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Who Are We Now?

Any stimulus to inform and provoke theological discussion about euthanasia is to be welcomed. In this volume, the focal point is three papers on 'The Challenge', 'The Validity' and 'The Principle of Justice', by Robin Gill, Paul Badham and Alastair Campbell respectively. Each essay is followed by a variety of critical responses and the volume rounded off by Jean Porter from the University of Notre Dame. Gill centres on changing attitudes, the complexity of medical technology and theological and legislative ambiguities. Badham critically evaluates the sanctity of life principle, suffering and the slippery slope argument. Campbell sets justice at the heart of euthanasia and the impact of legal and social changes. Inevitably the papers and the responses vary. The theological debate is not very deep and there is a slight feeling of missing each other's points, in spite of the replies to the critiques by the three main authors. That there is variety among Christians is not surprising. That this is dealt with courteously is positive. What would have been helpful is a stressing and clarification of common ground and agreed emphases. The weakness is often that the material was drawn from different settings rather than from a central set of concerns, and it reads like it.