I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOGISTICS OF SUICIDE IN THE catholic religion?

Question

A small minority of suicides result from altruistic decisions to sacfrifice ones life for the survival of others.
examples: the soldier who dives on a hand grenade to save his comrades lives.
the mother who elects to give birth rather than aborting her baby, knowing that she will die in the process.

Are these considered sins, and would one go to hell?
Technically they ARE killing themselves knowingly.
HELP!
im confused?
does nobility outweigh technicalities???!

Answer 1

According to the Catechism, giving up one's life to preserve another is not suicide. Neither is giving up one's life for God.

It should also be noted that the Vatican's position on suicide has changed a lot over the years. Forty years ago, suicides could not be buried on blessed ground. (Many church cemeteries had one area of unblessed ground, specifically for this purpose.) Now, the Church recognizes the existence of mental disorders, and does not condemn those who have them.

From the Catechism: "Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide" (#2282).

Generally speaking, in order for a mortal sin to be committed, three conditions must be in place.
1. The sin in question must be serious in nature.
2. The sinner must have knowledge or strong belief that the act is wrong, prior to commiting the act.
3. The sinner must be acting with full consent of their own will.

Thus, if someone who commits suicide doesn't think that it's morally wrong, or is under compulsion of mental illness, then no sin is committed.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

I think that suicide that generally understood as being a stand alone decision that is not related to anyone elses survival. The soldier falling on the grenade will always be seen as a hero, and the dieing mother will be seen to be following maternal instincts. Suicide, like murder, is a premeditated decision.

Answer 3

In the Catholic Religion it is forbidden to commit suicide, but in the bible it Say's there is no greater love than to lay ones life down for a brother.

To answer your question to when a woman has to decide on aborting a child to save her own life. Self preservation is also aloud I don't think God will punish some body who is trying to save their own life.

Answer 4

There is a big difference between laying down your life in sacrifice so that someone else may live, which is an "unselfish" act, and wallowing in your own self pity to a point where you can see no way out, and take your own life from a "selfish" point of view. If there truly is a cosmic reward at the end of all this, I am sure that one who has sacrificed his own life for another would be rewarded for it, do you understand the difference between the two? As to whether anyone goes to Hell for taking thier own lives in any situation, I don't believe in Hell. But I do believe in Karma, and that one is "rewarded" or not, according to thier point of view at the time, and allowed to do time in a way that fits the crime.(We do it to ourselves by failing to release our burdens) But the ultimate answer, must be left for the God of your personal understanding to decide. But yes, nobility weights it differently.

Answer 5

I don't think hell really exists for a start...and i think the reason you 'kill' yourself has a big influence on what happens afterwards...in the afterlife. i think that after most suicides you might have to start (your life and it's lessons)over again after learning that running away from life isn't the answer..which is different to giving your life to save another. So i think that after you commit suicide you might arrive in the 'afterlife' realising that you can't escape whatver you're trying to run from. The learning process goes on...even after death.

Answer 6

even as IJR's sister offed herself 18 years in the past, there replaced right into a clergyman/Monk on the well being center the position she worked trhat prepared to have a Mass suggested for her, even if the Bishop instructed him it won't be able to be in the major church, yet between the area chapels. It replaced right into a really transferring provider.

Answer 7

The mother that dies to give birth, rather than commit murder by abortion will be rewarded for her value for the life of others.

Answer 8

no this is not true, as with the solider giveing his life to save another, this is instinct,,, as god's word says, no greater love has any man than to lay done his life for a friend. i do not believe that any one that takes their own life goes to hell.

Answer 9

it is in us to protect those who we love and care for, without fear of concequence.
one of the more selfless atributes some humans have.
a beautiful thing.

Answer 10

The LORD Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend in John. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:13-15). Jesus is the pure example of a true friend for He laid down His life for His "friends." What is more, "who so ever will" may become His friend by trusting in Him as their personal savior, being born again and receiving new life in Him.



Jesus also gave a parable concerning friendship in Luke. "And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Luke 11:5-10).



In other words not even friendship could move this person to open the door in the middle of the night but the "importunity" or the persistence of the knocker persuaded the friend to open to him. The lesson here is that some times human friendships have their limitations and that persistence reaps benefits.



There is an example of true friendship between David and Saul's son Jonathon, who in spite of his father Saul's pursuit of David and attempts to kill him, stood by his friend. You will find that story in 1 Samuel chapter 18 through chapter 20. Some pertinent passages are 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19: 4-7; 20:11-17, 41-42.



Proverbs is another good source of wisdom regarding friends. "17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17). "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). The issue here is that in order have a friend one must be a friend. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6). "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17).



I am also reminded of the principle found in Amos. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed" (Amos 3:3). Friends are of like mind. The truth that comes from all of this is that friendship is that relationship that is entered into by individuals and it is only as good or as close as those individuals choose to make it. Some one has said that if you can count your true friends on the fingers of one hand, you are blessed. A friend is one whom you can be yourself with and never fear that they will judge you. A friend is someone that you can confide in with complete trust. A friend is someone you respect and that respects you, not based upon worthiness but based upon a likeness of mind.



Finally, I must return to the real definition of a true friend. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8). "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Now, that is true friendship!