UNIT FIVE Life

I. Meaning of Life

What is it? 1. The meaning of life is to know, love, and serve God. What will make us happy here and in heaven I. Meaning of Life A.

What is it? 2. Our purpose on Earth is love. Accept God’s love and give it back to God and others. I. Meaning of Life A.

Life = Gift 1. Our lives are a gift from God Nobody has the right to destroy a human being. I. Meaning of Life B.

Life = Gift 2. Stewardship- taking care of someone else’s things. We are stewards, not owners of life. I. Meaning of Life B.

All Life is Sacred 1. All people are made in the image and likeness of God. Human dignity- the value each person has because they are made in God’s image and likeness I. Meaning of Life C.

All Life Is Sacred 2. Begins at conception and ends at natural death. “From womb to tomb” Beginning and end of all life belongs to God. I. Meaning of Life C.

Legitimate Defense 1. Legitimate Defense- limited violence is acceptable in defending yourself or your nation from attack. I. Meaning of Life D.

Legitimate Defense 2. Allows for you to defend yourself to preserve life. “Lesser of two evils” I. Meaning of Life D.

II. Abortion

What it is 1. Abortion- intentionally ending a pregnancy by killing an unborn child. II. Abortion A.

What it is 2. Abortion is legal in the United States Roe vs. Wade case legalized abortions in the United States. About 50 million abortions have been performed in the U.S. II. Abortion A.

Church teaching II. Abortion B. 1. Abortion is GRAVELY wrong. Having an abortion or helping someone have an abortion excommunicates (kicks out) you from the Church.

Church teaching II. Abortion B. 2. Only allowed to save the mother’s life Case of Legitimate defense

Why not? 1. We believe we are alive before we were born. Bible and scientific evidence back this up. II. Abortion C.

Why not? 2. We have the right to life from conception to natural death. We have to stand up for the rights of unborn children. II. Abortion C.

What else? 1. We must be sensative the difficulty faced by many people who consider abortions. Many feel “forced into it”. II. Abortion D.

What else? 2. Abortion is the worst possible choice for a crisis pregnancy. Causes great emotional pain. Adoption is ALWAYS a better option. II. Abortion D.

What else? 3. The Church offers forgiveness and reconciliation to women who have had abortions. Project Rachel II. Abortion D.

III. Stem Cell Research

What it is III. Stem Cell Research A. 1. Stem cell- an unspecialized cell that eventually develops into a specialized cell that the body needs. They make great research!

What it is III. Stem Cell Research A. 2. Stem cells for research come from adults and unborn babies. Easy to donate for adults. End the life of unborn babies when they are used.

What it is 3. No laws against it in the United States. Government recently (2009) re- started funding for embryonic research. Previously little government funding. III. Stem Cell Research A.

Church teaching III. Stem Cell Research B. 1. The Church is not opposed to most stem cell research, including cells from Adult tissues Umbilical cords Blood

Church teaching III. Stem Cell Research B. 2. The Church opposes research from: Living human embryos Aborted embryos Embryos from in-vitro fertilization

Why not? 1. We need to protect the rights of the unborn The research ends their chance of life, and encourages more loss of life. III. Stem Cell Research C.

Why not? 2. We can’t use another human being as research material. They don’t have a say in it. III. Stem Cell Research C.

IV. Human Cloning

What it is IV. Human Cloning A. 1. Cloning- creating a human being with the same genetic material a another human.

What it is IV. Human Cloning A. 2. Reproductive cloning- creating a “copy” of an adult, as an unborn baby. Your “identical twin”

What it is IV. Human Cloning A. 3. theraputic cloning- creating an unborn baby to donate matching organs. Using a person for “parts”

How it’s done IV. Human Cloning B. 1. Done by Removing genetic material from an egg cell Inserting genetic material from an adult.

How it’s done IV. Human Cloning B. 2. Has been done on different animals Dolly the sheep.

Church Teaching 3. The Church is against it because It’s an unworthy way to produce life. Uses a life for another person’s purposes. IV. Human Cloning C.

V. Euthanasia and Suicide

What it is V. Euthanasia and Suicide A. 1.Euthanasia- intentionally killing a handicapped, sick, or dying person. “assisted suicide” Administered by a doctor or other person.

What it is V. Euthanasia and Suicide A. 2. Euthanasia is illegal in all 50 states. Although Washington, Oregon, and Montana have laws that patients can administer life- ending medications themselves.

Church teaching V. Euthanasia and Suicide B. 1. Euthanasia is a serious moral wrong regardless of why it is committed. Against their dignity and against God, their creator. An “error in judgment” because we think it’s best for them.

Church teaching V. Euthanasia and Suicide B. 2. We must help those who are ill, suffering, or disabled live lives as normally as possible.

End of Life Decisions 1.We are not required to use burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary measures to keep someone alive. We don’t need to stop an inevitable death. V. Euthanasia and Suicide C.

End of Life Decisions 2. Must continue to give ordinary care to all people who are ill. Can use painkillers and medicines to ease their suffering, even if they risk shortening their life. V. Euthanasia and Suicide C.

About Suicide 1. Suicide is a serious sin against God… We are stewards, not owners of life. A waste of God’s gift to us. V. Euthanasia and Suicide D.

About Suicide 2. against ourselves… Goes against our natural desire to protect our lives. Hatred toward yourself. V. Euthanasia and Suicide D.

About Suicide 3. And against others… Devastating to our friends and families. We all lose the gift of that person. V. Euthanasia and Suicide D.

Understanding Suicide 1. People that commit suicide are often not in control. Depression and psychological disturbances. pain and suffering Emotional distress and fear V. Euthanasia and Suicide E.

Understanding Suicide 2.Suicide is not the “unforgivable sin”. God can save people who take their lives. We must pray for them V. Euthanasia and Suicide E.

VI. War

Just War Theory VI. War A. 1.War opens the door to many evils and injustices. Loss of soldiers, families Refugees Poverty

What it is VI. War A. 2.God calls us to be peacemakers and to pray for peace.

What it is VI. War A. 3.We are allowed to defend our countries when war is inevitable. A just war must meet all seven conditions.

Conditions of a Just War 1. Just cause- you are using war to correct a grave, public evil. Ex: Fighting Nazis in WW2 VI. War B.

Conditions of a Just War 2. Right Intention- only fighting for your just cause. Don’t fight to start up the economy! VI. War B.

Conditions of a Just War 3. Legitimate Authority- command given by public authority Don’t declare war if you’re not congress. VI. War B.

Conditions of a Just War 4. Comparative Justice- the good you achieve in war must outweigh the deaths in the war. “Lesser of two evils” VI. War B.

Conditions of a Just War 5. Proportionality- the good you achieve must outweigh the damage. Fighting must be proportional to the cause. You must avoid civilian deaths. VI. War B.

Conditions of a Just War 6. Probability of Success- you must have a chance to win. Can’t give up all you have in futile attempt. VI. War B.

Conditions of a Just War 7. Last Resort- you must have tried all peaceful alternatives. All else must have failed. VI. War B.

VII. Capital Punishment

What it is VII. Capital Punishment A. 1. Capital Punishment- Putting criminals who commit serious crimes to death. AKA: death penalty

What it is VII. Capital Punishment A. 2. Capital punishment is legal only for types of murder in the United States. 36 of 50 States (2012), including Maryland use death penalty. Not used in Washington, DC.

Church teaching VII. Capital Punishment B. 1. Capital punishment is moral only when it is impossible to defend lives without it. Only in legitimate defense.

Church teaching VII. Capital Punishment B. 2. In the U.S. and almost all societies, the Church teaches against the death penalty. We can prisons that can protect us from criminals.

Why 1. Even criminals have human dignity. Killing a criminal for killing someone does not witness to the value of human life. VII. Capital Punishment C.

Why 2. We must imitate the love and mercy of God. Jesus told us to be reconciled to our enemies. VII. Capital Punishment C.

Why 3. It is a “thing of the past” Not necessary with modern justice system. VII. Capital Punishment C.

Other Life Issues 1. Genocide- mass killings of a group of people. The Holocaust Problems in Sudan VII. Capital Punishment D.

Other Life Issues 2. Scandal- an attitude or behavior that leads another to do evil. Persuading others to do wrong VII. Capital Punishment D.