The Roman Catholic Church teaches that all life is sacred. Explain how this teaching influences its attitude towards abortion and euthanasia showing you understand other points of view.

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Abortion and Euthanasia

  1. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that all life is sacred. Explain how this teaching influences its attitude towards abortion and euthanasia showing you understand other points of view.

Throughout its history the Roman Catholic Church has always seen all human life, no matter what stage of development it is at, it is sacred.

God Said “Let us make man in our image, to our likeness. Let them rule over the fish and sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over the wild animals, and over all the creeping things that crawl on the ground” So God created man in his image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-28)

The 5th Commandment states “Thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:1-7)

“God created man in his own image, male and female he created man”

This scriptural reference is the basis upon which followers of Christ base their respect for life.

The fate of Cain who killed his brother Abel in Genesis shows murder is abhorrent to God and against his law. He is marked as forehead and treated as an outcast. In the Psalms the wonder of life is praised. It is seen all life emanates from God.

“Before I was born you made each part of me in secret, while hidden in my mothers womb you watched me grow, from the first moment of life you knew me” (psalm 139)

These are but few of the scripture references from the Old testament that indicate all who follow Gods law should have a profound respect for human life. As Christians, we are called on to be life-giving to all others in what we say and do. In a special way we are called on to respect and protect life, as its sacredness is fundamental to our values and beliefs.

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The churches teaching is based on scriptures and traditions, this tradition of regarding all human life as sacred can be seen to have its roots in scripture.

Abortion

Abortion is “the direct and intentional killing of a child within the womb”

Partial abortion is when the child is unduced then killed, usually after 24 weeks.

In the UK the number of abortions have risen to over 150,000 per year, mostly due to personal connivance.

Euthanasia

Euthanasia is known as “Easy Death” or “Mercy Killing” sometimes if a person is in ...

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