Dignity of the Human Person

Every human person, from the first moment of his life in the womb, has an inviolable
dignity, because from all eternity God willed, loved, created, and redeemed that person and
destined him/her for eternal happiness.
DIGNITY- the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.
The human person is the only creature to whom God is endowed with so many gifts, in which he
or she is expected to act responsibly and act morally.
-to do good and avoid evil.
- to make wise decisions and choices
- to reflect on the divine images in his/her words/deeds.
The Catholic faith teaches that the human person is the center and crown to all God’s creation
(CFC 361). Based on the accounts of the book of Genesis; the human person is the only creature
created in the image and likeness of God.
Scriptural Texts

1. Genesis 1: 26-31
“ Then God said, let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness;
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air,
and over the cattle… So God created humankind in his image, in the image of
God he created them; male and female he created them…”
2. 1 John 3: 1-3
“ See what love the Father has bestowed on us letting us be called children of
God! Yet that is what we are. Dearly beloved we are God’s children now, what
we shall later be has not yet come to light. We know that when it comes to light
we shall be like Him for we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him keeps himself pure as He is pure.”

Church Teachings

Genesis account, stresses the unique place of the human person in the creation. As a
being created in the image and likeness of God, the human person possesses an inviolable
dignity. This means that his/her dignity cannot be and must not be violated.