Session 19 - Practicing Christian Morality - A Case Study

Previously we discussed morality and began to examine how we as Christians understand what morality is, as well as how many of our peers understand morality. Now we will move from talking about what morality is in general, to understanding how we know what is or isn't moral and how to practice this in our lives.

How to Make Moral and Ethical Decisions

Understanding what is right and wrong as we go through our lives can be very difficult at times. We may be taught what it means to be moral and learn the position of the Church on specific issues, but what about when we encounter those issues in our own lives? As the world changes around us we are going to encounter more situations in which we need to have a Christian mindset in order to do what is right. And this is the important part - not simply memorizing a list of rules, but comprehending them and cultivating an outlook in ourselves that helps us to see the world through a Christian lens.

In order to attain this Christian point of view, we need to internalize what the Church teaches us, and why it does so. What are the principles of our belief? This goes beyond knowing God's commandments, but also recognizing and understanding why God commands us to live the way we should.

In looking at specific moral questions/situations we need to do the following:

1. Be mindful of the basic principles to living as an Orthodox Christian for if we remember these principles, then when we face up against difficult situations in life we can know where to turn for a solid foundation. These principles are as follows:

1. The belief in the sanctity of human life: Orthodox Christians believe that all human life is created in the image and likeness of God and is therefore sacred. This principle underscores the importance of protecting the lives of all individuals, from conception to natural death
2. The importance of community and relationships: Orthodox Christianity emphasizes the value of community and the interconnectedness of all people. This principle underscores the importance of treating others with respect and dignity, promoting social justice, and working towards the common good.
3. The importance of moral and spiritual development: Orthodox Christianity believes that individuals are called to strive for moral and spiritual perfection, and that this is achieved through a combination of prayer, repentance, and good works. This principle emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and self-improvement.
4. The role of the Church in moral guidance: Orthodox Christianity sees the Church as a source of moral guidance and authority, and emphasizes the importance of tradition and scripture in moral decision-making. This principle underscores the importance of seeking guidance from the Church and being open to its teachings and insights.
5. The importance of humility and compassion: Orthodox Christianity emphasizes the importance of humility and compassion in moral decision-making, encouraging individuals to approach complex issues with a spirit of empathy and understanding.

2. Ask yourself the following questions

Does scripture address the moral question?
Do the Saints of the Church have anything to say about this question?
Have the Bishops of the Church given any directives on this question/issue
Are there any applicable Church Canons?
Is life destroyed by this
Is what God created misused or mistreated?
Are we doing evil in order to get what we want?
Are the rules, laws, and guidelines given to us by God followed, broken or warped?
Would the consequences of our actions be acceptable to God?
Are we tarnishing God’s image in us or in others by our actions?
Are we breaking any promises or covenants we made with God?
Would God approve of our actions?
Would I be doing this if God were standing next to me?
Can I defend my actions before God?

Case Study

An elderly Orthodox Christian woman with advanced dementia has been in a long-term care facility for several years. She is unable to recognize family members, communicate, or care for herself. She has just experienced a major decline in her physical health. The facility medical staff is pressuring her family to allow the “quality of life” team to take over her care promising to “quickly end her suffering” through the administrative of a new medication designed to “humanely pass with dignity” This protocol has been designed to skirt the laws preventing doctor assisted suicide or euthanasia.

The family is faced with a terrible decision whether or not to allow the “quality of life team” to administer this new medication. In this scenario, you are the woman’s next of kin and are responsible for making her health care decisions. As an Orthodox Christian, you need to prayerfully consider what is the right decision to make.

In ethical decision making as Orthodox Christians we need to take into consideration the principles outlined above and discern what the "mind of the Church" is in regards to the situation at hand. To help us enter into the mind of the Church, here are some relevant Scripture Verses, quotes from the Saints of the Church and Some Canons or rules that have been established by the Church in Council that apply to this situation.

Scripture References

"Thou shalt not murder." (Exodus 20:13) This commandment is one of the most basic principles of the Orthodox Christian faith and is interpreted to mean that all forms of taking of human life are prohibited, including euthanasia.
"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19) This passage emphasizes the importance of choosing life over death and rejecting any form of suicide or euthanasia.
"For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalm 139:13-14) This passage highlights the sanctity of human life and reinforces the idea that every individual is created in the image and likeness of God.
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6:19) This passage emphasizes that the human body is a gift from God and should be treated with respect and care, rather than being intentionally damaged or destroyed.
"For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." (Romans 14:7) This passage emphasizes the importance of community and interconnectedness, highlighting that the decision to end one's own life through euthanasia can have profound impacts on loved ones and others in the community.

Overall, these scriptural passages emphasize the sanctity of human life and the importance of choosing life over death. They suggest that euthanasia goes against God's plan for each individual's life and should be avoided in all circumstances.

Writings of the Saints

Patristic commentary refers to the writings of the Church Fathers, who were influential theologians and leaders in the early Christian Church. Many Church Fathers have written extensively about the sanctity of human life and the importance of preserving it at all times. Here are some examples of patristic commentary against euthanasia from the Orthodox Christian tradition:

Saint John Chrysostom: "Do not destroy yourself, for you are precious in the sight of God." Saint John Chrysostom, a prominent theologian of the Eastern Orthodox Church, emphasized the importance of preserving human life and rejecting any form of suicide or euthanasia.
St. John Chrysostom: "Do not let us be so cruel to ourselves as to put an end to our own lives." (Homilies on St. John)
Saint Basil the Great: "The physician's art is directed to the end of preserving life." Saint Basil the Great, a prominent theologian and bishop of the fourth century, emphasized the importance of medical treatment as a means of preserving life, rather than intentionally ending it.
St. Basil the Great: "a physician's duty is to heal, and not to kill even when the patient has requested it," emphasizing the importance of preserving human life and rejecting euthanasia.
St. Basil the Great: "It is not lawful to destroy a fetus in the womb or to kill a child that has been born, and it is equally wrong to take the life of an old man or an aged woman who is approaching the end of life." (Letter 188)
Saint Gregory of Nyssa: "Life is a good thing in itself, and it is given by God." Saint Gregory of Nyssa, a prominent theologian and bishop of the fourth century, emphasized the importance of valuing and protecting human life as a gift from God.
St. Gregory of Nyssa: "we must not assist anyone in committing suicide, for we must be stewards of the life God has given us," emphasizing the role of Christians as protectors of life and rejecters of euthanasia.
St. Gregory of Nyssa: "We must not destroy even the life that is collapsing of itself." (On Infants' Early Deaths)
Saint Cyril of Alexandria: "God has given us life as a trust, and it is not lawful for us to destroy it." Saint Cyril of Alexandria, a prominent theologian and bishop of the fifth century, emphasized the importance of recognizing human life as a gift from God and a sacred trust that must be preserved.
Saint Maximus the Confessor: "The value of human life is beyond measure, and therefore nothing can justify its destruction." Saint Maximus the Confessor, a prominent theologian and monk of the seventh century, emphasized the importance of recognizing the infinite value of human life and rejecting any action that would intentionally end it.
St. Maximus the Confessor (580-662 AD) wrote that "life is a gift from God, and it is not our place to take it away," emphasizing the sanctity of human life and the need to respect it even in difficult situations.
St. Ignatius Brianchaninov: "All forms of suicide, including euthanasia, are contrary to God's will, which is that every person should live according to the plan of God." (The Arena)
St. Ambrose of Milan: "Life is a gift from God, and no one has the right to take it away, not even oneself." (De Fuga Saeculi)

Church Councils – (Guidelines or Canons set forth in making moral and ethical situations)

Canon 21 of the Council of Trullo (692 AD) states that anyone who commits murder or assists in a suicide shall be excommunicated from the Church.
Canon 91 of the Council of Carthage (419 AD) forbids the taking of one's own life and condemns those who do so.
Canon 14 of the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680-681 AD) prohibits physicians from administering deadly drugs or otherwise hastening the death of a patient.
Canon 2 of the Council of Constantinople (861 AD) forbids the deliberate killing of an innocent person, whether by an individual or a state authority.

Discerning God's Will and Making a Decision

Keeping the basic principles of living an Orthodox Christian Way of Life, and Scriptural and Patristic Consciousness of the Church in mind, let us now proceed to answer the following questions:

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

Does scripture address the moral question?
Do the Saints of the Church have anything to say about this question?
Have the Bishops of the Church given any directives on this question/issue
Are there any applicable Church Canons?
Is life destroyed by this (allowing the “quality of life team” to administer the euthanizing medication?)
Is what God created misused or mistreated?
Are we doing evil in order to get what we want?
Are the rules, laws, and guidelines given to us by God followed, broken or warped?
Would the consequences of our actions be acceptable to God?
Are we tarnishing God’s image in us or in others by our actions?
Are we breaking any promises or covenants we made with God?
Would God approve of our actions?
Would I be doing this if God were standing next to me?
Can I defend my actions before God?

MAKING A DECISION

Considering the answers to the above questions should you allow the “quality of life team” to take over her case?

If not, what would be the appropriate alternative?.

POSSIBLE RESOLUTION: AN ALTERNATE TREATMENT APPROACH IN HARMONY WITH ORTHODOX TRADITION

An Orthodox Christian perspective would approach this situation with a focus on the sanctity of human life and the value of community and relationships. The Orthodox Church teaches that human life is a gift from God and that all life should be protected and valued. Therefore, the decision to end a life should never be taken lightly, and must be approached with careful consideration and prayerful discernment.

In this case, the woman's family should first seek the guidance of the Church and the advice of a trusted physician to fully understand the medical prognosis and available treatment options. The family should also consider the woman's wishes, if they were known prior to her decline, and discuss the decision together with a spirit of compassion and understanding.

If the decision is made to pursue end-of-life care, the family should focus on providing comfort and support to the woman during her final days. This may include palliative care and spiritual support from a priest or spiritual advisor. Euthanasia should not be considered as an option, as it goes against the sanctity of human life and can be seen as a violation of God's plan for each individual's life.

Ultimately, an Orthodox Christian perspective would prioritize the protection of human life and the importance of personal responsibility and spiritual growth. In a situation involving a potential end-of-life decision, careful discernment, guidance from the Church, and a spirit of compassion and understanding should be emphasized in order to make the most ethical decision possible.

Conclusion:

The methodology used in examining this case study can be applied to any ethical or moral decision that an Orthodox Christian faces.