One the social doctrine themes of the Church is that of the dignity to life, a subject that has close relationship with the situation of the world. The world has come to a place where there are many deliberations and discussions on the issue of life and taking away of life. This is through the different debates that have been raised on moral and ethical issues surrounding the powers to take away or withhold life. The church has taken a position on this issue arguing that they are pro-life and that human life is sacred. The church has argued that the life of human persons is sacred and the dignity to the protection and respect to this life must be upheld. The church has continued to advocate for the need for all forms of life for the human person to be protected and upheld (Woodhead, 2006). This has come amidst new debates in the world on the issues of abortion, suicide, human cloning, death/capital punishment, physician assisted suicide, terrorism and mass shootings and so on. The focus of this study would be to analyze the position of the church in this thematic area vis-à-vis the situation around the world.
2.0 Analysis and Discussion
One central social doctrine of the church has been that of life and its sanctity. The church has come out vocally arguing that life is sacred, it is given by God, and no one should have the authority to alter or terminate the life of an individual. According to the church, life is sacred and not all matters as pertains life are an issue that humanity should handle. Instead, the church argues that the life of human beings should be protected and upheld (Woodhead, 2006). The dignity of the human person is seen through the life that is inherent in them, which was given to them by God. The church holds that the corporate responsibility of humanity is to understand that life is sacred and should not be interfered with for whatever the reasons that seems necessary. No reason could justify the need to terminate or alter the life that is inherent in the human person. This is on the basis that all humans are created by God who breathed life into them and no one has the authority to challenge the life that is a person.
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The issue of life and Dignity of the Human Person is one that has continued to hit the public debate following the current issues of life. The top issues that are presented today include the issues of abortion, suicide, human cloning, death/capital punishment, physician assisted suicide, terrorism and mass shootings and so on. Beginning with the issue of abortion, a few states in the US have legalized abortion. Besides, a few organizations continue to support abortion especially in the early years of the fetus development arguing that at these stages, life has not begun (Spaemann, 2012). The issue of abortion has raised other key public debates on the way lives have been destroyed by pregnant mothers who for a reason or another are not willing to carry the pregnancy to term. The church has confronted this issue with the message that abortion amounts to killing and should not be encouraged. As a matter of concern, the church defends on the need for abortion to be criminalized and one that should not be allowed to take place for it aids the destruction of young lives.
The other issue in the world that touches on life and the dignity of the human person is that of assisted suicide. The recent past has seen increased number of debate on assisted suicide, normally referred to as physican-assisted suicide. This is the case where the physician assists a person to commit suicide in the event the person is going through chronic and painful disease or condition. It is a form of suicide where a dying person may request the physician to terminate their life (Gushee, 2013).The church has come actively on this issue claiming that assisted suicide contravenes the commands of God not to kill. The church defends that all life, regardless of the state of the person is God owned. This means that no one has the mandate to give life at the same time; no one has the mandate to terminate life. According to the church, there is no justification for terminating the life of a person through either suicide or assisted suicide.
Lastly, the world has also seen increased debates and deliberations on the issues surrounding capital punishments. Numerous countries such as China and Singapore continue to practice death penalty. In these countries, an offender condemned to death would be killed through court sentences. The church has raised its voice on this matter defending the need for capital punishment to be stopped (Benestad, 2011). The church argues that all life belongs to God and is sacred and courts should not have the mandate to determine who lives and who does not. The church has raised key voice on the need for amendments to laws that permit individuals or courts to sentence people with death penalties. According to the church, death penalty contravenes the commandment. ‘’though shall not kill’’ and therefore, should not be encouraged. The church position has been the need for States to consider other forms of punishment other than the death penalty.
Conclusion
On overall, the church looks at life as sacred and one where humanity should not be allowed to interfere with. The church teaches that all human life is sacred and not only that but also that the dignity of human life is the foundation of biblical truths. As a result of this view, individuals do not have the power to challenge or interfere with their own as well as the lives of other people. Amidst the key issues of abortion, assisted suicide, and death penalty, the church defends that the life inherent in a living person should be protected. The church argues that humans have the responsibility of protecting their lives and that of others for human life is under direct attack from the introduction as well as legalization of new practices such as abortion and euthanasia. As seen, the church defends that every human persons are valuable in the eyes of God. Every human life is precious and a gift from God that should not be interfered with by humanity (Boileau, 2008). The basis of this argument is the belief that humans were created in the image and likeness of God and the life they were given should not be taken away from them by other humans. Regardless of any factors, the church holds that all individuals have an inherent and immeasurable worth and dignity; which should be protected and upheld.
References
Boileau, D. (2008). Principles of Catholic Social Teaching. NewYork: Marquette University Press.
Benestad, B. (2011). Church, State, and Society. London: CUA Press.
Gushee, P. (2013). The Sacredness of Human Life. NewYork: Eerdmans Publishing.
Spaemann, R. (2012). Love and the Dignity of Human Life. London: Eerdmans Publishing.
Woodhead, L. (2006). God and Human Dignity. NewYork: Eerdmans Publishing.
Woodhead, L. (2006). God and Human Dignity. London: Eerdmans Publishing.
