Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Peach
I did read it carefully, and you are misrepresenting it.

Catholic teaching condemns as euthanasia "an action or an omission which of itself or by intention causes death, in order that all suffering may in this way be eliminated."...

The harsh reality is that some who propose withdrawal of nutrition and hydration from certain patients do directly intend to bring about a patient's death, and would even prefer a change in the law to allow for what they see as more "quick and painless" means to cause death.[13] In other words, nutrition and hydration (whether orally administered or medically assisted) are sometimes withdrawn not because a patient is dying, but precisely because a patient is not dying (or not dying quickly) and someone believes it would be better if he or she did, generally because the patient is perceived as having an unacceptably low "quality of life" or as imposing burdens on others.[14]...

...An unconscious [in the context, PVS is mentioned] patient must be treated as a living human person with inherent dignity and value. Direct killing of such a patient is as morally reprehensible as the direct killing of anyone else.

It's not permissible to remove the tube in order to directly cause death. Period. That is what is going on in this case, because Terri is not dying of anything except deprivation of nutrition and water. There are tough cases, but this one is black and white for Catholics.

189 posted on 03/25/2005 7:58:06 PM PST by The Old Hoosier (Right makes might.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 187 | View Replies ]


To: The Old Hoosier

Thanks for the Catholic teaching on this...

" ...An unconscious [in the context, PVS is mentioned] patient must be treated as a living human person with inherent dignity and value. Direct killing of such a patient is as morally reprehensible as the direct killing of anyone else."

You say:

"There are tough cases, but this one is black and white for Catholics."

Yes, there *are* tough cases - a terminally ill degenerative case, for example, needing a respriator, or herioc life-extension ... this is *not* such as case. food and water for a disabled person should always be given.


205 posted on 03/25/2005 10:28:12 PM PST by WOSG (Liberating Iraq - http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 189 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson