Official Religious Opinions on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide This essay is dedicated to expressing the various official opinions of religious bodies within our nation. Most major denominations are represented. These religions have long been guardians of the truth, serving to control the erratic and unpredictable tendencies of political, judicial, and social bodies that would have Americans kill their elderly and handicapped people. The National Association of Evangelicals believes that human beings are made in the image of God and are, therefore, of inestimable value. God gave people the highest dignity of all creation. Such human dignity prohibits euthanasia, which actively causes a person's death. Is it moral to withdraw a life support system that is believed to be an inappropriate extension of the dying process? The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) believes that in cases where patients are terminally ill, death appears imminent, and treatment offers no medical hope for a cure, it is morally appropriate to require withdrawal of life support systems, allowing natural death. In these cases, every effort should be made to keep the patient free from pain and suffering by providing emotional and spiritual support until death. The National Association of Evangelicals believes that in cases where extensive brain injury has occurred and there is a clear medical indication that the patient has suffered brain death (permanent unconsciousness), no medical treatment can reverse the process. Removing any extraordinary life support system at this time is morally appropriate and allows the dying process to proceed. (National) The Union of Orthodox...... half of the document ......rson cannot legitimately be interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the suffering of the dying, even at the cost of shortening their days, can be morally compliant with human dignity if death is desired neither as an end nor as a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable. Palliative care is a special form of selfless charity. As such it should be encouraged. (Catechism)WORKS CITED:National Association of Evangelicals of Americahttp://www.eutanasia.com/evangel.htmlUnion of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of Americahttp://www.ou.org/public/statements/1999/nate43.htmChurch Lutheran - Missouri Synod http://www.eutanasia.com/missouri.html Reformed Church in America http://www.eutanasia.com/lakes.html Catechism of the Catholic Church http://www.eutanasia.com/catech.html