You Shall Not Kill
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
12 Jun 2011
Euthanasia means killing someone. Supporters prefer to emphasise ending suffering "dying with dignity", but whatever arguments are used euthanasia means the killing of an innocent person; usually one who is weak and vulnerable because of illness or disability.
Boiling the issue down like this is not being emotive, but simply a way of keeping the crucial issue clearly in sight. You shall not kill. You shall not destroy innocent human life. Every human being has a right to life.
There is confusion about euthanasia and good palliative care. It is not euthanasia to discontinue medical treatment or life-support when they have become useless or too much to bear. Catholic teaching and Australian law allow this, even if death is likely to follow.
It is also morally permissible to alleviate pain even with dosages of medication which may shorten the life of the patient, because the intention is to relieve pain, not to end life. Death is not willed, only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable.
Euthanasia is not "dying with dignity". Nothing can take away our basic dignity as human beings; not even the humiliations and weakness caused by suffering and dying. We continue to exist in God's image, unlike the animals.
Dying with dignity means accepting the human condition and the love and support of others, as we wait for death to come naturally. It is never easy.
Euthanasia undermines the dignity of people who are sick, vulnerable, dependent and disadvantaged. They become burdens, too expensive to keep. Unsurprisingly disabled people and Indigenous Australians who have often suffered because of others denying their human dignity, strongly oppose euthanasia. A recent UK survey found 70% of disabled people said legalisation of assisted suicide would pressure them to end their lives prematurely. They recognise that euthanasia is not a right or a freedom. It is a threat.
There are three essential principles here: human life has special value because it is created by God as a gift to each of us; we should do only what is good; and we are not permitted to do wrong, even if we intend good to come from it.
The task for all pro-life forces is to explain to society today why it is still wrong to kill the sick and the dying; why it is wrong to take innocent human life.
It can be hard to stand up for the truth. But attacks on human life will become much worse if we don't.
