On 5 May 1980, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [CDF] issued its Declaration on Euthanasia in order to emphasize the value of the human person and their right to life in light of recent developments of medicine and science. This declaration would become a foundational document for the official teaching of the Catholic Church regarding the morality of euthanasia.
This declaration is especially concerned with the issue of suffering and its relationship to the question of euthanasia. While the CDF reiterates the absolute prohibition on the killing of an innocent, even if that person is suffering or dying; the use of medicine to relieve pain is permissible even if such medicine might shorten the life of the patient if no other means of easing pain is available. The intention, however, must be to ease suffering, not to shorten life. Also, no one is required to take extraordinary means to prolong life.
Life is a gift of God, and on the other hand death is unavoidable; it is necessary, therefore, that we, without in any way hastening the hour of death, should be able to accept it with full responsibility and dignity. It is true that death marks the end of our earthly existence, but at the same time it opens the door to immortal life. Therefore, all must prepare themselves for this event in the light of human values, and Christians even more so in the light of faith.
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