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Laying down one's life for oneself.

William E Stempsey

    Christian Bioethics
    |October 20, 2001
    PubMed
    Summary

    Roman Catholicism distinguishes between morally permissible and impermissible acts, including suicide. Catholic moral theology clarifies why physician-assisted suicide is considered wrong, differentiating it from Christian martyrdom.

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    Area of Science:

    • Medical Ethics
    • Religious Studies
    • Moral Theology

    Background:

    • Roman Catholicism has a long-standing ethical opposition to suicide.
    • Biblical texts do not explicitly condemn or condone suicide, presenting varied scenarios.
    • Distinguishing between different types of self-inflicted death is crucial for moral evaluation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze Roman Catholic perspectives on suicide and related ethical issues.
    • To differentiate Christian martyrdom from suicide within Catholic tradition.
    • To explain the moral reasoning behind the Catholic Church's stance on physician-assisted suicide.

    Main Methods:

    • Examination of Scripture for passages related to suicide.
    • Analysis of historical Roman Catholic Church Tradition and theological principles.
    • Application of the principles of double effect and cooperation in moral theology.

    Main Results:

    • Certain biblical cases interpreted as suicide can be morally distinguished.
    • Christian martyrdom is ethically distinct from suicide and does not support physician-assisted suicide.
    • Physician-assisted suicide is deemed morally impermissible for both patients and physicians.

    Conclusions:

    • Roman Catholic moral theology provides a framework for evaluating the morality of suicide.
    • The principles of double effect and cooperation are key to understanding the Church's opposition to physician-assisted suicide.
    • Catholic tradition consistently differentiates martyrdom from suicide, rejecting the latter.
    Keywords:
    Death and EuthanasiaReligious Approach

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