Sunday, December 31, 2017
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 379 – Part IV.
(Youcat
answer - repeated) Murder and acting as an accomplice to murder are forbidden.
Killing unarmed civilians during a war is forbidden. The abortion of a human
being, from the moment of conception on, is forbidden. Suicide,
self-mutilation, and self-destructive behavior are forbidden. Euthanasia — killing the handicapped, the sick,
and the dying — is also forbidden.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 2273
a) The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and
its legislation: "The inalienable rights of the person must be
recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These
human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they
represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human
nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which
the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in
this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the
moment of conception until death" (CDF, Donum vitae III).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) Today people often try to get around the
Fifth Commandment with seemingly humane arguments. But neither euthanasia nor
abortion is a humane solution. That is why the Church is perfectly clear on
these questions. Whoever participates in an abortion, forces a woman to undergo
an abortion, or merely advises her to do so is automatically excommunicated
just as with other crimes against human life. If a psychologically ill person
commits suicide, responsibility for the act of killing is often diminished and
in many cases completely annulled.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 2273
b) "The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the
protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying
the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at
the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more
vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined.... As
a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn
child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal
sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights" (CDF, Donum vitae III).
(This question: What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the
Fifth Commandment? is continued)
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 379 – Part III.
YOUCAT Question n. 379 – Part III. What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment?
(Youcat
answer - repeated) Murder and acting as an accomplice to murder are forbidden.
Killing unarmed civilians during a war is forbidden. The abortion of a human being,
from the moment of conception on, is forbidden. Suicide, self-mutilation, and
self-destructive behavior are forbidden. Euthanasia — killing the handicapped, the sick, and the
dying — is also forbidden.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 2272)
Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church
attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human
life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae" (CIC, can. 1398),
"by the very commission of the offense" (CIC, can. 1314), and subject
to the conditions provided by Canon Law (Cf. CIC, cann. 1323-1324). The Church
does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear
the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent
who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) Today people often try to get around the
Fifth Commandment with seemingly humane arguments. But neither euthanasia nor
abortion is a humane solution. That is why the Church is perfectly clear on
these questions. Whoever participates in an abortion, forces a woman to undergo
an abortion, or merely advises her to do so is automatically excommunicated
just as with other crimes against human life. If a psychologically ill person
commits suicide, responsibility for the act of killing is often diminished and
in many cases completely annulled.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 2274)
Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be
defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any
other human being. Prenatal diagnosis
is morally licit, "if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and
the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an
individual.... It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with
the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a
diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence" (CDF, Donum vitae I, 2).
(This question: What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment? is continued)
Friday, December 29, 2017
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 379 – Part II.
YOUCAT Question n. 379 – Part II. What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment?
(Youcat
answer - repeated) Murder and acting as an accomplice to murder are forbidden.
Killing unarmed civilians during a war is forbidden. The abortion of a human
being, from the moment of conception on, is forbidden. Suicide,
self-mutilation, and self-destructive behavior are forbidden. Euthanasia — killing the handicapped, the sick,
and the dying — is also forbidden.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 2270)
Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of
conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be
recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable
right of every innocent being to life
(Cf. CDF, Donum vitae I, 1). Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you (Jer 1:5; cf. Job 10:8-12; Ps
22:10-11). My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,
intricately wrought in the depths of the earth (Ps 139:15).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) Today people often try to get around the
Fifth Commandment with seemingly humane arguments. But neither euthanasia nor
abortion is a humane solution. That is why the Church is perfectly clear on
these questions. Whoever participates in an abortion, forces a woman to undergo
an abortion, or merely advises her to do so is automatically excommunicated
just as with other crimes against human life. If a psychologically ill person
commits suicide, responsibility for the act of killing is often diminished and
in many cases completely annulled.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 2271)
Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every
procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.
Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means,
is gravely contrary to the moral law: You shall not kill the embryo by abortion
and shall not cause the newborn to perish (Didache
2, 2: SCh 248, 148; cf. Ep. Barnabae
19, 5: PG 2, 777; Ad Diognetum 5, 6:
PG 2, 1173; Tertullian, Apol. 9: PL
1, 319-320). God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of
safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves.
Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception:
abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes (GS 51 § 3).
(This question: What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment? is continued)
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 379 – Part I.
YOUCAT Question n. 379 – Part I. What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment?
(Youcat
answer) Murder and acting as an accomplice to murder are forbidden. Killing
unarmed civilians during a war is forbidden. The abortion of a human being,
from the moment of conception on, is forbidden. Suicide, self-mutilation, and
self-destructive behavior are forbidden. Euthanasia — killing the handicapped, the sick, and the
dying — is also forbidden.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 2268)
The fifth commandment forbids direct and
intentional killing as gravely sinful. The murderer and those who cooperate
voluntarily in murder commit a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance (Cf.
Gen 4:10). Infanticide (Cf. GS 51 § 3), fratricide, parricide, and the murder
of a spouse are especially grave crimes by reason of the natural bonds which
they break. Concern for eugenics or public health cannot justify any murder,
even if commanded by public authority.
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) Today people often try to get around the
Fifth Commandment with seemingly humane arguments. But neither euthanasia nor
abortion is a humane solution. That is why the Church is perfectly clear on
these questions. Whoever participates in an abortion, forces a woman to undergo
an abortion, or merely advises her to do so is automatically excommunicated
just as with other crimes against human life. If a psychologically ill person
commits suicide, responsibility for the act of killing is often diminished and
in many cases completely annulled.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 2269)
The fifth commandment forbids doing anything with the intention of indirectly
bringing about a person's death. The moral law prohibits exposing someone to
mortal danger without grave reason, as well as refusing assistance to a person
in danger. The acceptance by human society of murderous famines, without
efforts to remedy them, is a scandalous injustice and a grave offense. Those
whose usurious and avaricious dealings lead to the hunger and death of their
brethren in the human family indirectly commit homicide, which is imputable to
them (Cf. Am 8:4-10). Unintentional killing is not morally
imputable. But one is not exonerated from grave offense if, without
proportionate reasons, he has acted in a way that brings about someone's death,
even without the intention to do so.
(This question: What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment? is continued)
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 378 – Part II.
YOUCAT Question n. 378 – Part II. Why is it not permissible to take one’s own life or the lives of others?
(Youcat
answer - repeated) God alone is Lord over life and death. Except in the case of
legitimate self-defense of oneself or another, no one may kill another human
being.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 2260)
The covenant between God and mankind is interwoven with reminders of God's gift
of human life and man's murderous violence: For your lifeblood I will surely
require a reckoning.... Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood
be shed; for God made man in his own image (Gen 9:5-6). The Old Testament
always considered blood a sacred sign of life (Cf. Lev 17:14). This teaching
remains necessary for all time. (CCC 2261) Scripture specifies the prohibition
contained in the fifth commandment: "Do not slay the innocent and the
righteous" (Ex 23:7). The deliberate murder of an innocent person is
gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being, to the golden rule, and to
the holiness of the Creator. The law forbidding it is universally valid: it
obliges each and everyone, always and everywhere.
Reflecting
and meditating
(Youcat comment) An attack on life is a sacrilege committed
against God. Human life is sacred; this means that it belongs to God; it is his
property. Even our own life is only entrusted to us. God himself has given us
the gift of life; only he may take it back from us. The Book of Exodus,
translated literally, says “You shall not murder” (Ex 20:13).
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 2318) "In [God's] hand is the life of every living
thing and the breath of all mankind" (Job 12:10). (CCC 2319) Every human life, from the moment of conception until
death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in
the image and likeness of the living and holy God. (CCC 2320) The murder
of a human being is gravely contrary to the dignity of the person and the
holiness of the Creator.
(The next question is: What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment?)
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