Attitudes of Catholic and Protestant Clergy toward Euthanasia

Abstract

The findings of this study do not categorically confirm the popular assumption that the clergymen are opposed to euthanasia because of the sanctity with which they regard human life. Although they find active euthanasia highly unacceptable, they view passive euthanasia more favorably. However, Catholic clergymen more than Protestant, are significantly opposed to both forms of euthanasia. From the response patterns, a Guttman Scale with a high coefficient of reproducibility was derived, revealing a definite ranking in periority of the different circumstances under which the termination of life supporting techniques would be acceptable. Even though Catholic and Protestant clergymen, in about the same proportions, tend to see the terminal patient as competent to make decisions concerning euthanasia, the two groups, strongly agree that neither the individual patient nor the state should be allowed sole responsibility for the decision.

Life Prolongation: Views of Elderly Outpatients and Health Care Professionals

“…The few studies that exist have examined attitudes toward euthanasia among the general public using the 1977 National Opinion Research Center (NORC) General Social Survey 1–6 . In addition to the NORC surveys others have surveyed attitudes toward euthanasia among health care professionals, 8–11 and Catholic and the Protestant clergy 12 . A few recent studies 13–16 have analyzed do‐not‐resuscitate orders.…”

Should Incurable Patients Be Allowed to Die?

“…Keown and Keown (1995) show that Buddhism shares with Christianity an opposition to euthanasia (see too Lee, Kleinbach, Peng, & Chen, 1996). Hamil-Luker and Smith (1998) found, on the other hand, that Catholics, Jews, liberal and mainline Protestants, and non-religious individuals thave the highest support for hastening the end of life (see too Nagi, 1977). They argue that in an increasing secular world, religious traditions are losing influence in shaping public opinions.…”