Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) are two issues which are quickly emerging in the Western world. They present us with a very troubling moral dilemma. It is typically given to us like this:
"Suppose you had a person who was slowly dying of some incurable illness. But his death is slow and agonizing. Would it be so wrong for that person to be given a pill so that he can die more quickly and painlessly? Wouldn't the Golden Rule have us end that person's suffering, or at least allow him to end it himself?"
It sounds like the truly empathetic position - perhaps even the Christian position - would be to embrace euthanasia and PAS. Any yet you have the Catechism of the Catholic Church insisting the following:
"Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible. Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable." - CCC 2276
Today I wanted to look at three principals which I use to explain why I am opposed to euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.
