Surrogacy – Marco Manalang

BLOG 3 – MARCO MANALANG

Hello, I am Marco Manalang and this is my final blog of 3 blog posts regarding ethical issues on reverence for life. My final ethical issue which I will explore and delve into is surrogacy.

Surrogacy is generally defined as the action or state of being a surrogate, which is when a surrogate mother carries the baby. In other words, a couple deems that there are infertility issues occurring, which is why a surrogate mother is needed to carry the couple’s baby. 

A surrogate mother has 2 responsibilities in the process of surrogacy. Firstly, the woman needs to be able to carry the child over the 9 month period. When the child is ready to be born, the surrogate mother must also give birth to the child and finally hand the baby to the rightful parents.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-you-should-know-about-surrogacy

Surrogacy has been discussed, and is a very controversial topic. The following video provides a glimpse of different perspectives outside of the Church regarding surrogacy.

The Church remains against surrogacy, especially the act of being or using a surrogate mother to conceive a child. The bible recognises that the conception and birth of a child is one from God, and is not a right given to humanity.

Hence, surrogacy is essentially conceiving a child which is not a gift from God himself. Yes, all children are a gift from above, but with surrogacy the Church believes that mothers are granted this gift if their own womb.

God intended for the child of a mother to be conceived within her, when the time comes, and not for another woman to carry and give birth to the child. The bible verse Genesis 30:1-24 explains the story of a woman who had used a surrogate mother after finding out that she could not conceive the child on her own.

Although the bible does discuss surrogacy and the act of using a surrogate mother to bear a child, the Church’s teachings declare that surrogacy places a value on human life. Surrogate mothers demand to be paid in order to carry and give birth to the child.

This means that humanity is definitively putting a price on human life, and that we value human life to the degree of money. By doing this, humanity is taking advantage of the surrogate mother’s dignity, and more importantly the child’s dignity.

http://catholicleader.com.au/analysis/surrogacy-disrespects-a-childs-dignity_52723

This is because a surrogate mother truly may not willingly accept to carry the child, but is solely being a surrogate mother for other means such as financial support. This is what the Church is against, as a child should only be conceived to be recognised as a gift and a miracle, not as a burden and such.

The child’s dignity is taken advantage of, even when it has not been born. In other words, surrogacy disrespects human dignity because the child’s life is not respected when the child’s parents choose to carry the child in another woman’s womb.

http://catholicleader.com.au/analysis/surrogacy-disrespects-a-childs-dignity_52723

The Church believes that there should not be a value placed on human life, and that human dignity should be respected and upheld. Surrogacy denies humanity of their dignity, it does not follow what the Church teaches.

The following bible verse reiterates the Catholic Church’s stance on surrogacy.

Psalm 127:3

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

As discussed before, God grants a mother their child as a blessing and a gift. It is not a right which humanity earns or receives accordingly. This is morally wrong. But, the Church does not completely deny those who choose surrogacy as an option for reasons such as infertility.

To put this in perspective, let’s take for an example 2 couples looking to become parents through surrogacy.

The first couple choose to conceive a child through a surrogate mother because they are frustrated and angry that God has not granted their wishes. The Church does not accept this, as it is a defiance against God (which is sin).

The second couple has decided to choose surrogacy, but only after searching for consideration from God through prayer. The couple also feels that God has prepared them to become parents, and that he has guided them. This can be considered as acceptable by the Church, to an extent.

http://www.dominicanajournal.org/why-is-surrogacy-wrong/

In conclusion, surrogacy is an ethical issue which is mostly against reverence for life, because it is something which does not respect the value of human life and human dignity. Surrogacy, to a degree, may be accepted by the Church in some cases, but is generally disapproved by the Church as mothers are given the gift of a child through God, and not their own rights.

 

Pollution – Nicolas Jahshan

BLOG 3 – NICOLAS JAHSHAN

Hi, I’m Nicolas Jahshan, and today I will be talking to you about pollution as an ethical issue. I will be exploring what pollution is, how it affects us, how we have a big effect on pollution and finally what the church and bible say on pollution.

Firstly, pollution is the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. Pollution means that harmful and poisonous substances such as acid battery recycling systems, coal mining (all around the world), gold mining, lead smelting, pollution from agriculture storage and industrial wastewater destroy the environment.

http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Types_of_Pollution

In particular, waste water is a very important and crucial contribution to pollution as waste water is water that has been harmfully affected by outside influences and it also flows from an open drain.

Waste water may or may not be affected by any of the following, but is certainly not limited to, batteries, smelting, toxins, organic particles, methane and carbon dioxide.

Throughout our daily lives we contribute to pollution through all types of seasons, and especially all year round with simple things such as wood burning, we contribute to this when we do little things like turning on the wood stoves, fireplaces, backyard burning,burning of agriculture and land clearing fires.

We also contribute to pollution in burning toxic substances such as driftwood, plastic (plastic bags), car and reduce tires, garbage.

This is just the beginning. We play a major role in fossil fuel burning, when we are driving or commuting in things such as motor vehicles, lawn mowers, power boats, airplanes, barbecues, as well as using household products and cleaning house products.

These include house paint, cleaning materials, deodorant, after shave and candles and incense burning around your house after cooking. The biggest contribution humans make to pollution is by using products and appliances  that release ozone-depleting substances such as as fridges, air conditioners and fire extinguishers.

The bible teaches that pollution, in some ways, is a sin because it is killing and destroying the environment and its inhabitants. More importantly, pollution continues to disrupt what God has created for us; a beautiful world.

http://www.surfinthespirit.com/environment/sin-is-pollution.html

When God created Adam and Eve, it was their obligation to take care of and look after the world and the animals which God had given to them. Through pollution, we are disobeying God and not following what he has asked us to do, which is respect his creations.

Pollution can be considered a small act of wrongdoing, but it can also be recognised as a big problem. Nonetheless, the Church believes and teaches that we should respect what God has provided for us, meaning that we should not pollute and take advantage of the environment and what it holds.

The Church also believes that pollution comes in the form of humanity, as we humans can also become polluted (or pollute) the world in a sinful way. Pollution can also be recognised in more than one way, not just throwing rubbish on the ground.

For example, committing wicked acts against the Church’s teachings is considered to be a way of polluting the world, because it is still impacting what God has created, which is humanity.

The following bible verses demonstrates what the Church teaches regarding pollution.

Jeremiah 2:7

And I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.

Jeremiah 3:9

Because of the lightness of her harlotry, she polluted the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.

 

Global Warming – Joseph Moujalli

BLOG 3 – JOSEPH MOUJALLI

Hi my name is Joseph Moujalli and in this blog I will be portraying the church’s view of Global Warming and explaining what God has asked for us to do.

As you may know from prior knowledge, global warming is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere, caused by the greenhouse effect (the include of pollutants and other gases in the atmosphere).

This increase of the overall temperature is rising because of us living humans on earth and because of this, we are going against what god has asked for us to do. God created a such a pleasing earth to live on and not for us to do doltish things that will destroy it.

Additionally, the bible declares that God himself created the best creation (earth) there will ever be to cross every christian human alive as us christians thank God for making us a place to live on.

It also says that God delegated men and women for the responsibility of it, meaning every living person must do everything in there way to make the earth a better place.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind… so that they may rule over the fish… and the birds… the livestock… and the wild animals…” God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful, fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:26-28).

Unfortunately, mankind failed and is not a really good job but what can we expect when the entire world was ruined at the fall of Adam and Eve into sin.  

This is not the only reason why God may disappointed in us but also because we are putting many lives at risk, these lives being humans and animals.

The fact that the temperature is rising may cause people to react differently, this different being the cause of illnesses and putting people in near death experiences.

This goes for animals, we may be allowed to kill animals for the sake of us eating and staying alive but we have no right to kill animals that are harmless and don’t get eaten because of the foolish acts we do causing the temperature to rise.

Most of the time these animals are dying and become more extinct when the temperature rises causing them to die as well as the habitats they live in.

This all falls back to humans being a major cause of global warming (the rise of temperature) and God being against us destroying his creation and putting the lives of humans and animals at risk.

In conclusion, it is evident that God doesn’t want us to make morally wrong decisions that can contribute to global warming and wants us men and women to take responsibility for the care off the earth.

We are putting animal and human life at risk and this is yet another act that without a doubt God is against. Let’s make a difference, make God happy and respect what he asks for us as well as the Church’s teachings.

Capital Punishment – Ryan Attard

BLOG 3 – RYAN ATTARD

Hi, I’m Ryan Attard and in this blog I will be looking at the catholic view of Capital Punishment.

Before I go and explore what the Catholic view is of Capital Punishment I will discuss what Capital Punishment is. Capital punishment is punishment by death, the practice of killing people as punishment for serious crimes.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/capital+punishment

Countries today such as the USA still implement capital punishment as a sentence for doing something wrong. If you are still unsure of what Capital Punishment is, it is the death penalty.

An example of this was Bali nine ringleader Myuran Sukumaram who was faced by the firing squad in Bali for trying to smuggle drugs into the country.

The Catholic Church’s belief regarding the death penalty has changed dramatically since the papacy of Pope John Paul II.  Since the very beginnings of the Church, Catholic teaching has traditionally held that the state had the right to put criminals to death in order to safeguard the common good.

http://www.patheos.com/Library/Answers-to-Frequently-Asked-Religion-Questions/What-do-Catholics-believe-about-the-death-penalty

Today, we understand by God’s grace that every single human life is a precious gift of God, and that we never have the right to play God, even in the case of a serial killer.

There are many twitter feeds on Capital Punishment such as “DeathPenaltyInfoCtr” where you can find them at @DPInfoCtr. This twitter page shows their views and beliefs on Capital Punishment and is a really good source.

On youtube, you can look up videos of Capital Punishment. Here are some which I have found.

There are many scriptures in the bible show why the catholic church is against Capital punishment. Some include:

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Bible-Verses-About-Capital-Punishment/

Genesis 9:6

Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

Leviticus 24:17-22

And he that killed any man shall surely be put to death.

Exodus 21:12

He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.

Leviticus 24:17

And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.

John 8:3-11

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,   

Numbers 35:30-31

Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person [to cause him] to die.

Romans 12:19

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

 

Animal Cruelty – Zac Finch

Hello, this is Zac Finch and my final blog will be about animal cruelty. The expansion of animal cruelty has caused many different perspectives to be stated by many significant people.

As Christians we are against animal cruelty as animals are a creation of God. Humans have no greater power of any animals, we are all equal as God made us all.

Abuse of anything that God made is not the character of God, but rather of the Evil One. “A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel” – Proverbs 12:10.

Unfortunately, not everybody in this world has the same belief and view on the topic. There are many acts of animal cruelty constantly going on day by day. There is currently thousands of dogs being slaughtered at The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival.

This festival is also known as the Yulin Dog Meat Festival, which is an annual celebration held in Yulin, Guangxi, China, during the summer solstice in which festival goers eat dog meat.

Deforestation – Joseph Moujalli

BLOG 2 – JOSEPH MOUJALLI

Hi, I am Joseph Moujalli, and throughout this blog I will be delineating the church’s view on Deforestation.

Before I begin, you must be wondering ‘What is Deforestation?’ (from google) Deforestation is the clearing of trees, transforming a forest into cleared land. The first step in turning the wilderness into a shopping center is deforestation. You can see the word forest in deforestation. The prefix de- means “remove” and the suffix -ation signals the act or state of.

Additionally, I believe that the world we live in doesn’t belong to us, as saying this in the bible it says “The World and all that is in it belong to the Lord. The Earth and all who live on it are his. He built it on the deep water beneath the Earth and laid its foundations in the ocean depths.” (Psalm 24: 1-2). In reference to this bible quote it depicts that we shouldn’t be destroying the place that belongs to God.

Why then, are we cutting down trees for our own needs. Despite the fact that we are destroying gods beautiful work (the world he created) we are destroying the home of animals that live in it too. These animals that we so call “killed’ have been killed for no reason, they are harmless animals that have died because of the choices we make of cutting down these trees.

This is what ‘disappoints’ God because we are harming animals for no particular reason due to the fact of our silly mistakes. It also says, “all who lives on it are his”, which means that we also belong to God. If we ‘belong’ to God this means we must obey what he has set for us on earth and gives us the encouragement to follow his commands.

Furthermore, God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26) This quote means that God has the most power, also known as ‘authority’ to control of all the earth this including us humans.

This could be expounded as God having the ability to believe and trust in us to take care of the earth and in this situation we have abused his belief in us by continuing to fall through the process of deforestation. This meaning we have been cutting down trees in his forests, polluted the earth and killing animals in those forests.

To conclude my blog, it is evident that Christianity is against Deforestation due to the fact that us humans on earth are destroying God’s Earth which he created for us to live in and not to ruin.

God wants for us to follow his commands so he may have the trust in us not to cut down these trees, pollute the earth and kill these harmless animals that have done nothing to us humans. Remember this earth is not ours to destroy so let’s obey God’s commands so he may have the trust in us.

Animal Cruelty – Marco Manalang

BLOG 2 – MARCO MANALANG

This is Marco Manalang, and my second blog post on reverence of life will be discussing the ethical issue, animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is an issue which is definitely not accepted by the Catholic Church, and it is certainly not an issue which the Church teaches to accept at all. Animal cruelty takes advantage of the dignity of animals, more importantly their lives as innocent creatures created by God.

It is stated in the beginning that God did in fact create the world, and all that exists. Through animal cruelty, humanity is essentially disobeying God by killing what he has given to us as a gift.

Although the Church’s teachings do agree with using animals for our own nourishment, the Church does not believe that the killing of animals should be conducted in inhumane ways.

Firstly, we need to identify what the Catholic Catechism teaches on animal cruelty. It is stated in the Catholic Catechism that animals are God’s creatures, and that the existence of animals is already blessing and glorifying Him.

Therefore, animal cruelty is taking away these blessings and glory which God has brought upon us. The Catechism states “God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image.”

This quote from the Catholic Catechism explains how God intended for humans, which were created from God’s own image, to be obliged to care for all animals in the way that he would. The Catechism also teaches that man is allowed to domesticate and experiment animals, to an extent where it is for the sole purpose of saving another human’s life.

The Catechism also states that animals do not personally have their own rights, and they have no way to express their rights as animals without humanity. It is humanity’s responsibility to set out the rights of all animals, and therefore it is the responsibility of humanity to also abide and live by their rights.

The act of animal cruelty opposes this, because we as humans are aware of the actions which we take.

Not only in the Catechism, but also in morals which we understands as humans, animal cruelty is something which demonstrates bad morals. In other words, animal cruelty is only suggesting that humanity wants to be cruel towards others too.

This is something that goes against the Catholic faith, God created us to love one another not be cruel towards another. Animal cruelty is wrong, the Church stands against this ethical issue strongly.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a7.htm

This is why animal cruelty is not accepted by the Catholic Church, because it is essentially denying the dignity of all animals, which only exist as a blessing of nourishment and fulfilment in life.

Animal cruelty is also discussed widely throughout the bible, in the sense that animals should be respected and given care in the same way humanity cares for one another.

The bible verse Numbers 22:32 discusses animal cruelty through stating that the Angel of the Lord, and hence God, does not accept the act of punishing animals in such ways that go against what he believes is morally right.

More importantly, the bible teaches that animals and humans are equal in the same way, as they both came from dust and return to dust in life. The bible verse Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 teaches exactly this, saying that the fate of animals and humans are the same.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+22%3A32&version=ESV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%203:19-20

But what does the Pope think on the ethical issue? Pope Francis has addressed the issue of the protection of animals in an encyclical named “Praised Be”. Referring to the Catholic Catechism, as well as other religious scriptures,

Pope Francis states that humanity has misinterpreted the meaning of domination over other creatures, which is meant to be a granted blessing of dominion over what God has created.

The Pope reiterates what the Catholic Catechism teaches, saying “every act of cruelty towards any creature is contrary to human dignity”. In saying this, The Pope is demonstrating that animal cruelty goes against reverence for life, more importantly the intended purpose of God granting dominion over the creatures he has blessed humanity with.

The Pope emphasises that without recognising and respecting the dignity of animals, there is no peace. Human dignity should be granted and respected in the same exact way, or else the world would not have peace.

It is an issue which opposes the value of human life too, because as the Church teaches humanity and animals are one in the same through life and death. In simple, the Church strongly believes that cruelty towards animals is just as wrong as cruelty towards other humans.

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/pope-francis-animal-protection/

 

Environment – Nicolas Jahshan

BLOG 2 – NICOLAS JAHSHAN

Hi, I’m Nicolas Jahshan and in today’s blog I will be speaking to you about the Environment, but not just the environment itself. In this blog I will also be highlighting the church’s view on the Environment.

The true meaning/ origin / definition of the word ‘environment’ is  the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal , or plant lives or operates. Or the natural world in a whole or in particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity.

Furthermore, from perspective and point of view I believe our Environment is the key to the future, if we can’t take care of the Environment, the Environment can’t take care of us. In saying this what I am trying to get across is that the Environment gives us so much and we give very little to nothing back, the most important thing they give us is oxygen to breathe.

Additionally, as a result of this bad quality of air can give us health issues, us polluting the water can make us unhealthy and sick and we need the suns protection for our daily vitamins.

 

The Environment plays a major and effective role in how we live and where we live. The environment plays a role first thing in the morning when we are deciding what we wear everyday whether it is  school, work, shopping, and the list goes on.

We need the encouragement of humanity in helping us give back to the environment. As what it has given us. Not just give back to the environment but give back to Jesus and all his forces of nature such as rocks, plants, animals, flora and fauna.

Additionally, the church and bible also tell us about the environment in many ways and forms throughout there passages such as Genesis 2:15 “the lord god took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work and keep it.” This quote goes on to talk about how we have to take care of the Environment around us as our father created this for us.  

Luke 12:27-30 “consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.”

http://www.acton.org/public-policy/environmental-stewardship/theology-e/roman-catholic-church-holy-see-environment

The church’s most relevant passage today is Jeremiah 2:7 “I brought you into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruits and its good things. But when you came in, you defiled my land and made my heritage an abomination.” This exemplified what he have done the environment all the harm and damage.

Euthanasia – Ryan Attard

BLOG 2 – RYAN ATTARD

Hi, I’m Ryan Attard and in this blog I will be looking at the catholic view of Euthanasia. Before I go and explore what the Catholic view is of Euthanasia I will discuss what Euthanasia is. Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a person’s life to relieve suffering.

For example, a doctor who gives a patient with terminal cancer an overdose of muscle relaxants to end their life would be considered to have carried out euthanasia. Assisted suicide is the act of deliberately assisting or encouraging another person to kill themselves.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Euthanasiaandassistedsuicide/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Overall, Christians are mostly against euthanasia. We are against it because we believe that life is given by God, and that human beings are made in God’s image. We believe that life is a gift from God and that no human being no matter the level of seriousness can take it away.

Catholics mainly believe that euthanasia is wrong because birth and death are part of the life processes which God has created, so we should respect them.

Catholics are also against euthanasia because all human are of  equal value. Catholics don’t think that human dignity and value are measured by mobility, intelligence, or any achievements in life.

Valuing human beings as equal just because they are human beings has clear implications for thinking about euthanasia patients in a persistent vegetative state, although seriously damaged, remain living human beings, and so their intrinsic value remains the same as anyone else’s so it would be wrong to treat their lives as worthless and to conclude that they ‘would be better off dead’ patients who are old or sick.

Those who are near the end of earthly life have the same value as any other human being people who have mental or physical handicaps have the same value as any other human being.

Many people also disagree with euthanasia as they share their thoughts and beliefs on twitter by saying ‘Euthanasia is a form of murder’. There are also many pages on this arising issue such as Euthanasia 2016 @Euthanasia2016.

https://twitter.com/euthanasia2016

With the use of social media in society today, we can see the views and opinions of different people.

In the bible they also bring up Euthanasia in many scriptures such as in…

https://www.openbible.info/topics/euthanasia

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  

Or do you not know that your body’s a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Ecclesiastes 7:17

Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

Exodus 20:13

“You shall not murder.

In conclusion euthanasia is against catholic belief as they see it as a form of murder to an innocent human being. This is proven in bible passages, online websites, youtube videos and twitter feeds. Even though some people agree with euthanasia most of society don’t.  

Abortion – Zac Finch

BLOG 2 – ZAC FINCH

Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks.

There are numerous ways people can get abortion such as the abortion pill but the most common way is Aspiration. This is a vacuum / suction-like process to get rid of the baby.

The Catholic Church opposes abortion because it believes that life is sacred and inviolable. To learn about further evidence on the catholicism belief regarding abortion, follow the hyper-link provided. 

http://www.catholic.com/tracts/abortion

There are also various verses and passages in the bible where abortion is directly and indirectly discussed and taught to the catholic community. Below is one verse from the bible which refers to the act of abortion.

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

http://www.priestsforlife.org/articles/4376-the-bibles-teaching-against-abortion

Not only is the Catholic Church against abortion, but also goes against many other beliefs. Many argue that abortion is murder, as they are killing a baby.

Whether it is fully developed or not, it is still a child nonetheless. It is just as bad as killing any other human being, and taking their life.