Many Christians believe in the sacredness of life. The word sacred means holy and deserving respect. Therefore sacredness of life means life should be respected, as all life is holy and connected with God. Also considered to be too holy to be changed. And that life should be dedicated to God. This gives Christians a distinctive worldview. This is also a very distinctive outlook on life. This still applies to those nearing the end of their lives and is based on the bible. Christians are equally committed to caring for those people whose lives are diminishing by ill health or old age. The Catechism of the church states that ‘those whose lives are weakened deserve better respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped, to lead lives as normal as possible’. It is in this context that the issue of Euthanasia. The word Euthanasia comes from the Greek words of eu-good and thantos-death. The sacredness of life is portrayed in many bible passages Exodus 20:13 ‘You shall not murder’. Also proverbs 21-44 believe in preserving and supporting life. In the New Testament Jesus demonstrates compassion & concern for those who are dying. Jesus also portrays compassion for threatened groups Mark 10 groups like women, children, poor and the blind. Corinthians 6:18-20 describes our bodies are not our own but gifts from God. Therefore most Christians claim that our time of death is not our choice. Based on these teachings we find that the bible emphasises the sanctity of life. Churches teachings are based on these bible passages The Roman Catholic Church which in paragraph 2277 of the Catechism states whatever its motives and means direct Euthanasia insists in putting an end to lives of handicapped, sick or dying people. This is gravely contrary to the respect to the living god. Church teaching’s encourages basic care, but discounts medical procedures in extraordinary or disproportionate treatment. Tube feeding is considered as basic care. But breathing equipment is considered extraordinary care. In the case of Tony Bland in 1989, Tony was one of victim of the Hillsborough disaster in the football match. The audience stand clasped the crowd fell in a gigantic ball towards the floor. He ended up from the disaster although breathing was unaided he was fed through a tube. The parents wanted to take him off tube feeding because their son had spent four years in a coma. In November 1993 the House of Lords decided that the feeding could be withdrawn. Tony Bland was the 96th victim of the Hillsborough disaster but the 1st precedent to stop tube feeding. The current opinion of the Catholic Church is that tube feeding is basic care the debate still goes on about whether the encourages the sanctity of life.
The Catholics teachings on abortion view are similar. In his declaration on procured abortion in 1974 from Pope Paul VI stated that the tradition of the church has always held human life must be protected from the beginning. In the first century book of the Christian teaching ‘ Teaching of the apostles we can read the following’ you shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb and you shall not murder the infant already born. This teaching appears to be opposite to that of the morals of the Grael. One view is portrayed by this quote they poison the human society and they do more harm to those who practice the, than to those who suffer from the injury. More over they is a supreme dishonour to the creator. The gospel of life John II 1995.
There is however one circumstance to which the catholic church would say that the only time that an abortion is allowable is if the woman’s life was in danger by a cancerous womb. This is based on the principle of double affect. Which is sometimes known as the lesser of two evils. The principle of double affect focuses on the intention of an action and consists of four parts:
- The intention of the action must be morally good e.g. to save the mother’s life.
- Good affect of saving the mother’s life must be intended.
- The good affect must not be the producer by the evil affect.
- There must be a proportionally serious permitting the evil affect.
The church of England are strong believers that the foetus is a God given life and is required to be nurtured, supported & protected. The Church of England believe that abortion is morally a very serious matter, to update that view in the light of changes to the 1967 abortion act introduced through human fertilisation act.
The Methodist church believes that abortion is evil under any circumstances. To be avoided at all costs. If the woman is pregnant she can always give the baby away for adoption but this area will be looked at in AO2.