1. RESPECTING LIFE The 5 th Commandment

2. Thou Shall Not Kill The 5 th Commandment

3. Thou Shall Not Kill  The intentional killing or hurting of yourself or another.  Murder  Suicide  Moral Law  Respect human life from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death  Jesus teaches:  “put away all thoughts of anger/vengeance, love your enemy”  Beatitudes call us to be peacemakers

4. Natural Death?  God made us for eternal life; He did not create us to die. The original sin brings death into the world.  God shared His divine life with us, “God blew his breath into the man” (Gen. 2:7)  God is the author of life  Only God has the authority over life and death “It is I who bring both death and life” (Ps. 2:39)  Death is “unnatural to our nature”  Survival instinct We struggle against death

5. Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night  Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rage at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.  Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.  Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.  Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.  And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Dylan Thomas

6. Jesus’ Teachings  “You have heard it said…”  Do not kill; whoever kills will be liable to judgment.  An eye for an eye.  Hate your enemy  “But I say to you…”  Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment  Offer no resistance to one who is evil  Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you

7. Violations Against Life  Violent assaults  Rape  Torture  Terrorism  Hazing rituals  Bullying  Potentially harmful actions  DWI  Inattentive driving  Unnecessary risk taking  Endangerment by  Government  Business  Medical research

8. Beginning of Life Issues  Abortion  Direct and deliberate killing of an unborn child at any time in a pregnancy. Never permitted  Pre-natal testing  Permissible if it does not harm the baby and is done to safeguard or heal  Not permissible for use in deciding to abort the baby  Genetic engineering  The manipulation of the ovum or genetic code.  Permissible to give treatment or for prevention if not harmful to baby  Not permitted to create “designer baby”  Stem cell research  Collecting of stem cells for regeneration of degenerating organs.  Research done with adult stem cells is permitted  Using aborted babies or discarded embryos is not permitted  “The end does NOT justify the means”

9. End of Life Issues  Euthanasia  A direct action or deliberate lack of action that causes the death of a person who is handicapped, sick or dying.  Suicide  Deliberately taking one’s own life.  Assisted suicide is the same but with the help of another.  Treatment of the body after death.  The body is to be treated with reverence after death. The following practices are permissible under careful conditions  Autopsy, if necessary  Organ donation, with permission and with care  Cremation, with Christian Burial rites and interment or inurnment.

10. Peacemakers  War  Only permissible as a legitimate self-defense  Conscientious objector  Is just war possible?  Just War Criteria  Just cause  Comparative justice  Legitimate authority  Probability of success  Proportionate good  Last resort

11. Personal Health Issues  Responsibility to keep oneself healthy  Eat healthy  Exercise  Avoid harmful practices  Smoking  Drugs  Eating disorders