Christianity terminology - Bioethics

Question 1

Evangelium Vitae

Answer 1

The Catholic publication by Pope John Paul II that says “I declare that direct abortion….Always constitutes a grave moral disorder since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being.” and

“Euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person.”

Question 2

Palliative care

Answer 2

Support & care for dying patients. The Catholic Church supports this over euthanasia.

Question 3

Ecclesiastes 3 (1-4)

Answer 3

Quote used against euthanasia. The passage says “ there is a time to be born and a time to die” therefore euthanasia is interfering in Gods plan for our ‘time to die.’

Question 4

Principle of Double effect

Answer 4

Church of England use this. It’s a rule applied to certain cases. For example, if the intent is good, the immoral act is sometimes permissible. Example - A Dr. who is Pro Life can still remove the uterus of a woman knowing that it will kill the foetus if by not removing it, the woman would die (for example, if she had cancer). In these cases, the intended effect is to save the woman’s life, not to terminate the pregnancy, and the effect of not performing the procedure would result in the greater evil of the death of both the mother and the foetus.

Question 5

Jesus Commandment of Love

Answer 5

1. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind, and with thy whole strength;
2. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 22:35-40)

Question 6

The Golden Rule

Answer 6

Treat others as you would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12)

Question 7

Imagio Dei

Answer 7

Genisis 1: 26-27 - Imagio Dei literally means ‘image of God.’ Seeing that all humans were made in the image of God, killing a human weahter through abortion, euthanasia or stem cell research is equivalent to killing God.