Unit 5--Consistent Ethic of Life (from Study Guide)

Abortion

Deliberate termination of a pregnancy by killing unborn child. (Grave sin + crime against human life)

Euthanasia

Deliberate action that causes death of those who are handicapped, sick, dying. (Violates 5th commandment)

Excommunication

Severe penalty Church imposes on a Catholic who has committed a grave sin/offense against canon law in which person is banned from celebrating/ receiving the Sacraments.

Genetic Engineering

Manipulation of an ovum or fetus’ genetic coding. Used to produce a “designer baby” with predetermined qualities (ex. specific gender, hair color, etc.)

Just War

War that’s only permissible when it meets strict criteria in protecting citizens from an unjust aggressor.

Legitimate defense

Teaching that limited violence is morally acceptable in defending yourself or your nation from an attack.

Prenatal Diagnosis

Testing embryo or fetus for diseases or birth defects while it’s still in the womb.

Scandal

Action, attitude, or failure to act that leads another person into sin.

Stem Cells

Unique cells that have the potential to reproduce themselves as different human tissues and organs.

Suicide

Deliberately taking one’s own life (serious violation of 5th commandment for it’s God’s will that we preserve our own lives.)

Sex/Human Trafficking

Use of force, fraud, coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex.

Voluntary euthanasia

Euthanasia conducted with consent.

Involuntary euthanasia

Euthanasia conducted without consent (decision made by another person because the patient is incapable of doing so himself/herself.)

Passive euthanasia

Disconnecting of life support or equipment or other life sustaining medical treatments to allow the natural death of patient to occur.

Assisted suicide

Providing the means (drugs, etc.) by which a person can end his/her own life.

Physician assisted suicide

Doctor provides drugs which will end a person’s life.

Terminal Illness

Condition suffered by a sick person for which there’s no known cure.

Living Will

Individual’s legal document informing a physician not to connect or disconnect life support equipment if such an action would simply delay an inevitable death.

DNR (Do not resuscitate)

(On patient’s medical charts) Informing doctors that no extraordinary measures should be taken to save the patient’s life (ex. CPR).

Palliative care

Doesn’t involve extraneous means of keeping an individual alive (ex. Hydration, comfort).

Hippocratic Oath

A medical-based oath for that outlines a physician’s obligations in which they must agree to preserve life, ensure the well-being of an individual, and avoid harm.

Capital Punishment/Death Penalty

Death penalty for serious crime.

Consistent Ethic of Life

A moral vision for life in community and is at heart of the gospel and the Church’s social teaching.

Migration

An individual leaving their own country to go live in another (usually because people want to escape from tyranny, seek better job opportunities, or freedom).