Roman Catholics believe life must be protected at all cost from the moment of conception, this therefore shows they are against abortion. They also are against euthanasia and argue people should die an easier death – benemortasia this can be done in hospices, the natural death. Roman Catholic beliefs are laid out in the Catechism which firmly says abortion and euthanasia are wrong.
Anglicans believe that life should be protected from conception but in order to save a mothers life abortion is acceptable.
AO2
Abortion is the premature expulsion of the foetus from the womb. This is when a mother chooses to terminate a pregnancy and kill the developing baby when it is in her womb. There are two types of abortion, spontaneous abortion is the natural miscarriage of a baby and induced abortion is the deliberate killing of an unborn child. Anglicans and Catholics hold different views on abortion. The Anglican view is that the life of the foetus isn’t, “entirely sacrosanct” and therefore if it puts the life of the mother at risk then abortion is acceptable. However in all other circumstances the foetus must be especially protected. Yet the Catholic view is that life begins at conception and under no circumstances must it be destroyed. Catholics believe under no circumstances is abortion acceptable.
Euthanasia is an act or omission intended to end another life. It can range from an injection or withdrawal of food. Many people who have terminal illnesses have a poor quality of life and often can’t feed themselves or care for themselves in general. Others can be in a permanent vegetative state, (PVS) this is where someone has problems with their brains and when conscious processes are in active. When people are in either of these states they often turn to mercy killing or euthanasia. However there are protesters to this who believe that as life is sacred no one has the right to intentionally take this away. These people prefer benemortasia which avoids keeping people alive at all cost yet also respects the sanctity of life.
A joint submission from the Church of England, House of Bishops and the Roman Catholic Church’s conference of England and Wales to the House of Lords select committee on medical ethics showed the Anglicans and the Catholic Church believes people should respect the sanctity of life. They teach that ordinary care is compulsory which means Christians owe people in a permanent vegetative state the duty of feeding them, washing them and turning them to prevent bed sores. Anything which is beyond this is classed as extraordinary care which a Catholic is not obliged to do. An example of this is leaving a life support or a respirator. The Catholic Church is totally opposed to euthanasia. The church however does not have anything against the double effect, which is when a doctor prescribes drugs with the intention of killing pain but with the side effect of shortening someone’s life.
Jesus told the Disciples to “go out and spread the good news.” This means to go and teach what he taught in his life. Christians should lead by example. Christians are deeply involved in many registered charities and movements.
SPUC is an example of a Christian charity which offers help whilst ensuring that Christian beliefs are respected. SPUC believes abortion is wrong and that an unborn baby has rights, it firmly believes that abortion is a serious breech of human rights. SPUC also has rigid beliefs about euthanasia. SPUC opposes euthanasia as they feel the deliberate killing is a violation of the right to life. It also classes doctors who enforce euthanasia as killers. Finally SPUC is opposed to euthanasia as by aiding euthanasia it would be assuming the lives of terminally ill people are less than that of others.
The hospice movement started in the middle ages. The hospices looked after the elderly, sick and travellers. The modern hospice movement was started by Irish nuns, sisters of charity. In 1900 five nuns travelled to London to spread their ideas. Cicely Saunders established the St. Christopher’s hospice in London in 1967 this was the first large hospice. Now there are over 2000 hospices. Hospices aim to aid benemortasia which helps terminally ill people have a pleasant death. It also helps people who are not terminally ill but know they do not have a lot of time left to live.
Therefore as we can see in both the actions of SPUC and the formation of the hospice movement, every Christian should respect human life, as it is sacred! So to make agonies of terminally ill easier the hospice movement was started. To offer advice and help SPUC was founded; they give advice on what to do from a Christian perspective.
AO3
“What Christians believe is up to them. They shouldn’t try to make others accept their position.”
Some people would agree with this statement, everybody has a right to free will. Therefore Christians should respect other people’s opinions as they do their own. They should also accept that they shouldn’t pressurise others to accept their position. If Christians cannot decide on a position on an issue then why should other people accept their views on certain issues?
Some people may disagree with the statement, they may say that Jesus said in Johns Gospel: “I am the way the truth and the light.” Therefore Christians should follow his example and they should try and persuade others of Jesus’ example as he also said to his Disciples: “Go forth and teach all nations.” Therefore as Christians become Disciples of Jesus they should also try to persuade people that Jesus teachings should be followed. Finally there is a difference between forcing and persuading, Christians should try and persuade and show their points of view, BUT NOT FORCE!
In Conclusion, I agree that Christians should follow Jesus’ example and do as the church teaches. They should also try and persuade those who want abortion or thinking about aiding euthanasia that it is wrong and it is wrong as it is against what the church says and in turn the teachings of Jesus.
