live a life of misery?
Many people believe that since our Christian attitudes were written hundreds of years ago for a different society that they cannot be relevant to our society today. We are a modern secular society that recognises the peoples right to choose not be forced to follow ancient Christian commandments so why should life be important to us?
The value attached to human life is still strong and is clear from the number of people who are anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia. This value of life has not changed throughout the ages and we should recognise this fact that although our traditions may be old they do seem increasingly relevant. This can been shown given recent disasters both natural and human inflicted like September 11th 2001 and the Boxing Day Tsunami 2004. These recent events have brought about the importance of life and the need to protect this life. The care for life has been shown with thousands of pounds being donated by ordinary citizens.
Our world has technologically evolved over the years and we the consumer has recognised these modern attitudes from science and technology furthermore many people have decided that they would prefer to have careers than look after a child as personal gain form money and the prospect of material wealth comes into whether or not an career driven woman would continue with pregnancy or use contraception.
Many Christians recognise their responsibility for looking after the vulnerable members of our society through looking after the disabled, the terminally ill and helping pregnant mothers look after themselves in preparation for their new life in their lives
Surely we must question the child’s quality of life, if a child is going to be disabled and not be able to look after itself at all not be able to understand or to be able do what a normal child would do in everyday life. Then surely the kindest thing would be to not bring them into the world in the first place. We can also prevent our quality of life being poor when we become ill, when we are healthy we can sign a living will which would mean that doctors could decide not to treat you any more.
Christians disagree with the living will because they believe that the sanctity of life is being destroyed and that we are in danger of not trusting our doctors.
By looking at the arguments given I think that we must also recognise that all people have the right to choose and in the modern world, which is rife with conflict, we should be able to express our own opinions and carry out actions as we see fit whether or not other people agree with them.
Many people believe that since our Christian attitudes were written hundreds of years ago for a different society that they cannot be relevant to our society today. We are a modern secular society that recognises the peoples right to choose not be forced to follow ancient Christian commandments.
