The Vatican has unveiled the “Dignitas Infinita” — also recognized as the “Infinite Dignity” declaration — a culmination of five years’ work focusing on human dignity. The document outlines “grave violations” against human dignity, spanning a spectrum of issues including poverty, warfare, human trafficking, sexual abuse, violence against women, abortion, surrogacy, sex change, gender theory, euthanasia and assisted suicide.
According to the declaration, when addressing “gender theory,” the church emphasizes the respect for every individual’s dignity, irrespective of sexual orientation.
“Every person ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration,” the declaration said.
It also underscores that human life, both physical and spiritual, is a divine gift to be acknowledged with gratitude and utilized for the greater good.
The document condemns the notion of personal self-determination advocated by gender theory, portraying it as an inclination toward self-deification, contrary to the gospel’s teachings.
The declaration reaffirms the church’s stance against sex change, emphasizing Pope Francis’ teaching on respecting the natural order of human beings.
Regarding abortion, the church maintains its longstanding opposition, asserting the intrinsic dignity of every human being from conception to natural death.
On the subject of surrogacy, the document emphasizes the violation of dignity for both the surrogate mother and the child, rejecting the idea of a “right to a child” that overlooks the child’s dignity as a gift of life.
The church denounced the exploitation of impoverished women in poorer countries by wealthy couples seeking surrogacy arrangements.
The declaration takes a firm stance against assisted suicide, advocating for accompanying individuals toward death without hastening it or facilitating any form of suicide. It underscores the prioritization of care and treatment for all, particularly the vulnerable elderly and sick, emphasizing life as a fundamental right to be embraced, not administered.
In the document’s conclusion, Pope Francis asserts an ongoing commitment to human rights, declaring that the declaration should serve as a blueprint, with human dignity at the core of every legal framework.
