Article 5. The Fifth Commandment

III. Safeguarding Peace

Avoiding war (cont’d)

Credit: Dustin and Jenae | Flickr

(2317) Injustice, excessive economic or social inequalities, envy, distrust, and pride raging among men and nations constantly threaten peace and cause wars. Everything done to overcome these disorders contributes to building up peace and avoiding war:

Insofar as men are sinners, the threat of war hangs over them and will so continue until Christ comes again; but insofar as they can vanquish sin by coming together in charity, violence itself will be vanquished and these words will be fulfilled: “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

In Brief

(2318) “In [God's] hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:10).

Article 5. The Fifth Commandment

I. Respect for Human Life

Abortion (cont’d)

Source: guardian.co.uk

(2275) “One must hold as licit procedures carried out on the human embryo which respect the life and integrity of the embryo and do not involve disproportionate risks for it, but are directed toward its healing, the improvement of its condition of health, or its individual survival.”

“It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for exploitation as disposable biological material.”

“Certain attempts to influence chromosomic or genetic inheritance are not therapeutic but are aimed at producing human beings selected according to sex or other predetermined qualities. Such manipulations are contrary to the personal dignity of the human being and his integrity and identity” which are unique and unrepeatable.

Euthanasia

(2276) Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.

(2277) 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.

Article 5. The Fifth Commandment

I. Respect for Human Life (cont’d)

Intentional homicide

Abortion and the Church

(2268) The fifth commandment forbids direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful. The murderer and those who cooperate voluntarily in murder commit a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance.

Infanticide, fratricide, parricide, and the murder of a spouse are especially grave crimes by reason of the natural bonds which they break. Concern for eugenics or public health cannot justify any murder, even if commanded by public authority.

(2269) The fifth commandment forbids doing anything with the intention of indirectly bringing about a person’s death. The moral law prohibits exposing someone to mortal danger without grave reason, as well as refusing assistance to a person in danger.

The acceptance by human society of murderous famines, without efforts to remedy them, is a scandalous injustice and a grave offense. Those whose usurious and avaricious dealings lead to the hunger and death of their brethren in the human family indirectly commit homicide, which is imputable to them.

Unintentional killing is not morally imputable. But one is not exonerated from grave offense if, without proportionate reasons, he has acted in a way that brings about someone’s death, even without the intention to do so.

Abortion

Today is primary election day in the wonderful State of Florida.

I urge all of my fellow Floridians to get out and vote.

Most importantly, vote for LIFE!

I usually don’t call for a major boycott of huge television networks, but watching Degrassi: The Boiling Point last night made me so angry that I am calling for a boycott of all MTV Networks. Let me explain.

I have been hearing a lot about the show Degrassi from quite a few young people and I thought that I would check it out to see what the show was all about. If you haven’t seen the show, it follows a group of high school students as they encounter all of life’s challenges. At first, I thought the show offered our young people a learning experience about overcoming the struggles that high school can bring. However, the show is confusing our young people and misguiding them in accepting immoral activity.

Degrassi, which is produced by MTV Networks, has shown acceptance towards teenage pre-marital sex, the use of contraception and abortion (to name a few).

In the latest show aired last evening, Jenna, a cheerleader, and her boyfriend K.C., football player, find out that they have a child on the way. When Jenna first talks to K.C., he tells her that they will get through this together. Jenna’s first thought of K.C. accepting responsibility for his actions is quickly thrown in the trash as K.C. says, “once you get the abortion it will all be over.”

Shortly after, Jenna tells her older brother about her pregnancy. Her brother takes her to the doctor where she finds out that she is 5 months along and the abortion would be considered a late-term abortion. The doctor tells Jenna that late-term abortions are risky and informs her of other options.