As the Church continues to pray during Respect Life Month, we remember that there are different ways to talk about human dignity, but one truth stands above all: every person has worth simply because they exist — because they are created, known, and loved by God.
That dignity can never be taken away. Not by sin. Not by circumstance. Not by illness, poverty, or failure.
Still, we can act against that dignity — when we hurt others, when we close ourselves to love, or when we ignore the suffering around us. We also see “undignified” situations when people live in poverty or isolation, not because they’ve lost their value, but because society has failed to honor it.
Yet through it all, our God-given dignity remains untouched. It’s who we are — beloved sons and daughters of God.
So whenever we serve others, defend life, lift up the poor, or offer forgiveness, we’re really doing one thing: helping each other live in a way that reflects the dignity that never fades.
To learn more, go to the Church’s Declaration on Human Dignity (Dignitas Infinita) at: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20240402_dignitas-infinita_en.html
