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At what point does the pope's failing health collide with his and his church's explicit anti-right-to-die policies? I normally try to keep my anti-authoritarian/anti-papal-power screeds out of this space and confined to the chorus of voices in my head, so I'll try to keep the throttle low now. However, at some point the failing health of the pope and the miracles of modern medicine are going to give us a big fat problem: the chief authority for 1.2 billion of the world's residents may arrive at a point where he cannot in any way act as a leader but instead lives in a vegetative state of his own. In order to move on, Vatican leadership would have to, you know, pull the plug. But they dare not. They'll be paralyzed.
Will the brain waves emanating from his eminence still be considered to have emitted ex cathedra and therefore be infallible?
What would the papal feeding tube contain?
Will he take the Body and Blood of Christ intravenously?
How will a practicing Catholic go to confession if he/she is in a persistent vegetative state? Indeed, one wonders if the use of medical science to maintain life in a way invites sin, as it denies the sacraments to a person. I only recognize 2 sacraments myself, but in a world that acknowledges seven, how do we deny the likes of Mrs. Schiavo the sacrament of last rites/burial when other circumstances have denied her the benefits of the remaining six? (I think the roman church has now adapted the former "last rites" into "ministry to the sick", however)
I might say five instead of six, since she's already been baptized and that benefit can't be taken away; except the theologically astute among you will recognize that the fruit of baptism into Christ's death and resurrection is...resurrection! So in a way, she reaps none of the true benefits of any sacrament, as long as she remains in this life. ( dry theological wranglings )
Will the brain waves emanating from his eminence still be considered to have emitted ex cathedra and therefore be infallible?
What would the papal feeding tube contain?
Will he take the Body and Blood of Christ intravenously?
How will a practicing Catholic go to confession if he/she is in a persistent vegetative state? Indeed, one wonders if the use of medical science to maintain life in a way invites sin, as it denies the sacraments to a person. I only recognize 2 sacraments myself, but in a world that acknowledges seven, how do we deny the likes of Mrs. Schiavo the sacrament of last rites/burial when other circumstances have denied her the benefits of the remaining six? (I think the roman church has now adapted the former "last rites" into "ministry to the sick", however)
I might say five instead of six, since she's already been baptized and that benefit can't be taken away; except the theologically astute among you will recognize that the fruit of baptism into Christ's death and resurrection is...resurrection! So in a way, she reaps none of the true benefits of any sacrament, as long as she remains in this life. ( dry theological wranglings )