Human Life & Dignity
Created in God’s image as intelligent and free beings, every person is a unique, infinitely valuable individual and is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. We all possess an inalienable dignity that stamps our existence as good regardless of gender, race, class, ethnicity, nationality. The true value our society places on human life is reflected by:
- How we confront direct attacks on life like euthanasia, capital punishment, war, genocide, and abortion.
- How we reduce affronts to human dignity like subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, and the treatment of workers as tools for profit.
- Whether we ensure the material and social needs of every person, family, and community are met, so that all may freely and fully participate in social life. The most vulnerable-namely pregnant women, mothers, children, the elderly, and the poor-all too frequently find their ability to work, maintain their health, support themselves or their family, and engage in civic and social life restricted by their material and environmental conditions. As inherently social beings, a critical aspect of our humanity can only be realized in community, an aspect which must be denied to none.
How we confront attacks on life, affronts to dignity, and the material circumstances that oppress and undermine the humanity of pregnant women and children, the elderly, the disabled and infirm, and those who are poor or vulnerable reflect the true value our society places on every human life. These three aspects work in concert to form a consistent ethic of life: one that embraces all humanity by extending across nationality, race, class, and age. Focusing on any single aspect of the Human Life & Dignity, or confining our concern to a particular population, fails to show reverence for and recognize the vulnerability of the human person at every stage of life.
Practical Application:
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