The Roman Catholic Church is opposed to euthanasia because it is seen as murder. In Evangelium Vitae, the Pope said that to cause death in this way was 'a grave violation of the law of God'. However, if large doses of painkillers are used to help ease a person's suffering, and as a result of these the person ultimately dies, this is understood as double effect and is permitted. In the same way the Roman Catholic Church does not believe that doctors should use any extraordinary treatment to keep people alive. The Church of England holds a similar view, saying in 1992 that although the deliberate taking of a human life is forbidden, there are very strong arguments that people should not be kept alive at all costs when they are suffering intolerable pain.
Christian Churches encourage the support of hospices .
These are special places where terminally ill people are cared for and allowed to die in comfort and dignity without employing euthanasia.