Human life is not a goal in and of itself, but is designed for service to God and neighbour. Living is not life s greatest good. Life is something we receive, something we can lose, and sometimes something we may even need to give up entirely. Human life does not have absolute value. Situations may occur where one person does have the right to take another person s life.
Immortality is bestowed upon mankind.
It s not simply a natural property embedded in our humanness. Where God demands respect for life, we may not cut life short. If God gives us the animals for food, then we may put animals to death. If God entrusts the sword to the state, the state receives along with the sword the right to curtail the life of those who act unlawfully, that is, the right to kill. The right of a government to wage war cannot be rejected, when defending national territory or assisting threatened allies.