|
What Catholics Believe
About Life and Death
This summary of
Catholic teaching about life and death is adapted from moral
principles published by the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Click here
for the text of the Committee's statement
Catholics
believe that human life is the foundation for all other human
goods and has a special value and significance.
Catholics
believe that every human being has a unique dignity and value
from the moment of conception and in every stage of development,
whatever his or her physical condition.
Catholics
believe that death is a natural part of life and opens the door
to eternal life.
Catholics
believe that a dying person should accept the reality of death
and prepare for death emotionally and spiritually, without in
any way trying to hasten the hour of death.
Catholics
believe that suffering is a fact of human life, and has special
meaning for the Christian as an opportunity to share in Christ's
redemptive suffering.
Catholics
believe that it is a positive thing to try to relieve someone's
suffering, as long as one does not intentionally cause death or
interfere with the person's other moral or religious duties.
Catholics
believe that everyone has the duty to care for his or her own
life and health, and to seek necessary medical care.
Catholics
believe that this does not mean that all possible remedies must
be used in every circumstance.
Catholics
believe that a person is not obliged to use means to preserve
life which offer no reasonable hope of benefit or which involve
excessive burden.
Catholics
believe that in the final stages of dying a person is not
obliged to prolong life by every means possible.
Catholics
believe that when inevitable death is imminent it is permitted
to refuse forms of treatment which would only secure a
precarious and burdensome prolongation of life, so long as the
normal care due to the sick person in similar cases is not
interrupted.
Catholics
believe that euthanasia, willful suicide, or any other action or
omission which of itself or by intention causes death, is
morally wrong.
• • •
Affirmation of
Life
Prepared by the Archdiocese of Dubuque Medical-Moral
Commission
Life is a gift of God which I treasure and wish to live to the
fullest. As a person created by God and in God's image, I have
dignity and value. My life has been given to me as a sacred
trust. I do not have absolute dominion over it but need to take
reasonable care of it.
As a Christian, I believe that death is part of life, that
through death life is changed, not taken away, and that death
need not be resisted by every possible means. By not unduly
prolonging life, I can attest to my belief in eternal life.
I am free legally and morally to choose the course of treatment
that is best for me, taking into consideration the benefits to
be gained, the burdens to me or to others and the risks involved
for each treatment.
Since I cannot foresee situations that may arise in regard to my
health, I am choosing an agent who knows me and who can speak on
my behalf should I become incapable of making my own decisions.
• • •
Return to Final Wishes Homepage
• • •
For information contact:
Director of Adult
Faith Formation
•
320 Mulberry St., Waterloo IA 50703. Phone:
319-234-9912
•
Email: DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us
Posted: 02.28.11 Last Update:
02.28.11
|