Matters of Life and Death

Question 1

UK Law on Abortion

Answer 1

Before 24 Weeks:
- Mother's life at risk
- High chance of severe disability
- Risk to existing children
- Risk to mother's mental or physical health
After:
- Mother's life at risk
- High chance of severe disability

Question 2

Why Abortion is Contravertial

Answer 2

• Don’t know when life begins
• If at conception, abortion is murder
• Even if at brith, still killing potential for life

Question 3

Times Life Could Begin

Answer 3

Conception, Quickening, Birth

Question 4

Catholic Views - Abortion

Answer 4

• Conception therefore murder (6th Commandment)
• Life is sacred + belongs only to God (1Corinthians 3:16-17 “you yourselves are God’s temple…God’s temple is sacred”)
• Disability abortion = discrimination
• Doctrine of double effect

Question 5

Liberal Attitudes - Abortion

Answer 5

• Jesus said to love our neighbour, abortion could be the most loving thing to do
• Sanctity of life broken in war, broken if mother’s life at risk
• Permitted in cases of rape

Question 6

Why Life is sacred

Answer 6

• Psalm 139:16 “All the days ordained for me were written in your book”
• Genesis 1:27 “in the image of God he created them”
• 1 Cor 3:16-17 “you yourselves are God’s temple…God’s temple is sacred”
• 6th Commandment: “you shall not murder”

Question 7

Voluntary vs Involuntary Euthanasia

Answer 7

Voluntary = person asks for death
Involuntary = person is unable to ask but you have good reason to think they would want it

Question 8

Christian Attitudes - Euthanasia

Answer 8

• Sanctity of Life: Romans 4:18 “If we live, we live by the Lord, if we die, we die by the Lord” therefore only God can decide
• Symptom of a ‘throw away’ culture
• Can withdraw treatment
• Can give pain relief that quickens death
  Pope Quotes:
  “Health is certainly an important value, yet it does not determine a person’s value”
  “We have created a ‘throw away’ culture which is now spreading”

Question 9

Media Should NOT be free to criticise religious beliefs in life after death

Answer 9

• Religious opinions don’t sell papers unless blown out of proportion
• Religions can’t respond in the same way as the press can comment
• Religion is personal so is impossible to convey properly in mass media

Question 10

Media SHOULD be free to criticise religious beliefs in life after death

Answer 10

• Pride ourselves on free press and free media
• Multi-faith societies must have freedom of religious expression - including criticism
• Can stop extremists from saying or doing dangerous things

Question 11

Catholic evidence for life after death

Answer 11

• Luke 23: Jesus says to criminal “today you will be with me in paradise”
• 1Cor 15: “for as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive”
• John 11:25: “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”
• Apostles Creed: “I believe in… the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting”

Question 12

Causes of Poverty

Answer 12

• War (+ having to support refugees from other countries’ wars)
• Regular natural disasters
• Debt
• Unfair trade

Question 13

How CAFOD helps

Answer 13

• Emergency Aid
• “Make poverty history” campaign - cancelling LEDC debt
• Promoting Fairtrade
• Speaking out on behalf of poor countries to bring social justice

Question 14

Why CAFOD helps

Answer 14

• Acts 4:34-37 “The money was distributed each according to his need”
• Exodus 22:22 “Do not ill-treat any widow or orphan”
• Luke 12:34 “For your heart will always be where your riches are”
• Parable of the Sheep and Goats
• Parable of the Good Samaritan