In the bible it says that we should treat each other as we would want to be treated, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” Matthew 22:34-40. This would give the impression that if you did not want to die, why should others you have the right to kill anyone else? Catholics would see that helping someone in the act of killing themselves would be destroying what god has put together.
“If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person,” Corinthians 3:16-17. This is a very powerful quotation, which is saying that if you harm someone (temple), you are harming God. By doing this, God will be annoyed, because in a way you are also destroying him.
Overall, in the Catholics eye’s, the taking of life is wrong. Life is seen as a gift from God, so therefore only he should be able to take it away. Euthanasia is the help of killing someone else, in one-way or another. This is committing murder and illegal in the churches eyes.
A02 What is the Hospice movement and how and why might Christians support it?
A hospice is a place where people who have a terminal illness are treated until they die. The hospice movement specialises in pain control and the aim is to give people with painful and terminal diseases the best possible quality of life. The staff look after the patients and help them prepare for death. The hospice movement was developed from the concern of Christians that people should be helped to die with dignity.
Catholics believe that deliberately to kill a dying is immoral. The hospices’ duty is to be with them, to offer appropriate physical, emotional and spiritual help in their anxiety and depression, and to communicate through their presence and care that their human beings and the divine presence, support them.
Christians would be able to offer help in the hospice by, talking to patients and letting their last days be as joyful as possible. They could offer care in any way, and preach that God is with them at all times. They should give genuine support even when there are no answers.
AO3 Voluntary Euthanasia should be legalized. Present views for and against.
As Catholics, we believe that most types of Euthanasia are a form of murder. However, some people have different view, but should it be totally legalized?
Some people think that it is their life and they should have the right to do what they want with it. It is wrong to keep a human alive when all their meaning of life has vanished. If they are terminally ill, why shouldn’t they have to right to die? Also why should patients loved ones have to see them look in pain everyday, when all that is needed is some treatment where they can die happily? Certain individuals may be in such a state that they cannot look after themselves. They may not like the fact that they have to get other people to everything for them, every single day of their entire lives. In this situation, people should be able to die with dignity, than live a life not worth living.
On the other hand, life is a gift from God, and that "each individual its steward." This means only God can start a life, and only God should be allowed to end one. An individual who commits suicide is committing sin. God does not send us any experience that we cannot handle. God supports people in suffering. To actively seek an end to one's life would represent a lack of trust in God's promise. Our life is in God’s hands and Euthanasia is taking that away from him and destroying it. Surely, if God felt like it was own time to die, he would in a way he thought suitable.
Overall, I think that Euthanasia is wrong because we should not be able to choose when we die. Life is a very precious gift and should not be thrown away. However, I can see reasons why people commit Euthanasia, I just do not agree with it.
