Dignity of the Human Person

As missionary disciples of Christ, we are called to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters on the margins and recognize the dignity of all life. Catholic Social Teaching concerns all life issues which affect the human dignity of persons: abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia, human trafficking, immigration, racism, and war.

Abortion directly kills an innocent human being and fails to uphold the dignity of both the child and its parents. Learn more about what the Church teaches about abortion, below, and watch the video series to the right to learn how to respond to the most common pro-choice objections to the pro-life movement.

“Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. Thus, an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.” — CCC 2277

Victims of human trafficking are subject to modern-day slavery. Their human dignity is denied as they are forced, deceived, or coerced into sexual exploitation and/or forced labor and treated as disposable objects.

The USCCB offers five principles, which guide the way the local Church approaches immigration. These principles emphasize the importance of remembering the human dignity of migrants, whom hold a special place in the Lord’s heart, and advocating for immigration policies that are both just and merciful.

1. 1. Persons have the right to find opportunities in their homeland.
   2. Persons have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families.
   3. Sovereign nations have the right to control their borders.
   4. Refugees and asylum seekers should be afforded protection.
   5. The human dignity and human rights of undocumented migrants should be respected.

Racism attacks the dignity of the human person by perpetuating undignified life circumstances (poor educational opportunities, limited access to adequate healthcare, trapping people in cycles of poverty) for minorities who are disproportionately affected.

“Never again war! No, never again war, which destroys the lives of innocent people, teaches how to kill, throws into upheaval even the lives of those who do the killing and leaves behind a trail of resentment and hatred, thus making it all the more difficult to find a just solution to the very problems which provoked the war.” – St. Pope John Paul II, On the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum (1991)