Natural law Principles guiding R.C. morality M. Jenny HRE 4M

Life is sacred: preserve it Propagation & education of children The key principles Do good & avoid evil Life is sacred: preserve it Propagation & education of children Pursuit of truth  peaceful society Introductory notes.

Principles that follow Respect for human life & dignity Human life begins at conception Not just a potential human being Embryo: known & loved by God Killing an embryo for scientific research is unacceptable A child is a gift Not a possession, object / thing All human life is sacred from conception to natural death.

The integrity of procreation is to be respected R.C. tradition honours the act of human procreation In vitro fertilization is unacceptable Separates procreation from physically intimate expression between spouses Can lead to destruction of embryos not used in treatment

Concern for the most vulnerable “preferential option for the poor” The weak need special protection Church seeks to be the voice of all vulnerable human life

Common Good Social conditions allowing people (groups or individuals) to reach fulfillment more fully & easily We’re created as individuals within families Part of society Social beings

Human life is relational We are stewards Even of our own lives Life is a gift received from others We’re called to preserve it We are part of a web of human relationships

We are mutually responsible for life INTERdependent Life is dependent on the support of others “We are in this together!” Suicide is painful for survivors

Care for others: compassion NOT pity Suffering & pain Challenge us at our core  weakness & vulnerability Suffering is not sought as a good, we seek ways to reduce it Compassion: we enter into the other’s suffering Pity: sufferer is left alone

What about the terminally ill? RC teaching supports palliative care, medicating to ease pain Even if medication may hasten death CCC 2276 Those whose lives are diminished deserve special respect CCC 2277 Direct euthanasia is unacceptable Regardless of motives & means

Stewardship of own life: it’s sacred & deserves respect! CCC 2280 Everyone is responsible for one’s life God is Master of life We’re stewards, not owners of the life we’ve received CCC 2282 Voluntary co-operation in suicide contrary to moral law

Recall: the ends & means? We cannot do something evil to obtain a good end. The end DOES NOT justify the means!

Principle of Double Effect Sometimes neutral actions have both good and bad effects Can we do something knowing that good and bad effects will result? Yes, if: Action is good or neutral Good not obtained by means of evil Evil effects not intended (allowed) Good effect must be proportionally greater than the evil effect

The Principle of Totality Parts exists for the good of the whole We can amputate a limb in order to save a life

Ordinary vs. Extraordinary Means Meds, treatments… with REASONABLE benefit, WITHOUT excessive pain, cost or inconvenience Extraordinary No reasonable benefit, not curative, costly, painful, out of proportion

Science must be used to benefit people Science must operate with a conscience What is technically possible is not for that reason morally admissible. Not every medical advancement necessarily serves us for the better. What constitutes a human person is not just a scientific question, but philosophical & moral

A unity of body and spirit The human being A unity of body and spirit Interventions on the body affects not only tissues & organs, but the person

Looking at Case Studies Case 1: Assisted Human reproduction Page 156 Case 2: Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide Page 157

The Prudent Person Prudence: the foremost virtue for Christianity Prudence part of the search for goodness Ability to make good choices (almost instinctively) Harness: instincts, impulses, inclinations Seeks out right reason Evaluates motives