Unit 1 - Lesson 3 (Part 2)

THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON IS

Innate

THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON IS

Innate

We were born with it

THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON IS

Inviolable

Cannot be violated.

THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON IS

Inalienable

Cannot be taken away from us.

THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON IS

Universal

Encompasses all humanity.

Human Rights in Catholic Tradition

Human rights are fundamental rights intrinsic to all human beings, essential for the exercise of human dignity, and inherent to their nature simply by virtue of being human. These rights are not granted by society or the state but are a natural part of humanity, placing an obligation on society and the state to defend and promote them.

Dignitas by the early Romans & Cicero

Early Romans used the term Dignitas referring to people appointed to public offices and with higher status in the society. Then Cicero redefined Dignitas, referring to all humans by making a distinction against animals where the former are governed by reason while the latter by bodily pleasures and instinct. To him, dignity encompasses not only those who were persons of authority and wealth but also all humanity.

Imago Dei by St. Leo the Great

They both emphasized the concept of "Dignitas," which pertains to the dignity of the human person. He asserted that humans possess dignity because they are created in God's image (Imago Dei) and elevated among other beings. St. Thomas Aquinas expanded on this idea through his concept of the great chain of beings, positing that the higher the status of a being, the greater the dignity it holds.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations

It was established (1945) on accounts of horrors experienced from World War 2, particularly from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. It recognizes the dignity of every person. The Preamble and the first three articles of the Declaration serve as the foundation of other rights.

Preamble

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world that human rights should be protected by the rule of law.

Article 1

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards once another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional, or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing, or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3

Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of a person.

1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION - ARTICLE XIII: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

It adheres to these freedoms through the creation of the Commission of Human Rights and by directing the government to value the dignity of all human persons through ensuring full respect for human rights.

1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION - ARTICLE XIII: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Section 1

The Congress shall give the highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the rights of all the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good.

1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION - ARTICLE XIII: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Section 17

There is hereby created an independent office called the Commission on Human Rights.

1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION - ARTICLE XIII: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Section 18

The Commission on Human Rights in the Philippines investigates civil and political rights violations, either independently or through complaints. It has the power to create operational guidelines, enforce legal protections, and provide legal aid to the disadvantaged. The Commission also oversees jails, promotes human rights education, recommends improvements to Congress, monitors compliance with international treaties, and can grant immunity to witnesses critical to investigations.

St John XXIII's encyclical Pacem in Terris (1963)

It was a landmark in the acceptance by the Catholic Christian Church of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For the first time, the Papal magisterium presents a relatively complete and systematic catalogue of human rights, comparable to those in contemporary declarations of human rights promulgated by national or international entities.

Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the United Nations, April 2008

“The promotion of human rights remains the most effective strategy for eliminating inequalities between countries and social groups and for increasing security”