Posted on 11/03/2014 2:19:24 PM PST by NYer
With the sad and scandalous news out of Oregon last night of Brittany Maynard’s state sanctioned suicide, thoughts turn toward the eternal consequences of such actions. The Internet and social media com boxes are full of praise and condolences for the terminally ill young woman and her grieving family. Many have offered their personal belief that Brittany is now in heaven with God who understands (and apparently condones) her decision. Even among professing Catholics there has been an incredible disconnect between what we are called to believe and what some “want” to believe.
As word of her suicide was released over a weekend when Catholics celebrated both the Church Triumphant (All Saints Day) and the Church Suffering (All Souls Day), it is even more distressing to see so many either oblivious to, or outright dismissive of, foundational truths such as mortal sin, the existence of Purgatory, the sin of presumption, praying for the dead and even the possibility of eternal damnation.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, regarding suicide, instructs:
Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.
Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.
If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal. Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law.
Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.
We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives. (CCC 2280-2283)
In addition to the most recently promulgated Catechism, however, we can also turn to the brilliant work of Fr. Francis Spirago, The Catechism Explained: An Exhaustive Explanation of the Catholic Religion, from 1899. Regarding suicide, Fr. Spirago states:
“Suicides are generally men (or women) who are devoid of religious beliefs, who have got into trouble or committed some great sin, and who despair of God’s mercy and assistance; they are sometimes not accountable for their actions, and consequently not to be blamed for them.
“King Saul lost all hope when he was grievously wounded and surrounded by his enemies; he then cast himself on his sword (1 Kings xxi.)…Judas, in despair at the enormity of his crime, went and hanged himself (Matt. xxvii. 5). How often we read of people destroying themselves because they have lost their all at the gambling table, or because they have ruined their character by embezzling money, or because they cannot obtain the object of their illicit passion.
“But often madness, or overtaxed nerves, cause men to take their own lives without knowing what they do. Let us beware, therefore, how we hastily judge and condemn them.
“The prevalence of suicide is however principally and generally to be ascribed to the lack of religion, of a firm belief in a future life, of confidence in God’s willingness to aid the unfortunate and to pardon the repentant sinner. Experience teaches that as religion decreases in a land, the number of suicides increases…
“A man’s life is not his own, it belongs to God, Who takes it away at His will (Deut. xxxii. 39). Thus self-destruction is a presumptuous encroachment upon the divine rights, and shows contempt for God, by flinging back at Him His greatest gift to man, which is life…
“Far from being an heroic deed, it is a most cowardly act; real heroism is shown by bearing bravely the miseries of life…” (pp. 383-384)
In the coming days and weeks we can seek the good out of what is a truly tragic story. While the “death with dignity” movement will attempt to argue that suicide is something noble and good, we have both the opportunity and obligation to charitably instruct what our Catholic faith teaches.
Remind others that we who make up the Church Militant have a duty to offer prayers and masses for those poor souls suffering in Purgatory. We do not need to despair for Brittany Maynard and others who choose suicide; we must not presume to know their fate…whether it be heaven or hell. What we can do is pray. And we can catechize others so that they too can understand that suicide is never dignified and that it is God, and not man, who is the author of life.
We have no idea if she is in Hell or not. How dare you judge her soul! Did you miss the part in the Bible about “judge not?” The catechism mentions that suffering and illness can diminish responsibility for suicide.
But thank you for damning her soul to Hell, Salvation.
So? How does that mean it has to be one or the other?
God’s opinion is never irrelevant and that’s what the Church is sharing. If self-murder and God’s opinion about it is irrelevant, then we are truly lost as a society.
That's your opinion on what God's opinion is. For someone who doesn't share your faith, your opinion is irrelevant.
“So I am not forgiven of sins I commit tomorrow?”
There is forgiveness but it won’t be applied to you unless you repent.
“Interesting take on salvation.”
It’s Biblical and orthodox. The idea that because Jesus died for our sins that that means we don’t have to repent of those sins is stupid. That would mean that there is no transformation in Christ, but merely a phony pretending that something is different after a man says he embraces Christ.
Christ wasn’t a fraud. Neither was His redemption of us. Neither can our repentance be a fraud.
The Bible speaks of “repentance unto life” (Acts 11:18). And Paul preached “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).
The first public word Jesus preached in Matthew was “Repent” (Matthew 4:17).
John the Baptist began his ministry the exact same way (Matthew 3:2).
Jesus told His hearers that without repentance, they would perish (Luke 13:3).
When Peter preached his first sermon - on Pentecost under the Holy Spirit - the crowd asked him “What must we do to be saved?” Peter said they should REPENT and be baptized.(Acts 2:38)
Someone without repentance is like this: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not live out the truth” (1 John 1:6).
Jesus said that there was joy in heaven over one sinner who “repents” (Luke 15:10). Why bother if it is meaningless?
God Himself “commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
If repentance is not necessary for salvation, why did Jesus command that repentance be preached to all nations (Luke 24:47)?
With so many verses clearly speaking of the necessity of repentance, I can only suspect that those who deny its importance are strangers to it, and thus strangers to true conversion.
“So? How does that mean it has to be one or the other?”
Logically it can’t be otherwise. Remember, someone committed self-murder to avoid pain even though pain is unavoidable in life. Thus, it cannot be heroic.
“That’s your opinion on what God’s opinion is.”
No, it’s logically irrefutable. God’s opinion is never irrelevant. How could it be? Also, His Church shares His view. It could not be otherwise since the Church is His body.
“For someone who doesn’t share your faith, your opinion is irrelevant.”
No. Since self-murder is morally wrong, views against cannot be irrelevant. That’s logically irrefutable.
As I said, an interesting take on salvation.
Well then it appears that I’m more compassionate than the g-d you worship.
And when did she say that? As I wrote before to Vladimir998 that I am more compassionate than the god you worship.
Good choice of words, Salvation. Your bitter inclinations, are fully recognized. So, what has the Holy Spirit, told you- in the last few seconds?
As discussed earlier we have no idea what her mental state was or even the location of the tumor. If higher cortical functions were impacted the decision to proceed might have been disinhibited. We simply don't know.
My own take is that Mercy might enable her to grab onto one of the lower rungs of Purgatory, assuming she was a believer (I have no idea). However, all bets are off if she had firmly rejected the Christian story through to the end. Also, if any imitation suicides occur she is on the hook for those.
“As I said, an interesting take on salvation.”
It is THE “take” on salvation. Every other take is just Liberalism.
“Well then it appears that I’m more compassionate than the g-d you worship.”
Error is not compassion.
Just checked your profile page. Got it.
Should we just go in with guns and kill off all the NICU babies and wipe out the cancer ward?
I have seen close family members melt away from cancer, or slip into oblivion from Alzheimer's. I have seen my dearly loved Grandfather, the strongest man I ever knew, get hacked apart because the doctors inability to treat blood clots in his legs. I sat their with my father in law as he died from liver cancer (very painful).
And you know what? Never once did they say “Oh, well. Kill me now”.
At the same time I have had friends take a handgun to their head because of some stupid girl. See, life was to horrible for him at that moment, and he stole his roommates service pistol and blew his brains out.
Suicide is not a “good” thing. It is not “heroic”. It is selfish, and in this case made worse by pushing an agenda. Soon, the treatment for cancer will be a nice pill and soft music till you die of an overdose. That is where this is headed. Not for terminally ill people, but for any who are hard to treat.
Some may applaud that. Some will say “Good! Look at all the savings we have from killing off all the unfit! Look at all the suffering we stopped them (and us) from having to deal with!” Right up to the point when it is decided that they have to die.
When she committed suicide she took her life into her own hands instead of saying "thy will be done".
>>As I wrote before to Vladimir998 that I am more compassionate than the god you worship.<<
God is compassionate and He is also just. If you want to decide what justice is for Him have at it. Jesus said to pray "not my will but thine be done". This lady decided it was her will not God's that was going to be done.
Brittany apparently thought the same thing. Have you ever thought that humans can be wrong sometimes?
No doubt some here will applaud knowing that so many are being "relieved of their suffering" each year, and are no longer a financial burden upon society.
Spot on. You nailed it.
Actually, I’ve been on death’s door and suffered more than most from an acute illness. I didn’t even think of suicide. The operation that cured my disease has left me with permanent issues. As I age I’ll probably have more problems. When ever things were worse God showed himself the brightest.
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