Genesis 1:26-28
They teach you that life is sacred and should not be taken away by humans:
‘You body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.’
1 Corinthians 6:19.
The Roman Catholic Church teaches all Christians that euthanasia is absolutely wrong. However, if the child of a Christian family is dying, the parents believe it is relatively wrong and might consider euthanasia because it is an act of compassion and love. In Catholicism, human life is viewed as a gift from God. Taking away human life is turning ones back on God and not being grateful for God’s gifts. Only God has the ultimate power to give and take away life. When human beings take life decisions in their own hands, we are in great risk of committing very evil sins. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable." The Roman Catholic Church does not accept that human beings have a right to die.
Christian views on euthanasia are as a form of murder. If large doses of painkillers are used to help ease pain and as result of this the person dies, this is considered as double effect and may be permitted. However, Christians believe that doctors shouldn’t use extraordinary treatment to keep the patient alive.
Hospices are health care facilities providing medical care and support services such as counselling to terminally ill persons.
Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the St. Christopher Hospice, has helped many people during her life. She was born in 22nd June 1918. She was educated at Roedean, St Anne’s College, Oxford, St Thomas’s Hospital School, Medical school and at the Nightingale School of Nursing. She began training as a nurse and ended in disappointment in 1944 when she found out she had to give up because of back trouble. In 1947 she switched to medical social work and at the age of 29, she found herself with professional responsibility for a pole that was dying of cancer named David Tasma. She fell in love with David. Soon he died leaving in his will $500 saying ‘I’ll be a window in your Home’. After this incident she wanted to become a doctor and at the age of 33 she began training for that profession. In 1959 she fell in love with another dying patient called Antoni Michniewicz. In 1965, Saunders was made an officer of the British Empire. In 1967 the St. Christopher’s Hospice was founded. In 1980, Saunders bought a picture by Polish artist Marian Bohusz-Szyszko. They fell in love and eventually married. Dame Cicely Saunders died on 14th July 2005. This is a life story with a golden ending.
