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COLLADO, CRISETTE B.BSCE-03REQUIREMENT IN RE-06PRESENTED TO: MRS. ERMEL REYES- FRONDA

THE DIGNITY OF HUMAN PERSON

The dignity of the human person is a basic concept in the social teachings of the Churchand provides the fundamentals orientation by which a society is built.

All things on earth should be related to man as their center and crown, but what is man?(GS) Sacred Scripture teaches that:

1. Man is Gods image and likeness (Gen 1:26).2. Man are stewards of the Father (Gen 1:28).3. We are Gods children and friends (Isa. 49:15-16/ Jn. 15:15).4. Man shares in the work of redemption (Lk. 3:1).5. Man has fallen nature.

Man as image and likeness of God so he is capable of knowing and loving his Creator,and master of all earthly creature. The omnipotent Creator of all things all-wise and a just judge.

This human dignity is not only rooted on the truth that man is Gods image has free andimmortal soul, and redeemed by Christ but the root reason for human dignity lies in mans callto communion with God. From the very circumstances of his origin man is already invited toconverse with God. For man would not exist were he not created by Gods love and constantlypreserved by it. And he cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges thatlove and devotes himself to his creator (GS 19). The denial of this is called ATHEISM, one of themost serious problems of this age. Atheism has many forms and sources including thedeficiencies of believers. Modern atheisms take on systematic expression: some making an endin itself of human freedom, others, seeking economic and social emancipation, see religion asdeception and fight against it (GS 20). The remedy to atheism is to be sought in: proper presentation of the Churchs teaching, the integral life and the mature faith of the Church andits members (need: INTERFAITH DIALOGUE), the CHURCH sincerely profess that all men, believersand unbelievers alike, ought to work for the rightful betterment of this world in which all alike live;

such an ideal cannot be realized, however if there is no sincere and prudent dialogue.

The inherent dignity is common to all men. Though nature has made men unequal in

body, talents, skills, intelligence, temperament, all men are equal since all men posses a rationalsoul and are created in Gods likeness, they have the same nature and origin, have beenredeemed by Christ and enjoy the same divine calling and destiny (GS 29).

The dignity of human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God.Man endowed with a spiritual soul, with intellect and with free will, the human person is from hisvery conception ordered to God and destined for eternal beatitude. He pursues his perfection inseeking and loving what is true and good. Human person participates in the light and power

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of the divine spirit. By his reason, he is capable of understanding the order of things establishedby the Creator. By free will/freedom, he is capable of directing himself toward his true good (GS15 & 2).

By virtue of his soul and his spiritual powers of intellect and will, man is endowed withfreedom, an outstanding manifestation of the divine image (GS 17). Only in freedom can mandirect himself toward goodness (GS 17).

By his reason, man recognizes the voice of God which urges him to do what is goodand avoid what is evil (GS 16). Everyone is obliged to follow this law, which makes itself heard inconscience and is fulfilled in the love of God and of neighbor. Living a moral life bears witness tothe dignity of the person. (Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of man. There he isalone with God).

Man, enticed by the Evil One, abused his freedom at the very beginning of history. (GS13 & 1) He succumbed to temptation and did what was evil. He still desires the good, but hisnature bears the wound of original sin. He is now inclined to evil and subject to error.

Man is divided in himself. As s result, the whole life of men, both individual and social,shows itself to be struggle, and a dramatic one between good and evil, between light anddarkness (GS 13).

It is fulfilled in his vocation to divine beatitude. It is essential to a human being freely todirect himself to this fulfillment. ( Mans Freedom ). By his deliberate actions ( Morality of HumanActs ). The human person does, or does not, conform to the moral conscience. ( Morality of thePassions )

Human beings make their own contribution to their interior growth; they make their wholesentient and spiritual lives into means of this growth. ( Moral Conscience )

With the help of grace they grow in virtue ( The Virtues ). Human virtues- are firm attitudes,stable dispositions, and habitual perfections of intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions and guide our conduct according to reason and faith.

Avoid sin, and if they sin they entrust themselves as did the prodigal son (Lk. 15:11-32). Tothe mercy of our Father in heaven.

To a certain extent, the nature and purpose of man, society and the world may beknown through mans own perception, consciousness and reason. But the best authority onmans and the worlds nature and purpose is the Creator of both.

BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE/TEACHING ABOUT HUMAN DIGNITY:

The prime principle of Catholic social teaching is the correct view of the human person.Being in the image of God, the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not

just something, but someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, of self-possession and of freelygiving himself and entering into communion with other persons. And he is called by grace to acovenant with his Creator, to offer him a response of faith and love that no other creature cangive.

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SOCIAL TEACHING ABOUT HUMAN DIGNITY

Human life is sacred. The dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral visionfor society. Direct attacks on innocent persons are never morally acceptable, at any stage or inany condition. In our society, human life is especially under direct attached from abortion. Other direct threats to the sanctity of human life include euthanasia, human cloning, and thedestruction of human embryos for research.

Catholic teaching about the dignity of life calls us to oppose torture, unjust war, and theuse of the death penalty; to prevent genocide attacks against noncombatants; to opposeracism; and to overcome poverty and suffering. Nations are called to protect the right to life byseeking effective ways to combat evil and terror without resorting to armed conflicts except as alast resort, always seeking first to resolve disputes by peaceful means. We revere the lives ofchildren in the womb, the lives of persons dying in war and from starvation, and indeed the livesof all human beings as children of God.

HUMAN RIGHTS

HUMAN rights- these are rights considered fundamentally important, unconditional,unchangeable, and equally possessed by all human beings.

The Christian view of man is the basis of Churchs pastoral motivation for defendinghuman rights, whether of individuals or of groups. The church defense of human rights is aninseparable requirement of her mission of justice and love in the spirit of the Gospel Message.The Churchs therefore, by virtue of the gospel committed to her, proclaims the rights of man,she acknowledges and greatly esteems the dynamic movements of today by which these rightsare everywhere fostered. Yet these movements must be penetrated by the spirit of the Gospeland protected against any kind of false autonomy. For we are tempted to think that our

personal rights are fully ensured only when we are exempt from every requirement of divine law.But this way lays not the maintenance of the dignity of the human person, but its annihilation (GS41).

HUMAN RIGHTS- are more than legal concepts, they are then essence of man, they are whatman human, that is why they are called human rights, deny them and you deny manshumanity.

Holy Father observed that, human rights are still too often disregarded if not scoffed at, or else they receive only formal recognition. In many cases, legislation is necessary but it is notequality (OA 23). Almost everywhere human rights are extolled. Yet almost everywhere theyviolated, and nowhere with less shame on our country. At times, they bravely deny thatanyones right have been or being violated. When denials begin to sound hallow even tothemselves, they admit with feigned sorrow that some violations have taken place yet quicklyadd that the violations do not reflect, but are Aberrations cause by over zealousness inprotecting national security or promoting economic development- if a Filipinos exist for theeconomy and state not the reverse. Most often, they raise their right hand in solemn pledge touphold human rights, but with their left hand create situation and blessed policies and practicesthat trample upon these rights.

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P ope John P aul II also remarks human rights are being violated in various ways, if in practicewe seen before as concentration camps, violence, torture, terrorism and discrimination in manyforms, this must be the consequence of the premises, undermining and often most annihilatingthe effectiveness of the humanistic premises of these modern programmed and system. (RH17)

Rights and duties existence of rights and its consequent responsibilities.

When a man becomes conscious of his rights hw must become equally aware of hisduties. Thus he who posses certain rights has likewise the duty to claim those rights asmark of his dignity, while all others have similar obligation to acknowledge and respectthose rights ( P T 44). The dignity of the human person also requires that man enjoys therights to act freely and responsibly: O nly in freedom can man direct himself towardgoodness (GS 17). For this reason human society should be established not according tothe rule of force but on TRUTH, LOVE, JUSTICE and FREEDOM(GS 26).

Every human person is endowed with intelligence and free will and has rights which are universal

and inviolable. These natural rights are inseparably connected with many duties. ( P T 9)

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF MAN

1. RIGHT TO LIFE AND WORTHY STANDARD OF LIVING - Everyone has the rights to existence, to bodily integrity and well-being to

everything necessary to maintain a descent standard of living such as food,clothing, shelter, means subsistence and many other services indispensable tosocial security ( P T 11; MM8, 10, 50; GS 26).

2. RIGHTS TO MORAL AND CULTURAL VALUES: Includes freedom to search for truth, to express opinions, freedom of information and

to basic education (P

T 12-13).

3. RIGHT TO WORSHIP: - Every person has the rights to worship God privately or publicly according to

his/her conscience. ( P T 14, GS 26, 73; JW p.11; RH 17)4. RIGHT TO CHOOSE ONES STATE OF LIFE:

- Includes setting up family or to follow a religious vocation. P arents have a prior right to support and educate their children. ( P T 15-16)

5. ECONOMIC RIGHTS: - Includes the right to work, safe working conditions, a just wage, and to private

property.( P T 18-22)

6. RIGHT OF MEETING AND ASSOCIATION: - This is because human beings are social by nature ( P T 23).

7. RIGHT TO EMIGRATE AND IMMIGRATE: - Each person has the right to freedom of movement and residence. ( P T 25)

8. POLITICAL RIGHTS: - Includes the right to participate in public affairs, and juridical protection of every

persons rights. ( P T 26-27)