Key religious groups, except perhaps Hindus, may oppose mercy killing
By
Lee Hui Chieh & April Chong
THE major religious groups here - with the probable exception of the Hindus - are likely to share the Catholic Church's stance against euthanasia.
Religious groups such as the Singapore Buddhist Federation, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and the National Council of Churches of Singapore have yet to state their positions on the matter formally, but checks with various religious heads and scholars indicated that these groups are likely to condemn the practice, as they share the belief that life is sacred.
'We should treasure and respect life and we will not encourage anyone to just end one's life.'
Mr Chung Kwang Tong, secretary-general of the Taoist Federation Youth Group
'We are not saying we should do it. But there is an allowance for it, as long as society and the terminally-ill person's family allow it.'
Mr K. Kathirasan, secretary of the Hindu Centre, explaining that the practice is acceptable if the person is beyond cure, has the blessings of his family and carries it out where it does not break the law.
Hindu religious leaders, though, could take a different view. They say that although Hinduism, like other religions, frowns on murder and suicide, it views as acceptable - under certain conditions - that a terminally ill person should decide to end his life.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan turned the spotlight on euthanasia, or mercy killing, last month while speaking on the topic of 'a good death'.
The Government has not proposed legalising euthanasia.
But it is looking at amending the Advance Medical Directive (AMD), or the living will, to make it easier for Singaporeans to sign this document, which instructs doctors not to artificially prolong the life of a terminally ill patient with machines.
On Sunday, the Catholic Church's Archbishop Nicholas Chia became the first religious head here to take a public stand on euthanasia since Mr Khaw's speech.
He said that someone who asked to be euthanised was committing suicide, and compounding the crime by involving another person in bringing about the death.
Singapore Bible College lecturer David Lang said Christians from the different denominations would also view euthanasia as unethical.
The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Christian Church, for example, likens euthanasia to 'a form of suicide on the part of the individual, and a form of murder on a part of others who assist in this practice', said its parish priest, Archimandrite Daniel Toyne.
He added that while the Orthodox Church did not find the AMD objectionable, it was concerned that it could eventually become part of a continuum leading to euthanasia.
Buddhism, which views dying from disease - without relying on life-support machines - a natural process, thus does not have any conflict with the AMD, said the Venerable Kwang Phing, secretary-general of the Singapore Buddhist Federation.
But the religion draws the line at euthanasia, because that involves the desire to kill, he said.
Taoism and Islam also advocate respect for life.
Mr Chung Kwang Tong, the secretary- general of the Taoist Federation Youth Group, said: 'We should treasure and respect life and we will not encourage anyone to just end one's life.'
Muslims await the decision of the highest religious authority here, the Mufti, on whether euthanasia could be accepted, but in general, Islam is against taking away God's gift of life, said Muslim religious scholar Ustaz Pasuni Maulan.
Hindus, however, would have heard of prayopavesa - the practice by some terminally-ill monks of fasting till death.
Swami Mukti Rupananda, the president of the Sri Ramakrishna Mission, said: 'The body is only a physical covering for the soul, which is immortal. When the body has served its purpose, let it go.'
Mr K. Kathirasan, secretary of the Hindu Centre, explained that the practice is acceptable if the person is beyond cure, has the blessings of his family and carries it out where it does not break the law.
'We are not saying we should do it. But there is an allowance for it, as long as society and the terminally-ill person's family allow it,' he said.
