The Fifth The Fifth CommandmentCommandment““Thou shall not kill”Thou shall not kill”

The sanctity of human lifeThe sanctity of human life

God – author of lifeGod – author of life

God gives humans the duty of guarding their God gives humans the duty of guarding their own lives and the lives of those around themown lives and the lives of those around them

Human life has its origin in God and is Human life has its origin in God and is dependent on Himdependent on Him

Christianity rejects autonomy (dependence on Christianity rejects autonomy (dependence on oneself) and heteronomy (dependence on oneself) and heteronomy (dependence on someone else) and accepts only theonomy someone else) and accepts only theonomy (dependence on God.(dependence on God.

Respect for human lifeRespect for human life

Killing an innocent person is a grave sin Killing an innocent person is a grave sin contrary to the natural law, the dignity of the contrary to the natural law, the dignity of the person, and the holiness of the Creator.person, and the holiness of the Creator.

Jesus adds two elements to the fifth Jesus adds two elements to the fifth commandment – any offense that violates the commandment – any offense that violates the dignity of a person is condemned and no one dignity of a person is condemned and no one can be reconciled with God if he is not can be reconciled with God if he is not reconciled with his neighbor.reconciled with his neighbor.

Conservation of existing Conservation of existing lifelife

Duty to conserve one’s own lifeDuty to conserve one’s own life Legitimate self-defense is morally Legitimate self-defense is morally

acceptable, but only the force necessary to acceptable, but only the force necessary to repel an attack is permittedrepel an attack is permitted

No one should end one’s own lifeNo one should end one’s own life Each person has the duty to take care of his Each person has the duty to take care of his

own life (illegal drugs and excessive use of own life (illegal drugs and excessive use of alcohol are forbidden)/alcohol are forbidden)/

Respect for the life of Respect for the life of othersothers

Taking the life of an innocent person is a Taking the life of an innocent person is a serious offenseserious offense MurderMurder HomicideHomicide KidnappingKidnapping TortureTorture TerrorismTerrorism

Rights of the unbornRights of the unborn

Abortion – causing the death of a child before Abortion – causing the death of a child before he can survive outside the womb.he can survive outside the womb. Spontaneous – occurring naturallySpontaneous – occurring naturally Induced – brought about through human Induced – brought about through human

interventionintervention Eugenic – malformation of the fetusEugenic – malformation of the fetus Therapeutic – cases of rapeTherapeutic – cases of rape Psychological/psychosocial – for psychological, economic, Psychological/psychosocial – for psychological, economic,

or social reasonsor social reasons All induced abortion is gravely sinful.All induced abortion is gravely sinful.

AbortionAbortion

The magisterium of the Church has The magisterium of the Church has consistently proclaimed the gravely sinful consistently proclaimed the gravely sinful nature of abortion throughout history.nature of abortion throughout history.

Condemnation found in the Didache (first Condemnation found in the Didache (first century Church text).century Church text).

The Code of Canon Law imposes the The Code of Canon Law imposes the punishment of excommunication for punishment of excommunication for those involved in abortions.those involved in abortions.

Capital punishmentCapital punishment

Evangelium Vitae formally confirmed the Evangelium Vitae formally confirmed the church’s use of the death penalty.church’s use of the death penalty.

It is seen as an extreme measure that It is seen as an extreme measure that should not be done except in cases of should not be done except in cases of absolute necessity.absolute necessity.

These cases are very rare if not These cases are very rare if not nonexistent.nonexistent.

EuthanasiaEuthanasia

An action or an omission which of itself or by An action or an omission which of itself or by intention causes death.intention causes death.

Must be distinguished from the decision to Must be distinguished from the decision to forgo aggressive medical treatmentforgo aggressive medical treatment To take directly the life of a sick person is murderTo take directly the life of a sick person is murder Extraordinary means to maintain life are never Extraordinary means to maintain life are never

requiredrequired Ordinary means of sustaining life are requiredOrdinary means of sustaining life are required

ScandalScandal

Attitude or behavior that leads another to Attitude or behavior that leads another to do evil.do evil.

Those in authority have a special Those in authority have a special responsibility to avoid scandal/responsibility to avoid scandal/

Scandal can be provoked by laws, Scandal can be provoked by laws, institutions, fashion, entertainment, and institutions, fashion, entertainment, and opinions.opinions.

Just warJust war

Everything reasonable must be done to avoid Everything reasonable must be done to avoid the evils of war.the evils of war.

Legitimate defense by military force requiresLegitimate defense by military force requires Damage inflicted by the aggressor must be lasting, Damage inflicted by the aggressor must be lasting,

grave, and certaingrave, and certain All other means to end the conflict must be found to All other means to end the conflict must be found to

be ineffectivebe ineffective Serious prospect of successSerious prospect of success The use of arms must not produce more evil than The use of arms must not produce more evil than

the evil to be eliminated.the evil to be eliminated.

Organ transplantsOrgan transplants

Removing an organ or limb to save the Removing an organ or limb to save the live of a seriously ill person is morally live of a seriously ill person is morally permissible.permissible.

Organ transplants are morally Organ transplants are morally permissible.permissible.

CloningCloning

Cloning on human beings is condemned Cloning on human beings is condemned by Donum vitae.by Donum vitae.

Cloning, in vitro fertilization, artificial Cloning, in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, and the use of frozen insemination, and the use of frozen embryos are condemned since they embryos are condemned since they reduce human beings to objects.reduce human beings to objects.

Illicit drug and alcohol Illicit drug and alcohol use and smokinguse and smoking

These are forbidden since they reduce These are forbidden since they reduce the human’s ability to think clearly and the human’s ability to think clearly and can be dangerous to one’s health.can be dangerous to one’s health.

SterilizationSterilization

Can be defined as depriving a person of Can be defined as depriving a person of his or her procreative capability.his or her procreative capability. Direct sterilization – intended to destroy Direct sterilization – intended to destroy

procreative capabilityprocreative capability Indirect sterilization – secondary result of a Indirect sterilization – secondary result of a

different medical procedure.different medical procedure.