Instructions:

give the directives of the Magisterium or the teachings of the Church, critically analyze, reflect,
discuss, give individual opinion and apply the moral teachings.

Euthanasia
Directives of the Magisterium/ teachings of the church:
“Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of
handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. Thus an act or omission which,
of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely
contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator.
The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this
murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.” – CCC2277
Human life must be respected because it is sacred. From its beginning, human life involves the
creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its
sole end. It is not lawful for anyone directly destroy an innocent human being. This is gravely
contrary to the dignity of the holiness of the Creator. “Do not slay the innocent and the
righteous” – Exodus 23:7 (CCCC 466)
Individual Opinion:
Our struggles in life is what gives meaning to it. As Christians death is not the end for us but a
new beginning in the kingdom of God and interfering with the cycle of life hinders this.
Euthanasia is a choice of giving up on the life given to us by God and this is unacceptable to the
church. The church deeply cares about easing the pain and suffering of God’s people in the
world. Christ himself once said “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew
11:28-30). Here Christ emphasizes to those who have labored and burdened that he will give rest
to them. He also recognizes that suffering is an inescapable aspect of life and that this suffering
ultimately unites us to God. Also quoting from C.S. Lewis is that “God whispers to us in our
pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf
world.” We are created in the image and likeness of God and this indeed makes us valuable.
Euthanasia is not something that is acceptable nor that is something that should done by
doctors/physicians because they took an oath (Hippocratic Oath) which includes that “I will
neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this
effect.”

Abortion

Given the divisiveness of this issue in contemporary America, it is not surprising that teens
would be unsure what they should believe in regards to abortion. Further compounding this
problem is the seeming silence of the Church on this issue. While the Church has a clear and
strong position on the issue of abortion, in recent years the Church has not taken an active part in
the public debate and discussion of this issue. Abortion also is not part of the formal church
school curriculum, or other formal teen and adult discussion forums on the parish level. The
Church has not been silent because she does not care, but because many in the church feel the
Church’s position is well known. It is apparent from the survey that whether it is or is not well
know, many teens are unsure what they should believe concerning abortion.

Teens were asked three different forms of this question in the survey. They were first asked, “Is
it right or wrong to have an abortion for reasons other than to save the life of the mother?” to
which 67 percent said it was wrong, only 5 percent said it was right and 27 percent were unsure.
They were then asked, “Is it right or wrong to have an abortion to save the physical life of the
mother?” to this question 38 percent saw it as right, which is the one occasion upon which the
Church understands the possible need for a couple to choose to have an abortion, 20 percent saw
it as wrong and 41 percent were unsure if it was right or wrong. Teens were then asked, “Is it
right or wrong to have an abortion for any reason?” less than 3 percent thought it was right, 63
percent thought it was wrong and 33 percent were unsure if it was right or wrong. It was clear
from the survey that while a slim majority saw abortion as wrong, in all three scenarios, at least 3
out of 10 teens were not sure whether having an abortion was right or wrong. Abortion is an
issue on which teens receive many mixed and conflicting messages.

Youth workers ought to help teens discern what they believe on this issue and to help teens come
to an understanding of what and why the Church holds the position she does on abortion. While
lecturing or sermonizing may appear to be the best way to convey this information it is often
ineffective in assisting the teen to incorporate this belief into his or her own belief system. It is
often more beneficial to allow teens to enter into a free dialogue on this issue. One of the goals of
that dialogue is to help teens see that the Church views all life as precious and that when we
devalue anyone’s life no matter how early in development or how late in late in life, we devalue
and dehumanize all life.

The Church’s View on Abortion

The Church teaches that God is the source and sustainer of life and that He created us as male
and female with a purpose in mind. The Church views sexual relations between a husband and
wife as something very sacred and good and, in fact, when it bears life, the Church views this
action as participating in the very action of God’s Creation. The Scriptures say that God became
man so that we might become one with Him. Here in this very action of sexual intercourse, when
it bears fruit and a child is conceived we already have a foretaste of becoming one with God, by
sharing in the creative life giving action of generating life. “For in sexual intercourse, it is not
only the seeds of physical being that are united, but also a soul. A father and mother not only
transmit their physical characteristics to the child, but they also transmit its soul. This sacred
power man possesses of continuing God’s creation with Him is indeed a great wonder.”[1]
Hence, to generate life is participation in the Divine Life. The Church opposes abortion, because
abortion consciously stops the process of life already begun. Since God is the source of life, and
once the woman’s egg is fertilized and if allowed to grow and develop in the woman’s womb, it
will result in the birth of a child. Therefore, any intervention at any point once that process has
begun (conception) results in the ending of life and a rejection of the wonderful gift of life and
the ability to generate life given to us by God. Hence, it is not only a rejection of the gift of a
new life, but rebellion against God’s creative energy and love.
Individual opinion:

Abortion is one of the issues that adolescents face during their adolescent years. When they fall
in love with their spouse, they do things that only married couples should do, which leads to
having a child. When some teenagers become pregnant, they choose to abort their child because
they do not want their future to be disrupted as a result of their unborn child. Some married
couples are attempting to conceive a child through sexual activity, test tube babies, or even a
surrogate mother. A married couple can have children in a variety of methods, but they may not
be able to do so in all cases. Some teens are just performing abortions that could have saved the
unborn child, giving hope to married couples who have been unable to conceive. A pregnant teen
should not abort her child since having a child is a blessing from God. If she is adamant that she
does not want a child, she should have let the child be born and made the best decision for her
child. As students, we must maintain self-control in order to avoid sexual intercourse without
first getting married. A student should complete his studies in order to provide a secure future for
his children.

Reference: http://religiousinstitute.org/denom_statements/abortion-from-moral-and-ethical-
issues-confronting-orthodox-youth-across-north-america/
[1] Rev. Fr. John Kowalczyk, An Orthodox View of Abortion (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Gopher
State Litho Company, 1977), 6-7

Methods of Birth control

Birth control is any method you use in order for a woman to prevent pregnancy. There are a lot
of methods of birth control. These includes, condoms, birth control pills, IUDs, tubal ligation,
and rhythm method. These contraceptives does not just stop a woman from being pregnant; these
also helps in preventing diseases that a person can get when they intercourse with other people.

The church's view on methods of birth

Contraception is "intrinsically evil" in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church, regardless of the
consequences. Catholics are only allowed to utilize natural birth control techniques. However,
the Church does not condemn the pill or condoms in and of themselves.
Contraception is essentially bad, according to Pope Pius XI, and any partner who uses it "violates
the rule of God and nature" and is "stained by a profound and mortal defect."

Individual opinion:
For me, using contraceptives nowadays, also is important. This is not just used in stopping
pregnancies, contraceptives are also used to prevent diseases people get when they have sexual
interaction with others. This is also used in order to reduces cases that involves abortion and is a
big help in family planning.

Genetic intervention on genetic therapy & genetic engineering.

Directives of the Magisterium/ teachings of the church

The prevailing argument of the Catholic Church regarding the matter is that as long as the
technology is used to prevent disease, and not for non-medical gender selection or for
enhancement, it is acceptable. They might consider it part of their role as stewards and as an act
of healing. The Churches opposition stems from the risks connected to any genetic manipulation
as well as the considerable and yet not fully controllable negative by-products it may cause, in
the present state of research, it is not morally permissible to act in a way that may cause possible
harm to the resulting progeny.

Opinion
Personally, I agree with the sentiments of the Church, it should be permitted, as long as we are
fully able to determine and mitigate the risks that genetic manipulation may cause. Countless
medical breakthroughs have been made through genetic research and I believe that as long as we
continue to practice this relatively new method of applied science with proper etiquette or
righteous morals then it should cause no problems. On the other hand, the negative effects of
genetic manipulation can be incredibly powerful, It can cause suffering for countless generations
if done with malicious intent. The choice ultimately rests in the hands of those who are in the
position to conduct said procedures,