Resource Tag: CATHOLIC CHURCH

An excerpt from the novel “The Heart of the Matter” with a discussion about the author, British novelist Graham Greene. His characters usually tread the thin line between good & evil, often struggling against their own dark selves. Greene himself seems to have been drawn to suicide until he converted to Catholicism at age 21.

This study replicates the analysis of Stack (1980) on the relationship between state variation in divorce & the suicide rate. Using Canadian data, it is hypothesized that a higher provincial rate of divorce is related to a higher provincial suicide rate. Using provincial data for 1971 & 1978, support was found for the hypothesis. Controlling […]

This study corroborates the findings by Stack (1980) on the relationship between interstate migration & suicide. Using Canadian data from the 1970s, strong support for a migration effect emerges. This finding also lends support to the culture shock hypothesis. The main effect of migration acts to raise the odds of suicide. A 1% change in […]

Catholic pastoral care in the pre-Vatican church was both sacramental & moralistic. Vatican II unleashed forces within Roman Catholicism that would cultivate a reconsideration of ministry & pastoral care. This chapter tracks some of the more significant aspects of this evolution & discusses their implications for Catholic pastoral care, noting that care extended to a […]

The author discusses the history of the debate on physician-assisted suicide in Europe. The first such move came in Germany in 1909 when the Reichstag debated a bill to allow incurably ill people to be helped to die by a doctor. Recently, the Dutch parliament passed a bill which would leave euthanasia as a criminal […]

The Suicide Opinion Questionnaire was administered to 100 Italian & 100 American physicians, comparable in age, gender, & medical field. Significant differences were found on 7 of the 8 SOQ scales, with Italian physicians showing greater agreement on the mental illness, right to die, religion, impulsivity, normality, aggression, & moral evil scales. Gender differences were […]

The present study examained the impact of Catholicism on suicide in 2 socio-culturally different regions in Louisiana. A multiple regression analysis of county suicide rates found no evidence for a contextual effect. Catholicism does not reduce suicide in the historically French Catholic, southern region of the state, & it does not increase suicide in the […]

Physician-assisted suicide is a form of euthanasia. The author argues that as such, it is contrary to one’s ethical responsibility to self, community, & God. Religious tradition, medical tradition, & modern psychology attest that physician-assisted suicide does not solve any human problems. (21 refs.)

This chapter examines the “sanctity of life” approach & the “quality of life” approach with reference to capital punishment, abortion, suicide, & euthansia, & with particular reference to historical & legal aspects in Germany. The Carolina Code of 1532, developed in the age of Lutheran reformation, is compared to protection of life in comtemporary penal […]

The author of this article argues for the sanctity & dignity of life against the autonomy & self determination arguments for assisted suicide. He reviews pro-euthanasia arguments, as well as anti-euthansia arguments, as well as life is a “gift from God”. The author also asserts physical illness & suffering do not justify euthanasia. (VM)

Factors in Judaism & Christianity which relate to suicidal behavior are discussed. Although both religions basically disapprove of suicide, harsh religious laws that historically relate to such acts have been revised in consideration of the many complex issues of modern living. It is pointed out that the fact of suicide is considered to be a […]

To test the hypothesis that RC priests are at low risk for prostatic cancer because of their celibacy, a cohort of 10,026 men who were active or retired diocesan RC priests in the US on 1/1/49 were followed until death, leaving the priesthood or 1/1/78. The overall standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 103 & the […]

In this chapter, the authors look at thoughts & acts of suicide from biblical to more recent times from the point of view of the Catholic religion. (CM)

The author discusses trends in suicide rates among the young & old. He identifies possible warning signs of suicidal behavior & lists a number of suicide prevention agencies. Feelings of those who have lost family members or friends to suicide are described. The position of the Catholic church toward suicide is outlined briefly.

This is a comprehensive investigation of suicide differentials among immigrant groups in Canada for the years 1971 & 1981. Support was found for Durkheim’s theory that suicide rates vary inversely with a group’s degree of social integration. Catholics (Italians & Irish) have higher levels of social integration & less suicides than the less community integrated […]

Three moral issues-abortion, euthanasia, & suicide are examined by the author, a Roman Catholic priest. Chapter 3 deals with euthanasia, chapter 4 with suicide. In both instances, the law of the Catholic church is presented, & the author defends any steps taken to prevent these acts from being completed. The Catholic church’s “declaration on euthanasia” […]

Using Durkheim’s methods, but with other data, it is considered whether there is any empirical basis for his theory of differing suicide rates between Catholics & Protestants. The author’s data suggests that the apparent differential between them can be attributed to a greater tendency within Catholic populations to register suicide as something else. This raises […]

The use of the hunger strike as a form of political protest in Ireland is discussed. The Dublin uprising of Easter, 1916, the declaration of self-rule by the 1919 Dublin parliament, & Britain’s use of black & tans to terrorize the Irish Catholics is outlined. The 1920 hunger strike of Cork’s Mayor, James McSwiney, after […]

Discusses the complex interaction of influences bearing on suicide in Italian culture, some of which impell individuals toward suicide & others of which act to prevent it. These influences inclue religion, the role of the family, & the Italian perception of life. (4 refs.) (LH)

This study extends a recent study by S. Stack, by showing that the proportion of Catholics in a region (the states of the USA) was negatively related to the suicide and homicide rates. Whereas the relationship with suicide rate was eliminated by controlling for the proportion of divorced persons in the regions, the relationship with […]

The author analyzes French society, culture, & personality, with a view to identifying those features that could be suicidogenic. Areas of concern include migration, the aged, an overwhelmingly urban place of residence, alcohol abuse, economic differences, state control, the legal system, lack of religosity, & the prevalence of guarded, hostile & rigid personality characteristics. (NBB)

The official church position, viewing suicide as sinful, was defined by St. Augustine & later reinforced by Thomas Aquinas. Their position maintains that life belongs to God & only God can terminate it. It is also a transgression of the Fifth Commandment, “Thou shall not kill”. Father Pangrazzi counsels a non-judgmental, compassionate attitude toward both […]