The Catholic position on end of life : theological foundations and philosophical reasoning

Abstract

This chapter omits to repeat what the Catholic Church expresses on and of life issue as this has been amply explored. Rather it explores the underlying Catholic theology in its current understanding of ‘relations’ and’ fraternity’. To do so it goes through the principles affecting bioethical thought and the new concepts of Trinitarian theology and how this is understood to contribute to communitarianism and in turn how this affects end of life care. The importance of virtues is re-visited as a ‘venue’ to the relationship, where this in turn determines the ambience around the patient. In this regard a more recent interpretation of the image of God (imago die) is presented as the possibility of relation with the other. Imago Dei is thus a potential to be reached and a 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 present in all persons.