Chapter 14

1. Chapter 14 The Fifth Commandment

2. Questions to Ponder • Does God's revelation forbid all killing, or only some types of killing? • What is the meaning of human suffering? • Can the desire to prevent suffering ever justify taking someone's life? • in light of the biblical prohibition against murder can war ever be truly justifiable? • Why does the Church teach that a person's stewardship over his own life does not include the right to end it?

3. Introduction

4. Introductory Thoughts • Life here is preparation for life hereafter • We do NOT have absolute dominion over our lives • Duty –to guard and protect our lives and the lives of others

5. Christianity Rejects… • Autonomy • Heteronomy

6. Christianity Accepts… • Theonomy • The human person can only find the fullness of his being only in union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

7. Section 1 Respect for Human Life

8. The Fifth Commandment • Protects our existence • OT –God is the ONLY owner of life • NT –Sermon on the Mount • Value the dignity of every person • One should be reconciled with their enemies before they speak to God

9. Section 2 Conversation of Existing Life

10. Obligations • The duty to conserve one’s own life • Self-defense • Respect for the life of others • Do not dispose of others • Abortion and the Rights of the unborn • Eugenic abortion • Therapeutic abortion • Psychological/psychosocial • Condemned by the E. Church Fathers (ca A.D. 80) • Excommunication –Code of Canon Law

12. Abortion: The Facts • 64% of women having abortions felt pressured by others • 52% felt rushed and 54% were not sure about the decision at the time, yet 67% received no counseling beforehand • 84% reported that they did not receive adequate counseling •  79% were not informed about available alternatives • 31% of women suffered health complications after abortion 10% suffer immediate complications, one-fifth of which are life-threatening • Women have a 65% higher risk of clinical depression after abortion compared to women who give birth • Death rates from all causes are 3.5 times higher among women who abort, compared to women who give birth • 60% said "part of me died." according to a survey of women who aborted

14. Error of Pro-Choice Catholics • Refuse to acknowledge abortion is murder • Refuse to acknowledge that a human being is in the womb • Think that it is wrong that religious convictions interfere with political life • Deny absolute Truth • Moral Relativists

15. What about Rape/Abortion? • Of the 200,000 women who were forcibly raped, one-third were either too old or too young to get pregnant. That leaves 133,000 at risk for pregnancy. • A woman is capable of being fertilized only 3 days (perhaps 5) out of a 30-day month. Multiply our figure of 133,000 by three tenths. Three days out of 30 is one out of ten, divide 133 by ten and we have 13,300 women remaining. If we use five days out of 30 it is one out of six. Divide one hundred and thirty three thousand by six and we have 22,166 remaining. • One-fourth of all women in the United States of childbearing age have been sterilized, so the remaining three-fourths come out to 10,000 (or 15,000). • Only half of assailants penetrate her body and/or deposit sperm in her vagina,1 so let's cut the remaining figures in half. This gives us numbers of 5,000 (or 7,500). • Fifteen percent of men are sterile, that drops that figure to 4,250 (or 6,375). • Fifteen percent of non-surgically sterilized women are naturally sterile. That reduces the number to 3,600 (or 5,400). • Another fifteen percent are on the pill and/or already pregnant. That reduces the number to 3,070 (or 4,600). • Now factor in the fact that it takes 5-10 months for the average couple to achieve a pregnancy. Use the smaller figure of 5 months to be conservative and divide the above figures by 5. The number drops to 600 (or 920). • In an average population, the miscarriage rate is about 15 percent. In this case we have incredible emotional trauma. Her body is upset. Even if she conceives, the miscarriage rate will be higher than in a more normal pregnancy. If 20 percent of raped women miscarry, the figure drops to 450 (or 740).

16. Capital Punishment • Evangelium Vitae • Confirmed Church’s stance on death penalty • Did not declare that the use of the death penalty is forbidden • Capital punishment – “in case of absolute necessity” • When it is impossible to protect the common good

17. John Paul II: "The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life: who will acclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of Life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform."

21. Section 3 The Problem of Pain and Suffering

22. Pain and Suffering • Why do we feel pain? Why do we suffer? • Enigma of pain • Cause of atheism -"Not infrequently atheism is born from a violent protest against the evil in the world" (Vatican II) • We are called to join our suffering with the suffering of Christ • Reparation for our sins

23. Section 4 The Meaning of Death

26. Euthanasia • Most urgent ethical problem • Intentionally killing oneself or another, no matter what the pain endured may be, is MURDER • OK not to continue unnecessary medical treatments • Double-effect

28. Conclusions on Death • To take directly the life of a sick person is murder • It is permissible to allow the imminent death of a person • Extraordinary means to maintain life are never required • In all cases, ordinary means of sustaining life are always required

29. Section 5 Respect for The Souls of Others

30. Conclusions on Death • Should lead a life of good example • Avoid scandal –leading others to do evil • Can be provoked by laws, institutions, fashion, media, and opinions

31. Section 6 Just War

32. Criteria of Just War (CCC 2309/ St. Augustine): • The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain • All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective • There must be serious prospects of success • The use of arms must not produce evils and disorders greater than the veil to be eliminated

33. Section 7 Respect for the Body

34. St. Paul: “Do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own.” (1 Cor 6:19)

36. Organ Donation • Morally permissible • The qualified surgical team and require equipment are present • The physical/psychological dangers and risks are proportionate to the good being sought • Both the donor and recipient (or those who speak for them) consent • Brain/gonads CANNOT be donated • Impermissible to mutilate/bring about death of someone to save someone else

37. Section 8 Cloning

38. Cloning • Reduces human beings to objects rather than unique and irreplaceable creations of God each of their own integrity and identity • Opposes • The dignity of both the conjugal union between husband and wife • Human procreation

40. Section 9 Drug Use/Smoking/Alcohol

41. Illicit use of drugs/Alcohol • Abuses the Body • Reduces the person to the levels of an animal • Impairing their ability to think clearly • Impairing their ability to exercises free will

43. Section 10 Sterilization

44. Sterilization • Why is it wrong? • Mutilation of the body • Attacks the integrity of the person

45. Sterilization • Indirect • Secondary result of a different medical procedure • Woman has to have her ovaries removed due to cancer (double effect –intent to save the life) • Direct • Intentionally destroying procreative capabilities • Vasectomy • “Tube tying”

46. Conclusion

47. Final Thoughts We are NOT to “play God” We are to be faithful Christians who place trust in Him

48. Works Cited • Our Moral Life in Christ . United States : Midwestern Theological Seminary , 2006. • VM Rue et. al., "Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women," Medical Science Monitor 10(10): SR5-16 (2004)