1. Catholic Social Teaching
Respecting Human Life
Catholic Social Teaching
[Music: Introduction music such as “Give Peace a Chance,” “All You Need Is Love,” or “Stand by Me.”]
Document #: TX001994

2. A Culture of Life versus a Culture of Death
Pope John Paul II wrote about the moral shifts occurring in society, specifically abortion and euthanasia.
Abortion and euthanasia are two serious sins against the sanctity of life and are violations of the Fifth Commandment.
By Clarence Goss from USA (Flickr:Got You Daddy) [CC-BY-2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons

3. The Culture of Death
In The Gospel of Life, John Paul II identifies two contemporary causes of the culture of death:
adopting a distorted understanding of human freedom
making something other than God the center of our lives
By Shayan Sanyal (Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons

4. The Culture of Death (continued)
First, people today often adopt a distorted understanding of human freedom.
Some people think that we should have the right to pursue our personal goals and desires without any hindrance.
The Church teaches that human freedom is a gift and not an absolute right.
Image in shutterstock

5. The Culture of Death (continued)
Second, when God is not the center of our lives, we can become preoccupied with material things at the expense of others, which leads to suffering.
The gift of freedom comes with responsibility:
to choose right over wrong
to choose love over hate
to choose solidarity over self-centeredness
to choose life over death
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6. Promoting the Culture of Life
As members of God’s family, we must serve others through works of charity.
Civil leaders have particular responsibility to make courageous choices in support of life.
Families also play a special role in building a culture of life.
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Partner Discussion
Turn to a partner and share:
In what ways can civil leaders promote a culture of life?
In what ways can families build a culture of life?

7. Beginning-of-Life Issues: Abortion
In its January 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot limit a woman’s right to an abortion during the first trimester of her pregnancy.
After abortion was legalized, it became more common to believe that unborn children do not have full human rights.
By Clarence Goss from USA (Flickr:Got You Daddy) [CC-BY-2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
This human rights issue can lead to questions about the dignity of others, especially those who are elderly or infirm.

8. Abortion – the Problem
At present, 1.06 million abortions in the US annually.
Over 57.7 million abortions in US since 1973.
Over 1.3 billion worldwide since 1980.
Abortion is legal throughout all nine months of pregnancy.
Abortion clinics are not sufficiently regulated, resulting in malpractice and low standards of care.
Abortion disproportionately affects minorities.

9. Abortion – the Problem

10. Abortion – Social Justice Principles
Human dignity.
Abortion assumes that the life of a pre-born person is not worthy of the same esteem and respect as one who is born.
Abortion is a violation of the right to life of the person.
Solidarity
With the unborn. They are members of the human community for whom we take responsibility.
With women. Most have abortions because they feel abandoned, unsupported, rejected, and alone. They are “socially aborted.” Social pressure leads them to have abortions they did not want.

11. Abortion – Social Justice Principles
Government Responsibility. Duty of government to protect the innocent.
Civil law protecting the unborn is based on natural law.
Sinful structures. Political, cultural, and economic structures facilitate and promote abortion, to the point that women are coerced into abortions they do not want.
Laws remove any obstacle to abortion – e.g. parental notification.
College health insurance plans pay for abortions, but not necessarily pre-natal care.
Public high school counselors give abortion clinic referrals.

12. Abortion - solutions
Creating a true “culture of life” in which women in crisis pregnancies feel supported.
Prohibiting abortion by law. Prosecution of doctors or the revoking of their medical licenses if they perform abortions.
Extending the statute of limitations for abortion malpractice for women who wish to seek civil damages.

13. Other Beginning of Life Issues
Artificial Means of Contraception
Prenatal Testing/Diagnosis
Genetic Engineering
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Cloning

14. End-of-Life Issues: Euthanasia & Physician-Assisted Suicide
Euthanasia, also known as mercy killing, is a serious offense against the Fifth Commandment. Proponents of euthanasia make it an issue of human freedom.
God’s Law makes it clear that intentionally causing the death of a human being is murder, regardless of the motive or circumstances.
According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, euthanasia violates human dignity and the respect we owe to our Creator, the author of human life.

15. Euthanasia – the Problem
Groups are working actively to legalize Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS).
Oregon, Washington, Vermont legalized PAS via legislation
Montana has legal PAS via court ruling
39 states have law prohibiting assisted suicide
Euthanasia and PAS is already being practiced secretly in many hospitals.

17. Euthanasia – Social Justice Principles
Human dignity. The lives of the sick and dying still have worth.
Natural Law. It is against natural law to kill an innocent human being.
Solidarity. The sick and dying are valued members of our community, not a burden.

18. Euthanasia – Social Justice Principles
Sinful structures. Recourse to euthanasia results in the growth of sinful cultural and legal structures, which in turn lead to more euthanasia.
If euthanasia becomes socially acceptable, legal safeguards will be removed or ignored.
The sick and elderly will be pressured into accepting euthanasia or asking for assisted suicide.
Euthanasia will be administered without the knowledge or consent of the patient or family.
All of the above has already occurred in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is legal. Even handicapped children are euthanized.

19. Euthanasia – solutions
More training for health care professionals in pain management.
Development of hospice programs which are based on solid moral principles and respect for human dignity.
Advance directives that facilitate health care decision making but fully respect the right to life.
Churches and communities fostering respect for the sick and elderly.
Robust laws to prohibit euthanasia, physician assisted suicide, and futile care protocols.
Programs offering support to family members and caregivers of the sick and elderly.

20. End-of-Life Issues: The Death Penalty
Taking the life of another is an offense against the Fifth Commandment.
Pope John Paul II teaches in The Gospel of Life that the death penalty should be “very rare, if not practically non-existent.”
*The test is whether society has alternative ways, preferably a non-lethal one, to protect itself, and not how terrible the crime was.”
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21. End-of-Life Issues: The Death Penalty
“If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person.”
(CCC, 2267)
“Absolute necessity” of the death penalty, in cases where it would not be possible otherwise to defend society.
“Life in prison without parole” ensures that the convicted person is not eligible for parole and cannot be released.

22. End-of-Life Issues: The Death Penalty (continued)
The Catholic Church is generally against the death penalty for the
following reasons:
The New Law taught by Jesus emphasized mercy and forgiveness.
Advancements in the criminal justice system allow for imprisonment for a lifetime as well as the capacity to ensure that prisoners in maximum-security prisons have minimal risk for escape.
Conversion of heart and lifestyle through rehabilitation is always possible.