DOCSLIB.ORG

Taylor J. O'grady Phd Thesis

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Taylor J. O'grady Phd Thesis View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by St Andrews Research Repository WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE IN AMERICAN CATHOLIC HOSPITALS: A PROPOSAL FOR NAVIGATING ETHICAL CONFLICTS IN ACCESSING REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE Taylor Jacob O’Grady A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 2018 Full metadata for this item is available in St Andrews Research Repository at: http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/16588 This item is protected by original copyright Women's Health Care in American Catholic Hospitals: a Proposal for Navigating Ethical Conflicts in Accessing Reproductive Health Care Taylor Jacob O'Grady This thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of St Andrews September 2017 i DECLARATIONS Candidate's declaration I, Taylor Jacob O'Grady, do hereby certify that this thesis, submitted for the degree of PhD, which is approximately 72,000 words in length, has been written by me, and that it is the record of work carried out by me, or principally by myself in collaboration with others as acknowledged, and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for any degree. I was admitted as a research student at the University of St Andrews in September 2014. I received funding from an organisation or institution and have acknowledged the funder(s) in the full text of my thesis. Date Signature of candidate Supervisor's declaration I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of PhD in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date Signature of supervisor Permission for publication In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews we understand that we are giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. We also understand, unless exempt by an award of an embargo as requested below, that the title and the abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker, that this thesis will be electronically accessible for personal or research use and that the library has the right to migrate this thesis into new electronic forms as required to ensure continued access to the thesis. I, Taylor Jacob O'Grady, confirm that my thesis does not contain any third-party material that requires copyright clearance. ii The following is an agreed request by candidate and supervisor regarding the publication of this thesis: Printed copy No embargo on print copy. Electronic copy No embargo on electronic copy. Date Signature of candidate Date Signature of supervisor Underpinning Research Data or Digital Outputs Candidate's declaration I, Taylor Jacob O'Grady, hereby certify that no requirements to deposit original research data or digital outputs apply to this thesis and that, where appropriate, secondary data used have been referenced in the full text of my thesis. Date Signature of candidate iii ABSTRACT The Catholic Church is one of the largest providers of medical care in the US, with 1 in 6 acute-care beds residing in a Catholic hospital. One third of these hospitals are in rural or underserved areas in the US, and advocacy for the vulnerable is a central platform of the Catholic Healthcare Association. Despite this, the Church has been under attack for allegedly putting women at risk of injury or death due to the care restrictions concerning reproductive health stipulated in the Ethical and Religious Directives (ERDs). Additionally, scholars are questioning the distinctiveness of the Catholic healthcare mission in practice, pointing to the increased homogenization of Catholic and non-Catholic hospitals. For these reasons, it is necessary to assess if and how women are being harmed in Catholic hospitals and, if there is harm being done, if there is a way to prevent these harms while preserving the Catholic Social Tradition in medicine. In carrying out this assessment, I read the current literature closely to explore both the origins and the practical consequences of these ethical conflicts. Subsequently, I use Chris Durante’s “pragmatic perspectivism” to formulate a proposal that considers both Catholic medical ethics and secular medical ethics on the same plane. The proposal suggests the adoption of an alternative and complementary lens for Catholic health care. Using this framework would allow the Church to pursue its health care mission in a fuller sense, unencumbered by the inertia of the medical industry towards homogenization due to legal and economic pressures. It also provides the potential for Catholics to more easily receive Catholic care in all hospitals, not just those under Catholic sponsorship. Importantly, it would also prevent any American woman from being practically forced to receive Catholic care, circumventing many of the ethical conflicts present in the current system. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to thank both the US-UK Fulbright Commission and the University of St. Andrews, who worked in concert to provide me with the funding that made this research possible. My time as a Fulbright Scholar over the last three years have been some of the most influential in my life, both in terms of my development as an academic and as a human being. I vow to carry the lessons I learned as a Fulbright scholar with me in my future career as an academic and as a physician. Next, I would like to thank my dedicated supervisor, John Perry. John, who was both incredibly patient and challenging, provided the best supervision I could have asked for over my time at St. Andrews. His guidance allowed me to achieve what I thought was unachievable as a newcomer to the field and I am eternally grateful. Stephen Holmes and Gavin Hopps also provided me with great support towards the end of my thesis, stepping in to fill John’s shoes when necessary. Brian Brock at the University of Aberdeen served as an additional reader before submission, for which I am also grateful. I would also like to thank Charles Camosy from Fordham University, who helped foster my interest in Christian medical ethics during my undergraduate studies and continues to volunteer his mentorship and support to this day. Finally, I want to thank the family and friends that have supported me in my endeavors, even when they took me abroad for three years. To my parents and my brother, thank you for supporting me through this process. Your continued emotional support helped sustain me through the hardest times of my academic journey. To my loving husband, Brendan, your undying support and faith has not only made this process feasible, but fulfilling. I fully recognize the sacrifices you had to make for me to be able v to pursue my dreams, suffering through the challenges of a three-year long-distance relationship leading up to our wedding. I love you more than you could ever imagine, and I dedicate this work to you. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Declarations ........................................................................................................................ i Abstract ........................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 Background ................................................................................................................... 1 Research Question and Aims ........................................................................................ 3 Audience and Stance ..................................................................................................... 6 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 7 Scope ........................................................................................................................... 10 Review of the Literature .............................................................................................. 11 Chapter 2: The Place of Catholic Hospitals in US Health Care ...................................... 29 Origins ......................................................................................................................... 30 What Makes a Catholic Hospital Distinct? ................................................................. 32 Mission .................................................................................................................... 33 Identity .................................................................................................................... 34 Integrity ................................................................................................................... 35 The Ideal Catholic Healthcare Institution ................................................................... 42 Legal Issues in Catholic Health Care .......................................................................... 50 The Crux of the Issue
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Development and Improvement of Instructions
    ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICIES: THE CASE OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH A Dissertation by TOMEKA MICHELLE ROBINSON Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY December 2009 Major Subject: Health Education ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICIES: THE CASE OF EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH A Dissertation by TOMEKA MICHELLE ROBINSON Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Patricia Goodson Committee Members, E. Lisako J. McKyer Buzz Pruitt Domonic Bearfield Head of Department, Richard Kreider December 2009 Major Subject: Health Education iii ABSTRACT Assessing the Impact of Religious Beliefs on Public Perceptions and U.S. Government Policies: The Case of Embryonic Stem Cell Research. (December 2009) Tomeka Michelle Robinson, B.S., McNeese State University; M.A., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Patricia Goodson This dissertation presents three separate studies designed to provide structure and evidence-based insight into the impact of religious beliefs on public perceptions and U.S. government policies regarding embryonic stem cell research. First, a systematic literature review of nine (n=9) empirical studies that examined individuals‘ religious beliefs and perceptions/utilization of genetic technologies/services will be presented. Based on the finding from the review, there was an equal balance between studies that found that religion was a factor positively affecting intention to submit to genetic testing and those that illustrated a negative association.
    [Show full text]
  • TCS Education System, an Illinois Not-For-Profit Corporation Located at 350 N
    Catalog Home Dallas Nursing Institute 2101 Waterview Pkwy Richardson, TX 75080 Phone: (469) 941-8300 www.dni.edu The written contents of this catalog are presented as an accurate description of course content, school facilities and services, and academic standards and policies that are in effect as of the enrollment agreement entered into by the student and the Dallas Nursing Institute. The provisions of the School Catalog do not constitute a contract, either expressed or implied, between any applicant, student, or faculty of the Dallas Nursing Institute, nor does it provide any contractual rights to the courses or benefits stated herein. Dallas Nursing Institute reserves the right to, at any time and without prior notice, make modifications to its academic requirements, course offerings, policies, procedures, tuition, fees, and other matters contained herein. All modifications will be duly published whether in electronic or other form, and will affect all students who have not yet graduated. Clarification of matters contained in this catalog and handbook can be obtained from the directors of the appropriate academic and administrative departments and offices. Images and photos within this catalog may not reflect actual students, faculty, programs, equipment and facilities at this campus. Director Statement of Truth The information contained in this catalog is true and correct in content and policy. GWENDOLYN GASTON, DEAN OF NURSING 2019-2020 School Catalog Published Date: July 2019 Effective Date: July 2019 DNI General Information Welcome to DNI We are excited that you have chosen DNI as YOUR school. We are proud to be part of a strong, innovative educational system; and we are committed to providing a supportive academic environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
    [Show full text]
  • Jones, David Albert, the Soul of the Embryo
    J The Soul of the Embryo: An enquiry into the status of the human embryo in the Christian tradition DAVID ALBERT JONES • , continuum A LONDON • NEW YORK Continuum The Tower Building 15 East 26th Street 11 York Road New York London, SE1 7NX NY 10010 www.continuumbooks.com C) David Jones 2004 Contents All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Abbreviations A catalogue record for this book is available from The British Library. Foreword ISBN 0 8264 6296 0 Introduction 1 Moulded in the Earth The embryo in the Hebrew Scriptures: creation, Typeset by BookEns Ltd, Royston, Herts. providence, calling Printed and hound in Great Britain by Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham, Wilts. 2 Curdled Like Cheese Ancient embryology: Hippocrates and Aristotle 3 Discarded Children • Exposure, infanticide and abortion in ancient Greece and Rome 4 Grieving in Ramah Jewish attitudes to infanticide and abortion 5 Medicinal Penalties Early Christianity and abortion: Celtic/Anglo-Saxon penances, Greek/Latin canons 6 Soul Talk Soul as the principle of life, body and soul, the I would like to thank Fr Michael Hayes, Head of the School of Theology, spiritual soul Philosophy and History at St Mary's College for supporting an ethos of research 7 Whence the Soul? and scholarship within the School; Robin Baird-Smith of Continuum books for The Church Fathers on the origin of the soul: his great patience; and the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics for the use of pre-existence, traducianism, creationism their excellent library.
    [Show full text]
  • When Does Human Life Begin? Christian Thinking and Contemporary Opposition
    Salt&Light series When does human life begin? Christian thinking and contemporary opposition JOHN R LING Salt&Light series When does human life begin? Christian thinking and contemporary opposition JOHN R LING The substance of this booklet is an extract from The Morning-After Pill – Uncovering the Truth, published by The Christian Institute in 2007: http://www.christian.org.uk/resource/the-morning-after-pill Copyright © The Christian Institute 2017 The author has asserted his right under Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. First printed in June 2011 Reprinted in May 2015 and August 2017 ISBN 978-1-901086-47-8 Published by The Christian Institute Wilberforce House, 4 Park Road, Gosforth Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12 8DG All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of The Christian Institute. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The Christian Institute is a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England as a charity. Company No. 263 4440, Charity No. 100 4774. A charity registered in Scotland. Charity No. SC039220 Contents 5 1 . Introduction 7 2 . The answer from the Bible 17 3 . The view of the early church 21 4 . The drift from the biblical worldview 25 5 .
    [Show full text]
  • Tertullian and the Unborn Child
    Tertullian and the Unborn Child Tertullian of Carthage was the earliest Christian writer to argue against abortion at length, and the first surviving Latin author to consider the unborn child in detail. This book is the first comprehensive analysis of Tertullian’s attitude towards the foetus and embryo. Examining Tertullian’s works in light of Roman literary and social history, Julian Barr proposes that Tertullian’s comments on the unborn should be read as rhetoric ancillary to his primary arguments. Tertullian’s engagement in the art of rhetoric also explains his tendency towards self-contradiction. He argued that human existence began at conception in some treatises and not in others. Tertullian’s references to the unborn hence should not be plucked out of context, lest they be misread. Tertullian borrowed, modified, and discarded theories of ensoulment according to their usefulness for individual treatises. So long as a single work was intern- ally consistent, Tertullian was satisfied. He elaborated upon previous Christian traditions and selectively borrowed from ancient embryological theory to prove specific theological and moral points. Tertullian was more influenced by Roman custom than he would perhaps have admitted, since the contrast between pagan and Christian attitudes on abortion was more rhetorical than real. Julian Barr is a research fellow at the University of Queensland, where he completed his PhD in classics. He tutors ancient history and classical lan- guages. His research interests include early Christianity, ancient medicine, and the Roman family. Medicine and the Body in Antiquity Series editor: Patricia Baker, University of Kent, UK Advisory board: Lesley A.
    [Show full text]
  • University of Cape Town University of Cape Town
    Occupations of citizenship: The missing layer in empowered engagement between rural people with disabilities and primary healthcare workers in South Africa Kate Sherry Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at University of Cape Town University of Cape Town School of Public Health and Family Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences Supervisor: Professor Steve Reid Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Madeleine Duncan 15 February 2016 The copyright of this thesis vests in the author. No quotation from it or information derived from it is to be published without full acknowledgement of the source. The thesis is to be used for private study or non- commercial research purposes only. Published by the University of Cape Town (UCT) in terms of the non-exclusive license granted to UCT by the author. University of Cape Town “Baqgithisa itole kunina” They allow the calf to pass through the gate to its mother. “’Itole’ is the calf of a cow. At night you separate the calf and cow, so that you can milk the cow in the morning. Then in the morning, if you don’t want to milk the cow, you just let the calf go straight to the mother so he can suckle. Ukugqithisa means to allow him to pass, to allow the calf to go to its mother… So you are there to milk the cow, but instead you are just letting the calf through, not milking. You look like you are going to do your job, but you are not actually doing it.” - Xaks Dabula (co-researcher) i Abstract Background: People with disabilities in impoverished rural areas of South Africa struggle to access healthcare, despite the right to health established by the Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 15-16B.Indd
    Humanities Center Annual Report 2015-2016 JJamesames SScottcott MMemorialemorial FFountainountain aatt BBelleelle IIslesle Bringing Humanists Together for Collaborative Research 2226 Faculty/Administration Building Tel: 313.577.5471 656 W. Kirby Fax: 313.577.2843 Detroit, MI 48082 Website: www.research2.wayne.edu/hum 2015-2016 Annual Report Board of Governors Wayne state University President's Cabinet M. Roy Wilson Rob Kohrman Gary S. Pollard President Associate Vice President, Budget, Planning Chair and Analysis Keith Whitfield Paul E. Massaron Provost and Senior Vice President Stephen M. Lanier Vice Chair for Academic Affairs Vice President for Research Susan E. Burns Diane L. Dunaskiss Vice President, Development and Alumni Louis Lessem Affairs, President of the WSU Foundation Vice President and General Counsel Marilyn Kelly Marquita T. Chamblee Patrick O. Linsdsey Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Vice President, Government and David A. Nicholson Chief Diversity Officer Community Affairs Sandra Hughes O’Brian William R. Decatur Julie H. Miller Vice President for Finance and Business Secretary to the Board of Governors Dana Thompson Operations, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Ned Staebler Kim Trent Ahmad M. Ezzeddine Vice President for Economic Development Associate Vice President Educational Outreach and International Programs Michael Wright Vice President for Marketing and David S. Hefner, MPA Communications and Chief of Staff Vice President for Health Affairs Our Mission The mission of the Humanities Center is to nurture interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and intradisciplinary work in the humanities and arts through competitions, conferences, discussion groups, and other programs for Wayne State's humanities and arts faculty and students, and for visiting scholars and artists.
    [Show full text]
  • The Soul and Abortion in Ancient Greek Culture and Jewish Law
    Archived article from the University of North Carolina at Asheville’s Journal of Undergraduate Research, retrieved from UNC Asheville’s NC DOCKS Institutional Repository: http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/unca/ University of North Carolina at Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Research Asheville, North Carolina May 2014 The Soul and Abortion in Ancient Greek Culture and Jewish Law Alyssa Horrocks Classics The University of North Carolina at Asheville One University Heights Asheville, North Carolina 28804 USA Faculty Advisor: Dr. C. Jacob Butera Abstract In Classical Greece and following centuries, the uncertainty of when a soul entered the body of a fetus, termed ensoulment, was closely connected to abortion. The Greeks created no laws concerning abortion, so the personal opinion of philosophers and physicians outlined the social acceptability of abortion based on ensoulment. This discussion of social acceptability references Pythagorean, Aristotelian, and Platonic beliefs as well as medical texts to establish the disjointed nature of the Greek perspective. In a culture contemporary with the Greeks, Judaism, abortion was agreed upon as wrong and punishable by law. Ensoulment dictated the severity of Jewish law and gave the fetus rights that the Greeks did not. Using ensoulment as a link for comparing the unified Jewish legal perspective of abortion with the varying Greek cultural opinions, the Greek inability to define the personhood of a fetus can be established. Founded on the comparison of contemporary Greek and Jewish cultures, this paper will argue that the Greeks perceived the fetus as a living thing, but not as a human being. 1. Introduction Ensoulment is a modern term used to describe the moment a soul enters a body.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cultural Context of Abortion Law in Early Modern England
    William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice Volume 14 (2007-2008) Issue 1 William & Mary Journal of Women and Article 4 the Law October 2007 To "Bring Down the Flowers": The Cultural Context of Abortion Law in Early Modern England Carla Spivack Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl Part of the Family Law Commons Repository Citation Carla Spivack, To "Bring Down the Flowers": The Cultural Context of Abortion Law in Early Modern England, 14 Wm. & Mary J. Women & L. 107 (2007), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/ wmjowl/vol14/iss1/4 Copyright c 2007 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl TO "BRING DOWN THE FLOWERS":' THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF ABORTION LAW IN EARLY MODERN ENGLAND CARLA SPIVACK* ABSTRACT This article takes issue with claims made by Joseph Dellapenna in his 2006 book, Dispelling the Myths of Abortion History, which claims to correct the "distortions of the history" of abortion law under- lying Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973). Dellapenna argues that, con- trary to Justice Blackmun's historic analysis in Roe, "abortion was considered a serious crime throughout most of European history" and that "courts did... punish abortions before quickening during the Middle Ages." This article shows that Dellapenna's argument relies on serious misreading of cases and ignorance of the relevant his- torical, medical, and cultural context, and that pre-quickening or intra-marital self-induced abortion was of little concern to the law.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rights of the Fetus: Ensoulment As the Cut-Off Point Legislation On
    Research Article iMedPub Journals Health Science Journal 2015 http://journals.imedpub.com ISSN 1791-809X Vol. 10 No. 1:15 Ghodrati Fatemeh1, The Rights of the Fetus: Ensoulment as the 2 Cut-Off Point Legislation on Abortion Akbarzadeh Marzieh 1 Department of Theology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities Science Running Title: The Rights of the Fetus in College, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran Legislation Abortion 2 Maternal –fetal medicine Research Center, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran Abstract Background: Unwanted pregnancy is believed to be one of the toughest experiences of pregnant women. In the majority of cases, unintended pregnancy Correspondence: Akbarzadeh Marzieh leads to illegal abortion, infection and finally the death of mother. Abortion is one of the serious problems in human communities today, and major discussion in [email protected] penal law. In the holy religion of Islam, it has been paid attention since human soul is highly revered. So, Sharia law has banned abortion. Does the fetus possess Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing capability and capacity to turn into a perfect human being as a potential man? and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Does he have the right to “be kept safe” and to “live”? Does he deserve respect Sciences, Shiraz, Iran and reverence? What is the evidence for supporting the rights of fetus in Islam? Tel: 0711-6474250 Method: This research developed by documentary and library studies. Funding and conclusion: Supporting fetal rights is not limited to supporting Fax: 0711-647425 the right to live through banning abortion or other means of ending the life of the fetus.
    [Show full text]
  • Conception and Ensoulment
    Messiah University Mosaic Bible & Religion Educator Scholarship Biblical and Religious Studies Spring 4-1-2010 When Does Human Life Begin? Conception and Ensoulment Larry Poston [email protected] Lindsey Disney Follow this and additional works at: https://mosaic.messiah.edu/brs_ed Part of the Applied Ethics Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Ethics in Religion Commons Permanent URL: https://mosaic.messiah.edu/brs_ed/7 Recommended Citation Poston, Larry and Disney, Lindsey, "When Does Human Life Begin? Conception and Ensoulment" (2010). Bible & Religion Educator Scholarship. 7. https://mosaic.messiah.edu/brs_ed/7 Sharpening Intellect | Deepening Christian Faith | Inspiring Action Messiah University is a Christian university of the liberal and applied arts and sciences. Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership and reconciliation in church and society. www.Messiah.edu One University Ave. | Mechanicsburg PA 17055 ATR/92:2 The Breath of Life: Christian Perspectives on Conception and Ensoulment Lindsey Disney and Larry Poston* Is “human life” strictly a biological phenomenon measured from the moment when sperm and egg combine? Or does “human life” not actually begin until the immaterial aspect known as “the soul” appears at some indeterminate point? This essay examines the views held by various adherents of the Christian faith regarding the concepts of “conception” and “ensoulment” and the relation of these views to contemporary ethical issues having to do with abor­ tion, in vitro fertilization, contraception, and stem cell research. The essay discusses the fact that Christians historically have been characterized by a marked lack of unity concerning the teachings of the Bible and tradition on these issues.
    [Show full text]
  • Article — That They May Have Life
    That They May Have Life The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, The President’s Commission on the Sanctity of Life Human life Human life is not an achievement. It is an endowment. It has measureless value, because every individual, at every stage of development and every state of consciousness, is known and loved by God. This is the source of human dignity and the basis for human equality. It must therefore be asserted without exception or qualification: No one is worthless whom God has created and for whom Christ died. Uncompromising respect for human life is fundamental and the foundational principle for human community that enables individuals to live together in security and harmony. This principle calls upon every individual and society to rightly define the human community. Will all be counted as neighbors, or will some be regarded and treated as strangers and cast beyond protection? In a democracy, men and women of every walk and station of life have a role and responsibility in answering these great and significant questions. A Society of Strangers American society, in its response to these questions, is steadily becoming a society of strangers, obsessed with personal rights and severing the ties of duty, compassion and love to the weak and unwanted. American culture has come to favor those who can stridently assert their autonomy and choice in a struggle for political power. As a result, America has become an inhospitable, even dangerous, place for those too weak to compete effectively in this contest of rights-the young, the elderly, the dying, the handicapped.
    [Show full text]