YOUCAT Lesson 379
YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth
379 What sort of attacks on
human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment?
Murder and acting as an accomplice to murder are
forbidden. Killing unarmed civilians
during a war is forbidden. The abortion
of a human being, from the moment of conception on, is forbidden. Suicide, self-mutilation, and
self-destructive behavior are forbidden.
Euthanasia—killing the handicapped, the sick, and the dying—is also
forbidden. [2268-2283, 2322-2325]
Yes, this is an aborted infant. Some people would call it a fetus. But really, it is a human person. ….. 379
Today people often try to get around the Fifth Commandment
with seemingly humane arguments. But
neither euthanasia nor abortion is a humane solution. That is why the Church is perfectly clear on
these questions. Whoever participates in
an abortion, forces a woman to undergo an abortion, or merely advises her to do
so is automatically excommunicated—just as with other crimes against human
life. If a psychologically ill person
commits suicide, responsibility for the act of killing is often diminished and
in many cases completely annulled. 288
“The beginnings at first were merely a subtle shift in
emphasis in the basic attitude of the physicians. It started with the acceptance of the
attitude, basic in the euthanasia movement, that there is such a thing as life
not worthy to be lived. This attitude in
its early stages concerned itself merely with the severely and chronically
sick. Gradually the sphere of those to
be included in this category was enlarged to encompass the socially
unproductive, the ideologically unwanted, the racially unwanted and finally all
non-Germans. But it is important to
realize that the infinitely small wedged-in lever from which this entire trend
of mind received its impetus was the attitude toward the nonrehabilitable
sick.” Leo Alexander (1905-1985, Jewish
American physician) on the Nazis’ crime of euthanasia
[2268-2283,
2322-2325]
Intentional homicide
2268 The fifth commandment forbids direct
and intentional killing as
gravely sinful. The murderer and those who cooperate voluntarily in murder
commit a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance. (Compare Genesis 4:10.)69 –Catechism of the Catholic
Church, Second Edition
Infanticide, (Compare Gaudium et Spes 51
§ 3.)70 fratricide, parricide, and the murder of a spouse are especially
grave crimes by reason of the natural bonds which they break. Concern for
eugenics or public health cannot justify any murder, even if commanded by
public authority. …CCC
2269 The fifth commandment forbids doing
anything with the intention of indirectly bringing about a person's
death. The moral law prohibits exposing someone to mortal danger without grave
reason, as well as refusing assistance to a person in danger. …CCC
The acceptance by human society of
murderous famines, without efforts to remedy them, is a scandalous injustice
and a grave offense. Those whose usurious and avaricious dealings lead to the
hunger and death of their brethren in the human family indirectly commit
homicide, which is imputable to them. (Compare Amos 8:4-10.)71 …CCC
Unintentional killing is not morally
imputable. But one is not exonerated from grave offense if, without
proportionate reasons, he has acted in a way that brings about someone's death,
even without the intention to do so. …CCC
Abortion
2270 Human life must be respected and protected
absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his
existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person -
among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. (Compare Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum vitae I,1.)72 …CCC
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in
secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. (Psalm 139:15.)74 …CCC
2271 Since
the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured
abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct
abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is
gravely contrary to the moral law: …CCC
You
shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to
perish. (Didache 2,2: Sources Chretiennes 248,148; cf. Ep. Barnabae 19,5:Patrologia Graeca 2
777; Ad Diognetum 5,6:PG 2,1173; Tertullian, Apol.
9:PL 1,319-320.)75 …CCC
God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of
safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves.
Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception:
abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes. (Gaudium et Spes 51
§ 3.)76 …CCC
2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion
constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of
excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a
completed abortion incurs excommunication latae
sententiae," (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1398. )77 "by the very commission of the
offense," (Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 1314.)78 and subject to the conditions provided
by Canon Law. (Compare
Codex Iuris Canonici, cann. 1323-1324.)79 The Church does not thereby intend to
restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime
committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as
well as to the parents and the whole of society. …CCC
2273 The inalienable right to life of every
innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society
and its legislation: …CCC
"The inalienable rights of the person
must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority.
These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do
they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human
nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which
the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in
this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the
moment of conception until death." (Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum vitae III.)80 …CCC
"The moment a positive law deprives a category of human
beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the
state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not
place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular
of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are
undermined. . . . As a consequence of the respect and protection
which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the
law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of
the child's rights." (Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith, Donum vitae III.)81 …CCC
2274 Since
it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in
its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human
being. …CCC
Prenatal
diagnosis is
morally licit, "if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and
the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an
individual. . . . It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is
done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the
results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence." (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum vitae I,2.)82 …CCC
2275 "One must hold as
licit procedures carried out on the human embryo which respect the life and
integrity of the embryo and do not involve disproportionate risks for it, but
are directed toward its healing the improvement of its condition of health, or
its individual survival." (Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum vitae I,3.)83 …CCC
"It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for
exploitation as disposable biological material." (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum vitae I,5.)84 …CCC
"Certain attempts to influence chromosomic or genetic
inheritance are not therapeutic
but are aimed at producing human beings selected according to sex or other
predetermined qualities. Such manipulations are contrary to the personal
dignity of the human being and his integrity and identity" (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum vitae I,6.)85 which
are unique and unrepeatable. …CCC
Euthanasia
2276 Those whose lives are diminished or
weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to
lead lives as normal as possible. …CCC
2277 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. …CCC
Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes
death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to
the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his
Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not
change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and
excluded. …CCC
2278 Discontinuing medical
procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate
to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of
"over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death;
one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made
by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally
entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests
must always be respected. …CCC
2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a
sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to
alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their
days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as
either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative
care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be
encouraged. …CCC
Suicide
2280 Everyone is responsible for his life before
God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of
life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor
and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God
has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of. …CCC
2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination
of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary
to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly
breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to
which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the
living God. …CCC
2282 If suicide is committed with the intention
of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of
scandal. Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law. …CCC
Grave
psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or
torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide. …CCC
2283 We should not despair of the eternal
salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him
alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church
prays for persons who have taken their own lives. …CCC
IN BRIEF
2322 From
its conception, the child has the right to life. Direct abortion, that is,
abortion willed as an end or as a means, is a "criminal" practice (Gaudium et Spes 27 § 3), gravely contrary to the
moral law. The Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication for this
crime against human life. …CCC
2323 Because
it should be treated as a person from conception, the embryo must be defended
in its integrity, cared for, and healed like every other human being. …CCC
2324 Intentional
euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is murder. It is gravely contrary to
the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his
Creator. …CCC
2325 Suicide
is seriously contrary to justice, hope, and charity. It is forbidden by the
fifth commandment. …CCC
