Evil And Suffering

Question 1

What is Natural and Moral Evil? (Give an example for each)

Answer 1

Natural Evil: evil for which no non-divine agent can be held morally responsible and is chiefly derived from the operation of the laws of nature.
Moral Evil: evil which is directly caused by human activity

Question 2

What is the name of the sacrament that Roman Catholics use for those who are sick?

Answer 2

The annointing of the Sick

Question 3

What are two positive effects that the annointing of the sick might have on the person receiving it?

Answer 3

• the uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ
• the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age
• the forgiveness of sins

Question 4

What is the name of places that help those with a life limiting condition?

Answer 4

Hospices

Question 5

Explain 4 things that hospices do to support a terminally ill person and their family.

Answer 5

• Hospice care places a high value on dignity, respect and the wishes of the person who is ill
• It aims to look after their medical, emotional, social, practical, psychological, and spiritual needs
• Looks after the needs of the person’s family and carers
• Practical, financial and emotional support to help the family at home

Question 6

What does the word ‘Euthanasia’ mean? And what are the 4 types of Euthanasia?

Answer 6

Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering in which a lethal drug is administered by a physician . It is legal in fewer places than assisted dying or assisted suicide and patients do not necessarily have to be terminally ill . The four types of euthanasia are: voluntary (death at patient’s will), involuntary (death at other’s will when patient is unconscious or not competent to decide), active (death is brought about by an act), and passive (letting someone die either by withdrawing or withholding treatment)

Question 7

Who was Maximillian Kolbe and what are 4 ways in which he responded to the evil and suffering he faced in the world?

Answer 7

When the Nazi guards selected 10 people to be starved to death in punishment, Kolbe volunteered to die in place of a stranger. He was later canonised as a martyr. 4 ways in which he responded to the evil and suffering he faced in the world were:
- Sacrificing himself
- Ignoring it and continuing to work as a priest and offer solace to fellow inmates in Auschwitz
- Never complained despite poor health and tiberculosis
- Showed hope for his fellow inmates through God.

Question 8

Give three arguements for and three arguements against voluntary euthanasia

Answer 8

For:
- It can quickly and humanely end a person’s life
- Everyone should have the right to decide how they die
- It can help to shorten the grief and suffering of the patient’s loved ones

Against:
- Many people recover after being ‘written of’ by
doctors
- Old people might feel they are a nuisance to others and opt for euthanasia when in their hearts they want to continue living
- A patient might not be able to make a rational decision or might change their mind but be incapable of telling the doctors.