{"id":996,"date":"2025-09-02T19:16:39","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T19:16:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk\/caritas-leeds-resources\/?page_id=996"},"modified":"2025-09-02T19:19:50","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T19:19:50","slug":"the-dignity-of-the-human-person","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk\/caritas-leeds-resources\/the-dignity-of-the-human-person\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dignity of the Human Person"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Dignity of the Human Person<\/h1>

Every human person is seen as equal as he\/she is lovingly and beautifully made in God\u2019s image and likeness. The other principles flow from this.<\/p>

Explaining it<\/h2>

The basis for the theme of Human Dignity, the bedrock of Catholic Social Teaching, is that humans were created in the image and likeness of God. Regardless of any factors or reasons we can think of, individuals have an inherent and immeasurable worth and dignity. Each person is unique and special. Human life is considered sacred. This theme is about our radical equality before God that leads us to think no less of somebody because they are from a different place or culture, because they believe something different to you, or because of their work or employment situation.<\/p>

The principle of Human Dignity means that Catholic Social Teaching takes a strong position on issues around the start and end of life (like the death penalty and abortion) but it also has big consequences for everything in-between. For example it can affect how we think about how our society supports those with disabilities, how we address global inequality and the approach we take to civil rights issues. It is from this idea that all people have inherent dignity that other themes develop within Catholic Social Teaching.<\/p>

The idea that each life has value is not something Catholic Social Teaching has a monopoly on; it shares a lot in common with Universal Declaration of Human Rights which are also universal, inviolable and inalienable. But Catholic Social Teaching differs because of its basis. It grounds Human Dignity in the firm foundations of the Catholic Church\u2019s traditions thought about the sanctity of creation as told in the story of our creation (Genesis) and God\u2019s incarnation (Gospels). Sons and daughters sharing a common present and future.<\/p>

\u201cDear friends, it is certainly necessary to give bread to the hungry \u2013 this is an act of justice. But there is also a deeper hunger, the hunger for a happiness that only God can satisfy, the hunger for dignity. There is neither real promotion of the common good nor real human development when there is ignorance of the fundamental pillars that govern a nation, its non-material goods:\u00a0life,\u00a0which is a gift of God, a value always to be protected and promoted;\u00a0the family,\u00a0the foundation of coexistence and a remedy against social fragmentation;\u00a0integral education,\u00a0which cannot be reduced to the mere transmission of information for purposes of generating profit;\u00a0health,\u00a0which must seek the integral well-being of the person, including the spiritual dimension, essential for human balance and healthy coexistence;\u00a0security,\u00a0in the conviction that violence can be overcome only by changing human hearts.\u201d<\/em>
Pope Francis<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

The Christ We Share<\/strong>:\u00a0https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=BPOb-IM-UNY<\/a><\/p>

Scripture readings<\/h2>

Genesis 1:26-31 God created man and woman in his image.<\/p>

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 God loves the orphan, the widow, and the stranger.\u00a0 You should too.<\/p>

Luke 10:25-37 The good Samaritan recognised the dignity in the other and cared for his life.<\/p>

John 4:1-42 Jesus broke with societal and religious customs to honour the dignity of the Samaritan woman.<\/p>

1 John 3: 1-2 See what love the Father has for us, that we should be called Children of God.<\/p>

1 John 4:7-12 Let us love one another because love is from God.<\/p>

Key Church documents<\/h2>

Veritatis Splendor-The Splendour of Truth:\u00a0http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/john-paul-ii\/en\/encyclicals\/documents\/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor.html<\/a><\/p>

Humane Vitae-Human Life:\u00a0http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/paul-vi\/en\/encyclicals\/documents\/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae.html<\/a><\/p>

Caritas in Veritate-Charity in Truth:\u00a0http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/benedict-xvi\/en\/encyclicals\/documents\/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.html<\/a><\/p>

World Day of the Sick:\u00a0http:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/francesco\/en\/messages\/sick.index.html<\/a><\/p>

(NB \u2013 This last link will only take you to Pope Francis\u2019 messages. If however you click the tab called (Holy Father) on the top you can access other Popes\u2019 messages.)<\/strong><\/p>

Link to a particular Saint whose charism is linked to this particular principle<\/strong><\/p>

St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta<\/h4>

\"\"<\/p>

\u2018If you give the world the best you have, you may get kicked in the teeth\u00a0<\/em>but give the world the best you have anyway\u2019.\u00a0<\/em>Mother Teresa highlights the importance of striving to do good despite not always seeing direct results.<\/p>