Family Life Office

To see Christian love as the animating principal of health care
To see healing and compassion as a continuation of Christ’s mission
To see suffering as a participation in the redemptive power of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection
To see death, transformed by the resurrection, as an opportunity for a final act of communion with Christ

Created in God’s image and likeness, the human family shares in the dominion that Christ manifested in His healing ministry.

Through science the human race comes to understand God’s wonderful work
Through technology it must conserve, protect, and perfect nature in harmony with God’ purposes
Health care professionals pursue a special vocation to share in carrying forth God’s life-giving and healing work

DECLARATION ON EUTHANASIA (USCCB)

“Most people regard life as something sacred and hold that no one may dispose of it at will, but believers see in life something greater, namely a gift of God’s love, which they are called upon to preserve and make fruitful.”

No one can make an attempt on the life of an innocent person without opposing God’s love for that person, with out violating a fundamental right and therefore without committing a crime of the utmost gravity.
Everyone has the duty to lead his or her life in accordance with God’s plan. That life is entrusted to the individual as a good that must bear fruit here on earth, but that finds its full perfection only in eternal life.
Intentionally causing one's own death, or suicide, is therefore equally as wrong as murder ... at times there are psychological factors present that can diminish responsibility or even completely remove it.

EUTHANASIA: An action or omission which of itself or by intention causes death, in order that all suffering may in this way be eliminated.

Terms of reference: the intention of the will and in the methods used. It is necessary to state firmly once more that nothing and no one in any way permit the killing of an innocent human being, whether a fetus or an embryo, and infant or adult, an old person, or one suffering from an incurable disease, or a person who is dying. Furthermore, no one is permitted to ask for this act of killing, either for himself or herself or for another person entrusted to his or her care, nor can he or she consent to it, either explicitly or implicitly. Nor can any authority legitimately recommend or permit such an action. “This does not mean that all possible remedies must be used in all circumstances. One is not obliged to use either ‘extraordinary’ means or ‘disproportionate’ means of preserving life.”

ADVANCE DIRECTIVES: it is helpful to prayerfully ponder dying and death in the context of trust in our faithful and loving God. The trust is important as we discuss our feelings and desires with our families and physicians. We are concerned with situations in which we no longer are able to make our own decisions about health care. To follow up your prayer and discussion with a written document. There are two different kinds:

LIVING WILL: A statement prepared in advance so that people, while competent, can direct their families and physicians concerning the type of treatment they want or don’t want if they become terminally ill and incompetent; a legal document in the state of Ohio.
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE: In this document an individual gives another person the legal authority to make health care decisions when he/she is no longer able to do so. The decisions are made by the appointed person … are based on the current medical condition of the patient and on the patient’s previously expressed desires concerning treatment ... this form of dealing with dying and death situations seems to be preferable. It provides both for the respecting the individual’s desire concerning treatment and for current informed consent made by the individual appointed by the patient after careful consideration with doctors, nurses and chaplains.

CARING FOR THOSE WHO ARE CHRONICALLY ILL, DISABLED, OR DYING (Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities, USCCB)

Reach out to those in the parish family or the broader community who are dying, particularly those who are at risk of dying alone, and keep company with them; provide support to the families, especially with difficult end-of-life decisions; encourage people to volunteer or provide other assistance to the local hospice
Encourage physicians and other health professionals to provide appropriate palliative care
Foster prayers, at Mass and in homes, for those dying and their families to receive the respect and care they need to be comforted by the peace of Christ
Develop and support programs of respite care for families caring for seriously ill members at home, programs of visitations to nursing homes, or perhaps even parish nurse programs
Foster efforts to fully welcome persons with disabilities into the Church community