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Catholic Teaching on Human Life

The Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred, and that we have an obligation to sustain that God-given gift.  However, the Church has never taught that this obligation persists in an unqualified way in every terminally ill situation.

We must defend life from the time of conception to natural death, and we oppose unequivocally the intentional termination of anyone's life.

We must, however, address the current debate about the so-called "right to die" for those who are terminally ill.  Those who suggest that such persons have a "right to die" by causing or seeking their own deaths or aiding or permitting another individual to end his or her life, are in grave error and are acting contrary to the law of God.  This is directly forbidden by the fifth commandment: "THOU SHALT NOT KILL."

But, if we interpret the "right to die" in the context of the right to accept the natural journey toward death and to refuse extraordinary means or disproportionate medical treatment to maintain life, then we are free to yield to God's providential care and plan.  The Church teaches that human life is sacred, but that no one is obliged to preserve life in all circumstances through extraordinary means.

This teaching is consistent since the early medical debates on this subject in modern times.  Pope Pius XII, in an address to the international Congress of Anesthesiologists on "The Prolongation of Life," published in L'Osservatore Romano on November 25-26, 1957, observed:

"...Normally one is held to use only ordinary means (to prolong life)--according to circumstances, of persons, places, times and culture -- that is to say, means that do not involve any grave burden for oneself or another.  A more strict obligation would be too burdensome for most men and would render the attainment of the higher, more important good too difficult.  Life, health, all temporal activities are in fact subordinated to spiritual ends.  On the other hand, one is not forbidden to take more than the strictly necessary steps to preserve life and health, as long as he does not fail in some more serious duty."