Barnes in Common

the magazine of Churches Together in Barnes
May/June 2006

Home
Current issue
Previous issues
Noticeboard
Discussion board
About CTiB

Dignity or sanctity

Some thoughts on the controversial subject of euthanasia

Euthanasia is the deliberate killing, by act or omission, when death is deemed to be a medical benefit, because it is judged that the person's life in his condition, is no longer worth living.

Such a concept would always have been at odds with our beliefs. But nowadays its supporters use arguments that sound like Christian virtues, such as mercy, compassion and love. Their expressed intent is a desire to do what is right and caring, or an appeal to human rights.

The Church persists in its traditional teaching as being the only one that accords with a proper understanding of the dignity of the human person. There are certain principles that underpin this view:

Firstly, that there is such a thing as an objective moral law. Morality is not a human invention or social convention, but an unchanging and binding law carved into every human heart and essential to the well-being of society – what is termed the natural law. We do not need the Ten Commandments to tell us that murder is gravely wrong.

Secondly, there is the dignity and value of every human life – even if beset by suffering, disability, ignorance, or even sin. Human life is unique and sacred – the soul in its beginning involves a creative act of God. The difference between humans and even the highest animals is not of degree but of kind – created in the image of God.

Thirdly, we are stewards rather than owners and do not have the right to end a life.

Life belongs to man in rather the same way as a child belongs to its parents. The child is not the property of the parents but their special charge. Each of us 'belongs' only to God.

Understandably, it is the thought or sight of suffering that will cause one to question these moral norms. The Christian can appreciate St Paul's concept of 'making up in his body what is wanting in the sufferings of Christ' and 'taking up our cross'. I praise God every time I witness examples of loving attention by families, medical staff and carers in respect of patients of all ages, and of patient endurance by those suffering. What we need is an extension of the palliative care that is the hallmark of hospices and to encourage an appreciation that this is a blessing, and is beneficial for patients and their families alike. The alternative, of euthanasia or assisted suicide, would take society to the top of a slippery slope leading goodness knows where.

Fr Anthony Logan

Back to the top

As our Christian calendar approaches Good Friday, our minds naturally incline towards the subject of life and death.

Most of us will have experienced the desperate sadness when we lose someone close to us through death, whether through old age, tragic accident or illness. A rollercoaster of emotions can ensue – loss, grief, isolation, depression and even anger, as we come to terms with the loss of someone else’s life, and how it affects us. We also have to suffer daily news of murder, in all its gruesome forms – a life taken involuntarily. Death is incomprehensible, however inevitable.

We know that Jesus died on the cross and his life was given for us. We also know that he rose again before entering his immortal destiny, and has been forever revered in our minds as a spiritual guide to how we should live our lives.

What we don't know however, is how we would react to a relative or friend asking us out of compassion to assist in their death. Euthanasia is a debate which rages on with deep division, and no obvious or definite conclusion. In its original Greek "Eu" means good, and "thanatos" death, but how can we apply "good death" to someone we love?

We would want to ease their pain, suffering and the indignity of an incapacitating illness, but in Christianity assisted suicide is forbidden. Yet the practice exists in many cultures. However, with the advance of technology, we can keep alive someone who has no quality of life, and who a century ago would have died an earlier natural death. It is clear that we need to update our belief systems in line with technology, but where do the boundaries lie – at what point does euthanasia move from being a humane decision to hasten death to becoming a convenience to the living? We would all ask ourselves whether it would be abused and who will control it. There would be many questions that we honourably and morally would have to ask ourselves if this situation appeared in our own comfortable lives.

In Holland, euthanasia has been decriminalised since 1986, and fortunately only 2-3% of cases where it has been considered have chosen to go ahead with this option.

Libertarians would argue that we have the right to decide how and when we die, that it is a freedom among those that we have spent centuries fighting for. Of course, it can be merciful, but death is not ultimately to be escaped.
Medical intervention and pain control could eventually make euthanasia unnecessary, but currently it could be hard to avoid in a situation where shortages of resources make palliative treatments hard to come by.

But the bigger question is our soul, our purpose in being here, our respect for life and the truth that suffering can also have value.

Samurai warriors' motivation for suicide was borne out of losing a battle (when they could be properly killed by the enemy) or being so injured that they were no longer useful to society. The analogy for us would be a patient losing the mental and physical battle of illness. However, the Samurais placed much emphasis on a peaceful mind at the point of taking their own life. The position of Buddhism is that suicide interferes with karma and that the deceased will be reborn to a new life to learn the lessons not absorbed in the past, the quality of that life being a direct reward for their previous incarnation. Buddhists also believe that the mind should be at such ease as to make the soul content with the need to live out another life.

If we can't resolve these issues ourselves, we must continue our search, refine our learning and deepen our spirituality. Most of all, we must not judge those who are involved with this desperate struggle, and must influence our society to make the right choices.

Ally Brown

Back to the top