EUTHANASIA IS ALWAYS THE TAKING OF A LIFE: HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV
October 8, 2017
HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV CLARIFIES CHURCH POSITION ON M.A.I.D., PALLIATIVE CARE, MERCY AND HUMAN SUFFERING
From a Christian perspective, euthanasia is always a crime, homicide, in that we prematurely, directly and deliberately end a person's life. The Father and Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, clarified this position during an extensive interactive interview on 'Living TV'. The particular program was dedicated to the theme 'The Gift of Life' that dealt with end of life issues and palliative care.
The Primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church noted that contemporary society speaks about so-called assisted suicide (aka. medical assistance in dying, ed.) appealing to the request by patients that a drug be given that will kill them in order to end their suffering. His Beatitude, who not only is an expert in moral theology, but has a background in practical medicine, observed that 'modern medicine has many remedies that are able to reduce the individual human suffering of a person. Very often the request for suicide that we hear is a cry from the soul… the cry of a person in despair that simply needs help'.
He explained that the Church does not regard euthanasia as an act of mercy toward a seriously ill individual. The term 'euthanasia' can be translated as a 'sweet death'. Euthanasia was known yet in ancient Roman times as a means to die easily without what was regarded as needless suffering. Pope St. John Paul II referred to euthanasia as ‘fake mercy'. From a moral perspective this is murder when we consciously and willingly artificially end a human life.'
'One who wants to promote such procedures (i.e. medical assistance in dying, ed.) will find many justifications and motives. However, the Christian view is that euthanasia is always a crime, is murder, in that we directly, intentionally and willingly end the life of a person before his/her time.'
Source: UGCC Department of Information
