Church Teachings on the Issue

Bible: Figure 11. Bible quote on social justice
Figure 11. Quote from the Bible,
Proverbs 31:8-9. Adapted from
"Social Justice Quotes", (n.d.),
  Pinterest, retrieved from https://
www.pinterest.com/source/
caseychappell.com. Reprinted
without permission. 
1 Peter 5:7 in the Bible states to “cast all your anxiety on him, because He cares for you” (NRSV). This quote reminds us to look to God during times of struggle, something that is especially important for people with mental illness to remember. Aboriginal people, however, have had their culture stripped of them, most likely hurting their spiritual life and leaving them struggling to find comfort and strength through their faith. Galatians 3:28 also says that “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Jesus Christ” (NRSV). This passage is talking about inclusivity in the eyes of the Lord and how he sees everyone as the same, something that we must remember before treating our indigenous neighbours any differently or with any less respect than the rest of Canadians.


Catechism:
On the issue of suicide, section 2280 of the Catechism states that “Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honour and salvation for our souls. It is not ours to dispose of”, which looks suicide being wrong and something that goes against our faith. However, section 2282 mentions that “grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture, can diminish the responsibility of one committing suicide”. This can definitely be applied to the aboriginal community, as their culture has a history of mistreatment and emotional scarring, which means that the Church does not look down on those who have committed suicide. As stated in section 2283, “we should not despair the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to Him alone, God can provide opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for people who have taken their own lives”.

Figure 12. Pope Francis quote
Figure 12. Quote from Pope Francis on social justice. Adapted from "Social Justice Quotes", (n.d.), Pinterest, retrieved from http://www.johanpersyn.com/pope-francis-and-unity-in-church/. Reprinted without permission. 



Magisterium:
Pope John Paul II, in a message at a conference for healthcare workers, described how “Christ not only took pity on the sick and healed many of them, restoring to health both their bodies and minds, his compassion also led him to identify with them” (Pope John Paul II, 1996). He said that whoever suffers from a mental illness, like the aboriginal community, always bears God’s image and likeness in himself, as does every human being. He added that “the person suffering always has the undeniable right to be not only considered as an image of God and therefore a person, but also to be treated as such” (Pope John Paul II, 1996). There is already enough discrimination towards the indigenous people in Canada, so we must take extra efforts to avoid causing stigma around mental illness and try to give them the help and love they need to recover. “It is everyone’s duty to make an active response - our actions most show that mental illness does not create insurmountable distances nor prevent relations of true Christian charity with those who are its victims” (Pope John Paul II, 1996).


Sin:
Sin is defined as a choice or act that violates, damages, or breaks our relationship with ourselves, others, God, and nature. Addiction and suicide are both classified as moral sins meaning that they completely cut one off from God, others and the environment. These actions are also considered personal sins of commission, which are sins committed by someone as an individual rather than in a group. However, sin is not black and white and there exceptions, just as the Catechism states certain conditions that relieve a person from the responsibility of committing suicide. Many of the aboriginals with addictions and who have taken their own lives have come from a very poor state of mental health, leading them to take severe measures when they feel hopeless and that there is no better way out or nothing else to live for.

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