Catholic view on death and dying

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

In a society that often strives to numb itself against the reality of death, one diocesan priest said the Catholic Church has always made preparing for death a focal point.

“The church doesn’t hide the fact that we’re all mortal and we’re all going to die, so there’s a real spirituality about preparing for our death,” said Father Zach Jones, parochial vicar at Divine Mercy Parish and chaplain at Bishop Garrigan Schools of Algona. “Even when you’re young and healthy, it’s good to keep these things in mind so we can live well and therefore die well.”

Ordained in 2022, Father Jones earned a licentiate in moral theology with an emphasis in bioethics at the Angelicum, the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome. He also obtained an additional certificate from the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

“My thesis for the licensure was on the dying process, what we call the Ars Moriendi – the art of dying and art of dying well,” noted the priest, who has given several talks on the topic in the diocese.

Ordinary vs. extraordinary
One of the major considerations to keep in mind with church teaching on the end-of-life process, he stressed, is knowing the difference between ordinary and extraordinary care.

“What things are mandatory when it comes to medical care? We call those ordinary means of care,” said Father Jones. “Food and water – hydration and nutrition – as well as hygiene and shelter would fall under those things.”

Extraordinary means of care are optional, not mandatory. This would include treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, dialysis and even some medications that could be taken away or refused in order to allow death to take its natural process.

“We can tend to overmedicate at the end of life and people can become drowsy or unconscious. It’s ok sometimes to cut back on medication toward the end of life so they can live more consciously and have a fuller experience,” said Father Jones.

Ordinary and extraordinary means, he noted, are also known as proportionate and disproportionate.

“Maybe there’s a really invasive surgery to extend life for a small period of time, but it’s going to cause a lot of side effects, pain and suffering. We would say those things would be disproportionate and therefore not prudent,” said Father Jones. “Those are more prudential judgements by the patient and their family. The key thing to remember is that hydration and nutrition are always mandatory so we can’t just leave someone to starve to death or dehydrate to death.”

He pointed out that St. John Paul II had offered some clarification pertaining to hydration and nutrition through feeding tubes or IV fluids due to the case of Terri Schiavo, whose feeding tube was removed after a legal battle between her parents and husband. Her death in 2005 elevated end-of-life discussions and debate.

The late pope had said that feeding and hydrating patients was “morally obligatory” and that withdrawing feeding tubes constituted “euthanasia by omission.” A caveat to this is if the patient no longer benefits from the food or water.

After the feeding tube was disconnected from Schiavo on March 18, 2005, she died 13 days later on March 31. 

Assisted suicide
Remembering the case of Schiavo also lines up with an alarming movement that Father Jones has on his radar – an increase in euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.

Father Jones“The church is vehemently opposed to both of those practices, but we’re seeing it really take off in parts of the world,” he said. Canada legalized assisted suicide in 2016 and “about 5% of their deaths last year were from euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide. It’s one of the leading causes of death in Canada and we’re seeing that grow in other places.”

When that practice was first legalized, the priest said it was labeled as for patients who were terminally ill, close to the end of their life and in great pain.

“Now we see a kind of slippery slope has begun,” said Father Jones, noting that in Canada even minors dealing with depression or anxiety have fell victim to assisted suicide. 

It’s also moving to patients who don’t actually have a terminal illness but have a chronic disease.

“The church views this as killing an innocent person - not very different from the practice of abortion or just murder,” he said. “The church is very opposed to it, so these conversations are becoming more prevalent in the political sphere and social sphere about what’s right and what’s wrong when it comes to euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.”

In the United States, states are allowed to make their own laws about assisted suicide. According to the National Right to Life website, so far 12 states and the District of Columbia have legalized assisted suicide.

Palliative care
“It’s a real issue we are dealing with in the United States, one of the new fronts we are dealing with in the pro-life movement,” said Father Jones. “We have to show people that if they are terminally ill or in great pain, even if they suffer with something they still have value and dignity. We need to do a better job of showing them that and caring for them.”

He referred to value of palliative care – treating the symptoms of the sickness even though the sickness itself cannot be healed – in order for the patient to live the fullest life they can amidst the pain and suffering. 

“The church has always held that the use of painkillers and morphine are licit, acceptable for the purpose of lowering pain but it shouldn’t be used to hasten death,” said the priest. 

Because the advancements in medications and treatment, Father Jones said the concept of a prolonged illness – such as having cancer for 10 years – is becoming more an occurrence “where in the past they would die much quicker.”

“As medical technology advances and we get better at treating pathologies and the symptoms, the church is keeping up with medical technology and saying what is licit, what is helpful to the person, what’s in keeping with the natural law versus what might be contrary to natural law and the good the human person,” he explained. “There are all sorts of possible remedies and procedures that we might see as illicit in the Catholic sphere.”

For example, he cited the use of fetal stem cells as immoral.

“There are more and more things coming out but the church is really good at focusing in and looking at all of the new procedures and modern treatments,” said Father Jones. “They determine if it is good or something to be wary of.”

And while the Catholic Church continues to evaluate the morality of ever-changing medical treatments, he stressed, “The church has always been a huge proponent of medical advancements. So many great saints were also doctors who pushed forth some great medical pathways.”

With advancement in treatment and prolonged life, he mentioned there are more and possibly different questions that need to be asked when it comes to the end-of-life process.

Spiritual preparation
“The church has a beautiful understanding of the human person and therefore has the best thing to offer when it comes to the end of life,” said Father Jones. “When it comes to the end of life, there are more than just the medical questions, there are also the spiritual questions when it comes to the sacramental life of the person who is dying – viaticum, the Eucharist, confession and anointing of the sick – which are foundational to the dying process in the Catholic Church.”

Years ago, Father Jones noted, the sacraments were so important that they used to call a priest before they called a doctor. The priest would anoint the patient before the doctor would take over for treatment.

He pointed out that most people long to follow church teaching but they do not always know what it is.

In order to stay abreast of current topics and the Catholic perspective related to healthcare, Father Jones pointed out that the National Catholic Bioethics Center is a great resource.

“More and more dioceses are getting a guy like me who has a bioethics degree so they can answer questions at a more local level,” said Father Jones. “And I think more of our bishops are speaking out against some of these issues that we don’t often hear about when it comes to things like physician assisted suicide, IVF and abortion.”

Father Jones is open to receiving questions on this topic – [email protected].