Saints LightThe Fifth Commandment: Respect for Human Life
Never take innocent human life, from the womb to old age, and root out the hatred that leads to violence. Mercy is always offered to those who repent, and the Church allows self-defense and just defense of a nation under strict limits.
What this lesson teaches
- Every human life, from conception to natural death, is sacred and may never be directly and intentionally taken.
- Declining burdensome or disproportionate treatment is not euthanasia, and palliative care is an act of charity.
- Anger becomes sinful when it turns into hatred or a desire for revenge.
- Self-defense is legitimate, and war may be just only under strict conditions that protect civilians.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 2258-2269
- CCC 2270-2275
- CCC 2276-2283
- CCC 2302-2306
- CCC 2307-2317
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: Matthew 5:21-22; Jeremiah 1:5 (Jeremias in Douay-Rheims); Ephesians 4:26.
A sample question from this lesson
A dying patient declines a painful surgery that offers little real benefit. What does the Church say?
- This is euthanasia and is gravely wrong
- This is morally acceptable; burdensome or disproportionate treatment may be declined
- The patient must accept every possible treatment
- Only a bishop can permit this
Show the answer
This is morally acceptable; burdensome or disproportionate treatment may be declined. Refusing burdensome or disproportionate treatment is not euthanasia; it accepts that death cannot be prevented (CCC 2278).
The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.
Words to know
- Euthanasia
- An act or omission that directly causes the death of a sick, disabled or dying person in order to end suffering.
- Just war teaching
- The strict conditions under which the use of military force for defense can be morally legitimate.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
Read the full lesson in the app
"The Fifth Commandment: Respect for Human Life" is lesson 6 of The Ten Commandments. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
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Related lessons
- How Should Christians Think About Peace and War? (Social Teaching)
- Why Does Every Person Matter? (Social Teaching)
- The Crusades and the Inquisition: What Really Happened? (Church History)