The Face of Mercy / Daniel Conway

Despite what some tell us, euthanasia is not merciful

“The acceptance of our body as a gift from God is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home. Whereas thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy an absolute power over creation. Learning to accept your body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine human ecology.” (Pope Francis, “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home,” #155)

A commonly used euphemism for euthanasia (taking the life of someone who is considered to be terminally ill) is “mercy killing.” But as Pope Francis has repeatedly taught, euthanasia is not merciful.

Contrary to an increasingly accepted—and often legal—opinion, euthanasia does not promote personal freedom or result in a “good death” versus a death that is degrading or inhuman.

According to the Holy Father, “The practice of euthanasia, which has already been legalized in several countries, apparently is intended to promote personal freedom. In reality, it is based on a utilitarian view of the person. They are seen as useless or equated with a cost, if from the medical point of view they have no hope of improvement or can no longer avoid pain.”

This is not a Christian view of the human person made in the image and likeness of God and, in this case, in the image of the suffering and dying Jesus. Christ suffered egregious pain and a humiliating death for our sake, and those of us who are his disciples are called to see him in every person who suffers no matter how hopeless his or her condition.

Our responsibility—first and foremost—is to love the sick as Jesus did. Countless instances and parables throughout the New Testament show Jesus and his disciples expressing their love and concern for the sick and dying.

“We are experiencing a strong universal trend toward the legalization of euthanasia,” Pope Francis says. “Even in these harsh circumstances, if the person feels loved, respected, and accepted, the negative shadow of euthanasia disappears or becomes almost nonexistent. This is because the value of his/her being is measured by the ability to give and receive love, and not by his/her productivity.” Even (or especially) in the worst possible circumstances, the pope asks us to treat the sick with “respect for their autonomy and with a heavy burden of availability, understanding and dialogue.”

Like abortion, capital punishment and other serious life issues, euthanasia assumes that we (the family, the medical community or the state) have the authority to end a human life. This directly contradicts our most fundamental conviction as Christians. God alone is the Lord of life. He alone has absolute power over human life. We do not have the right to decide who lives or dies. In fact, we are called to be responsible stewards of this most precious gift who do everything we can to preserve human life and, ultimately, when we have exhausted all our human resources, to trust the terminally ill to God’s love and mercy.

“We are currently living in a time in which life is experimented on. … Bad experiments,” the pope says.

“In a time in which ‘life is played with,’ beware! This is a sin against the Creator! Against God the Creator!”

Those who advocate for euthanasia often display what Pope Francis calls “false compassion” toward those who are in terrible pain as they prepare to die.

Compassion is vitally important, of course, and the pope has repeatedly called on doctors and other health care professionals to treat the sick and the dying with humanity and genuine compassion. The true meaning of compassion, the Holy Father believes, is to “suffer-with” (the meaning of compassion) another human being, to share in their suffering at a deeply personal, spiritual level.

No man or woman should be viewed as “useless” or “unworthy.” Regardless of their condition, the gravely ill deserve the best we can give them. Even when all medical procedures need to be discontinued, there is no excuse for withdrawing love, comfort and the presence of caring persons who can accompany them in the final stages of life’s journey.

As Christians, it is our sacred duty to give comfort and hope to all who are in danger of death. Hope may not mean a miraculous cure, but it does mean that those who are dying will find life in Christ and the fellowship of brothers and sisters who truly care for them.
 

(Daniel Conway is a member of The Criterion’s editorial committee.) †