What is Euthanasia?

1. If you will
be this
Person,What will
you do??

2. WOULD
YOULIKE
TO
LIVE
DIE
OROR

7. EUTHANASIA

8. Etymology
•Euthanasia meant an easy
death without severe
suffering.
•"mercy killing,"

9. “an act or omission which, of itself or by
intention, causes the death of handicapped,
sick, or dying persons—sometimes with an
attempt to justify the act as a means of
eliminating suffering.”CCC

11. Why does the Church forbid its
practice?
• Euthanasia is a form of murder and thus is prohibited by
the Fifth Commandment. It is a grave offense against the
dignity of the human person and also against God, the
Author of human life. While motives and circumstances
can mitigate one’s culpability, they do not change the
nature of this murderous act, which must be forbidden
(Catechism, no. 2277)
• make less severe, serious, or painful.
• lessen the gravity of (an offense or mistake).
• responsibility for a fault or wrong; blame, GUILT

12. Why does the Church forbid its
practice?
• The Church affirms the right to life of all persons,
from conception to natural death. The Church
encourages those with terminal illness to unite
their sufferings with those of Jesus Christ, for the
sake of His body, the Church (cf. Col. 1:24). The
Church also encourages caregivers and family
members to treat sick or handicapped persons with
“special respect” (Catechism, no. 2276).

13. Why does the Church forbid its
practice?
• Death is part of the human condition. While everyone is
well aware of this reality, the presence of terminal or
severe illness requires us to look more closely at this
reality. As we approach death, we confront our own
beliefs about the meaning of life, the value of suffering,
and the prospect of life after death. In other words, the
experience of our own mortality is a pivotal moment in
our pilgrimage of faith (cf. Catechism, no. 1501).

14. Why does the Church forbid its
practice?
•How we approach death is of utmost
importance to the individual and to
society. Further, the way we treat those
in need, the least of our brethren (cf.
Mt. 25:31-46), speaks volumes about
who we are as a people.

15. Jesus’ love for the sick
•The Gospels are replete or full with
accounts of Jesus tending to the needs
of the sick, handicapped, and dying.
Jesus healed the sick and instructed His
disciples to do the same (cf. Mt. 10:8).

16. Jesus’ love for the sick
• Caring for the sick has always been considered a
“corporal work of mercy,” based on Our Lord’s
own words in Matthew 25. And in the parable of
the Good Samaritan (cf. Lk. 10:29-39), we see the
Christian’s obligation to tend to the needs of our
“neighbor” despite any perceived inconvenience
or cultural bias.

17. Earthly life is not an absolute
•Scripture says we weren’t created simply for
this life but for eternity (cf. Wis. 2:23). We
are advised to be concerned most of all
about threats to our eternal souls (cf. Mt.
10:28), realizing that while our “outer self”
is wasting away, our “inner self” is being
renewed each day (cf. 2 Cor. 4:12-5:1).

18. Trust God in life and death
• Life is a gift from God, and whether we live or
die is in His hands (cf. Ps. 16:15). The just man
is depicted not as seeking deliverance from the
burdens of old age, but as putting his trust in
God’s loving providence. The Bible does not
teach a mere fatalism or resignation, but elicits
faith in God and trust in His mercy and
promises.

19. Deut 32:39
•"Learn then that I, I alone, am God, and
there is no god besides me. It is I who
bring both death and life, I who inflict
wounds and heal them, and from my
hand there is no rescue."

20. Pope John Paul II, 1995
•"Causing death can never be considered a
form of medical treatment, even when the
intention is solely to comply with the
patient's request. Rather, it runs completely
counter to the health-care profession, which
is meant to be an impassioned and
unflinching affirmation of life."

21. Pope John Paul II, 1995
•"Human life finds itself most vulnerable when
it enters the world and when it leaves the
realm of time to embark upon eternity. The
word of God frequently repeats the call to
show care and respect, above all where life
is undermined by sickness and old age."

22. Genesis 1:27
•So God created mankind in his
own image, in the image of God
he created them; male and
female he created them

23. 5th Commandment
•“Thou shall not kill”

24. SOURCES AND REFERENCES
• http://catholicunderthehood.com/2010/05/05/today-in-catholic-
history-the-declaration-on-euthanasia/
• http://www.cuf.org/2004/04/true-compassion-for-the-dying-the-
churchs-teaching-on-euthanasia/
• http://www.priestsforlife.org/euthanasia/euthrefl.html
• http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/docum
ents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19800505_euthanasia_en.html
• http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_life/euthana
sia.htm