'A Knife into My Heart': Cries, Compassion and Ethical Life

Area of Science:

• Theological Ethics
• Bioethics
• Pastoral Theology

Background:

• The paper addresses the ethical implications of discrimination, particularly concerning individuals with disabilities.
• It centers on Heidi Crowter's personal testimony regarding prenatal discrimination and its emotional impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for a person-centered ethical approach, inspired by theological ethics.
• To analyze Crowter's statement through the lens of "the knife," "the heart," and "the person."
• To explore the development of an ethical society, with a focus on ecclesial life.

Main Methods:

• Following Heidi Crowter's personal narrative and testimony.
• Applying principles from theological ethics to bioethical and pastoral contexts.
• Analyzing key elements of Crowter's lived experience: "the knife," "the heart," and "the person."

Main Results:

• A theological ethical framework supports a person-centered approach to bioethics and pastoral care.
• Crowter's experience highlights profound emotional and value-based impacts of discrimination.
• The analysis provides a foundation for theological reflection on creating a more ethical society.

Conclusions:

• A person-centered ethical framework, grounded in theological ethics, is valuable for bioethics and pastoral theology.
• Understanding the subjective experience of discrimination is crucial for ethical deliberation.
• Theological reflection can guide the development of ethical institutions and practices within ecclesial communities.