Vatican Human Dignity Declaration (“Dignitas Infinita”)
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith,
Dear Friends in the Risen Lord Jesus,
The Vatican has released a new and important document that stresses HUMAN DIGNITY in the light of the many ethical issues of today.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s new document “Dignitas Infinita” (“Infinite Dignity”) is a welcome summary of Catholic ethical/moral teaching on many of the “hot button” issues of our time.
I believe it is a kind of mini-Catechism of many ethical issues that we are confronted with on a daily basis. This new Declaration will give us all real clarity on how Catholics approach such issues based on the Dignity of the Human Person.
The Document’s Introduction summaries its purpose concisely. It is to reaffirm “the indispensable nature of the dignity of the human person in Christian anthropology.”
In its first three chapters it reaffirms fundamental principles based on good philosophical foundations, enlivened in the Easter joy of our Christian Faith.
The Declaration then critiques many current issues in the light of these principles. These issues include “offences against life itself” (e.g. Murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia, suicide). It also comments on “violations of the integrity of the human person” (e.g. Mutilation, torture, psychological pressures).
Finally, it includes “offences against human dignity” (e.g. Poverty, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, degrading working conditions).
The list goes on to include, for example, surrogacy, the death penalty, gender theory, digital violence, gambling, and so on.
I highly recommend you read the complete document and discuss the issues thoroughly.
With renewed Easter greetings and blessings.
Archbishop Christopher Prowse
Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
Download the document: “Dignitas Infinita” (“Infinite Dignity”)