RIGHT TO LIFE

 

Outline

 

1.  Life is sacred

2.  People with disabilities

3.  People not yet born or near death

4.  Capital crimes and war

 

1.  Life is Sacred     

                                               

God made human life in his image for his glory

We must respect the dignity of everyone

It is not our right to end any human life

Society has a duty to provide a good     

       environment for all

We need a culture of life, not one of death

 

2.  People with Disabilities     

 

Those with disabilities have a right to a decent life

       e. g. the blind,  deaf, lame, mentally retarded

We should not discriminate against them

Government should provide help for them 

       to participate in society

 

3.  People Not Yet Born or Near Death     

 

A human being is a person from the time of conception

An unborn child is human, and has a right to live

We do not have the right to kill him or her

An old person has the right to keep living

We cannot deny the usual needs of life

There is no obligation to use extraordinary

       means to stay alive

Euthanasia is morally wrong

 

4.  Capital Crimes and War     

 

Many consider capital punishment wrong

Bishops in our country strongly oppose it

The church permits the death penalty

       for good reasons, but it is never desirable

Life imprisonment is a sufficient penalty 

War in self defense is permitted

Possible gain must outweigh human cost

       and suffering, and it must be a last resort

It is difficult to imagine justifying a nuclear war

 

 

CPPoole August 26, 1999,October 13, 2005