The Dignity of the The Dignity of the Human PersonHuman Person

Dignity of the Human PersonDignity of the Human Person

““We are not some casual and We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed , each of of God. Each of us is willed , each of us is loved, each of us is necessary.” us is loved, each of us is necessary.” – Pope Benedict XVI– Pope Benedict XVI

Man created in the Image of GodMan created in the Image of God

Of all visible creatures only man is Of all visible creatures only man is "able to know and love his creator". "able to know and love his creator". He is "the only creature on earth that He is "the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake", and God has willed for its own sake", and he alone is called to share, by he alone is called to share, by knowledge and love, in God's own knowledge and love, in God's own life. It was for this end that he was life. It was for this end that he was created, and this is the fundamental created, and this is the fundamental reason for his dignity: - CCC 356reason for his dignity: - CCC 356

Dignity of the Human PersonDignity of the Human Person

Being in the image of God the human Being in the image of God the human individual possesses the dignity of a individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but person, who is not just something, but someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, of self-possession and of freely giving of self-possession and of freely giving himself and entering into communion with himself and entering into communion with other persons. And he is called by grace to other persons. And he is called by grace to a covenant with his Creator, to offer him a a covenant with his Creator, to offer him a response of faith and love that no other response of faith and love that no other creature can give in his stead. – CCC 357creature can give in his stead. – CCC 357

Consequences of Human DignityConsequences of Human Dignity

Because each of us is willed by God for Because each of us is willed by God for ourselves (to enter into communion with ourselves (to enter into communion with others, to grow in faith and love and to be others, to grow in faith and love and to be eternally happy with God), and because eternally happy with God), and because we have been given the freedom to pursue we have been given the freedom to pursue this destiny, our lives as persons bear a this destiny, our lives as persons bear a certain inviolable dignity.certain inviolable dignity.

No person may be treated simply as a No person may be treated simply as a means to an end for another person. means to an end for another person.

No person can be denied the right to No person can be denied the right to pursue their God given destinypursue their God given destiny

Particular Issues – 5Particular Issues – 5thth CommandmentCommandment

""Human life is sacredHuman life is sacred because from its because from its beginning it involves the creative action of beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself under any circumstance claim for himself the right the right directly to destroydirectly to destroy an innocent an innocent human being.“ - CCC2258human being.“ - CCC2258

Violations of the 5Violations of the 5thth Commandment Commandment

direct and intentional murderdirect and intentional murder and cooperation  and cooperation in it; in it;

direct abortiondirect abortion, willed as an end or as means, , willed as an end or as means, as well as cooperation in it. Attached to this sin is as well as cooperation in it. Attached to this sin is the penalty of excommunication because, from the penalty of excommunication because, from the moment of his or her conception, the human the moment of his or her conception, the human being must be absolutely respected and being must be absolutely respected and protected in his integrity; <embryonic stem cell protected in his integrity; <embryonic stem cell research>research>

suicidesuicide and voluntary cooperation in it, insofar  and voluntary cooperation in it, insofar as it is a grave offense against the just love of as it is a grave offense against the just love of God, of self, and of neighbor. One’s responsibility God, of self, and of neighbor. One’s responsibility may be aggravated by the scandal given; one may be aggravated by the scandal given; one who is psychologically disturbed or is who is psychologically disturbed or is experiencing grave fear may have diminished experiencing grave fear may have diminished responsibility. responsibility. Compendium Compendium 470470

EuthanasiaEuthanasia

direct euthanasiadirect euthanasia consists in  consists in putting an end to the life of the putting an end to the life of the handicapped, the sick, or those handicapped, the sick, or those near death by an act or by the near death by an act or by the omission of a required action;omission of a required action;

End of Life CareEnd of Life Care Discontinuing medical procedures that are Discontinuing medical procedures that are

burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-can be legitimate; it is the refusal of "over-zealous" treatment. Here one does not will zealous" treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one's inability to impede it to cause death; one's inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always will and legitimate interests must always be respected. - CCC2278be respected. - CCC2278

Capital PunishmentCapital Punishment Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave dutygrave duty for for

one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility… against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility… Assuming that the Assuming that the guiltyguilty party's identity and responsibility have party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor. If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to unjust aggressor. If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity to the dignity of the human person. Today, in fact, as a conformity to the dignity of the human person. Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.“ CCC2265-2267not practically nonexistent.“ CCC2265-2267

Just WarJust War The fifth commandment forbids the intentional destruction of human life. The fifth commandment forbids the intentional destruction of human life.

Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war. All citizens and all governments may free us from the ancient bondage of war. All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war. However, "as long as the danger of are obliged to work for the avoidance of war. However, "as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.“ The strict conditions for defense, once all peace efforts have failed.“ The strict conditions for legitimate legitimate defense by military forcedefense by military force require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a require rigorous consideration. The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy. At one and the same time: the same time: - the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations - the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain; must be lasting, grave, and certain; - all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical - all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective; or ineffective; - there must be serious prospects of success; - there must be serious prospects of success; - the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be - the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modem means of destruction weighs very heavily in eliminated. The power of modem means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition. evaluating this condition. These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the "just war" These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called the "just war" doctrine.doctrine.The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good. - CCC 2307-judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good. - CCC 2307-23092309

Other Violations (cont.)Other Violations (cont.) Kidnapping Kidnapping and and hostage takinghostage taking …are morally …are morally

wrong. wrong. Terrorism Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately; it is gravely against justice and indiscriminately; it is gravely against justice and charity. charity. Torture Torture which uses physical or moral which uses physical or moral violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty, violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty, frighten opponents, or satisfy hatred is contrary frighten opponents, or satisfy hatred is contrary to respect for the person and for human dignity. to respect for the person and for human dignity. Except when performed for strictly therapeutic Except when performed for strictly therapeutic medical reasons, directly intended medical reasons, directly intended amputationsamputations, , mutilationsmutilations, and , and sterilizations sterilizations performed on performed on innocent persons are against the moral law. innocent persons are against the moral law. CCC2297 CCC2297

Organ Transplant/DonationOrgan Transplant/Donation

Organ transplantsOrgan transplants are in conformity with are in conformity with the moral law if the physical and the moral law if the physical and psychological dangers and risks to the psychological dangers and risks to the donor are proportionate to the good donor are proportionate to the good sought for the recipient. sought for the recipient.

Organ donationOrgan donation after death is a noble after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as a expression of generous encouraged as a expression of generous solidarity. It is not morally acceptable if solidarity. It is not morally acceptable if the donor or his proxy has not given the donor or his proxy has not given explicit consent. CCC2296explicit consent. CCC2296

Contemporary BioethicsContemporary Bioethics Artificial Insemination and In Vitro FertilizationArtificial Insemination and In Vitro Fertilization - -

are immoral because they dissociate procreation from are immoral because they dissociate procreation from the act with which the spouses give themselves to each the act with which the spouses give themselves to each other and so introduce the domination of technology other and so introduce the domination of technology over the origin and destiny of the human person. over the origin and destiny of the human person. Furthermore, heterologous insemination and fertilization Furthermore, heterologous insemination and fertilization with the use of techniques that involve a person other with the use of techniques that involve a person other than the married couple infringe upon the right of a child than the married couple infringe upon the right of a child to be born of a father and mother known to him, bound to be born of a father and mother known to him, bound to each other by marriage and having the exclusive right to each other by marriage and having the exclusive right to become parents only through each another. to become parents only through each another. Compendium 499Compendium 499

Also most likely involves “selective reduction” and Also most likely involves “selective reduction” and freezing of embryosfreezing of embryos

Human CloningHuman Cloning

Human CloningHuman Cloning - is intrinsically illicit in that, - is intrinsically illicit in that, by taking the ethical negativity of techniques by taking the ethical negativity of techniques of artificial fertilization to their extreme, it of artificial fertilization to their extreme, it seeks to seeks to give rise to a new human being give rise to a new human being without a connection to the act of reciprocal without a connection to the act of reciprocal self-giving between the spousesself-giving between the spouses and, more and, more radically, radically, without any link to sexuality.without any link to sexuality. This  This leads to manipulation and abuses gravely leads to manipulation and abuses gravely injurious to human dignity. injurious to human dignity. Dignitas Personae Dignitas Personae 2828

Reproductive vs. TherapeuticReproductive vs. Therapeutic