My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are thirteen (13) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Fifth Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not kill.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2325.
When addressing the Fifth Commandment ‘You shall not kill’, the Catechism highlights four aspects related to the sin of suicide or murder of self.
Suicide is forbidden by the Fifth Commandment, ‘You shall not kill.’ Not only should we not kill the other person, we should not allow others to kill us, nor should we kill ourselves.
Suicide is gravely contrary to justice. The virtue of justice has us give each their due. The giving and taking of life is God’s due, not ours. If we have outstanding debts and we kill ourselves, who will pay our debts? Those with whom we live and work have the right for us to be on this Earth as long as God wills. We are not to force His hand. Sadly society often glamorizes or lionizes suicide (e.g. M*A*S*H theme by Johnny Mandel sung by Michael Altman or Marilyn Manson; singer Kurt Cobain).
Suicide is gravely contrary to hope. The wise Medical Ethics professor at The Catholic University of America, the late Msgr. Robert Paul Mohan (+2007) would often say that “suicide was a permanent answer to a temporary problem.” While some criticize this aphorism due to the often long term effects of mental stresses, when compared to eternity, even eighty or so years on Earth pales in comparison to the eternity of Heaven or Hell.
Suicide is gravely contrary to charity. The Theological Virtue of Charity calls us to love God, neighbor and self. In killing ourselves we show a lack of love to God who has loved us into existence. We show a lack of love for the neighbor who will discover and miss us. We show a lack of love for ourselves by failing to take care of ourselves. Pagan philosophy, in practice, did not hold suicide in abhorrence. Yet, for the People of God who so greatly valued human life, only the most degraded or satanic would lay their own hands on themselves doing such harm. Two suicides are recounted in Sacred Scripture, neither of which endorses the practice (cf. 1 Samuel 31:4; Matthew 27:5).
We are not to encourage or help anyone to kill themselves (cf. CCC, 2282). Global statistics identify 1.8% of world wide deaths to be suicides. Sometimes mental instability, psychological disturbances, anguish or grave fear of hardships, sufferings, or torture play a factor, possibly even diminishing our personal responsibility (cf. CCC, 2282).
If you know someone who has committed this sin, or attempted such, pray for them, for God’s mercy. So often we are able to repent our other sins, but this sin leaves little room for begging God’s mercy on our own behalf. Mother Church prays for all, even those who have sadly taken their own lives (cf. CCC, 2283).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr