Supporting Dignity of the Human Person
These days, it seems that division is everywhere. Political divisions seem to have morphed into divisions of every kind. With this has come the dehumanizing of the “other side”. Acts of violence are broadcast almost hourly on social media, with seemingly no end in sight. I still believe that the majority of people are still shocked and saddened by these events, but are unsure how to respond. Now more than ever, we need to stand united in committing to supporting the dignity of the human person. This is one of the pillars of Catholic social teaching, but its basis in fundamental truth is something that all people of good will should get behind.
Dignity For All
Dignity is based in respect, namely that all human life has value. This value is intrinsic and unconditional, not based on status, talent, usefulness, or anything else. The respect is based on the fact that each human being has value just by being human, in the likeness of God himself. But dignity is brought to fullness in recognizing God’s grace in each person, namely God’s life and presence within them. By viewing each life with dignity based on grace, it makes it easier to recognize the dignity of:
- The Homeless
- The Elderly
- The Unborn
- Those that we disagree with
- Those that we don’t like
- Those of other races, religions & cultures
- Those that have hurt us or our loved ones.
God Loves Them As Well
It is very difficult to dehumanize such people if we remember how much God loves them, even when we feel they don’t deserve such love. When we choose to not acknowledge the dignity of others, a whole array of problematic behaviors arise, for both ourselves and others. Gossip, bullying and passive-aggressiveness become the norm in our social circles. Self- righteousness & selfishness take over. Often we find ourselves unable to admit to our own weaknesses or mistakes. Left unchecked on a wider scale, this can descend into riots, property destruction and even murder, by those convinced of the morality of their own positions. Too often the ends justify the means, and those on the opposing side are reduced to mere caricatures and objects of disdain.
To have dignity for others, we must fist have dignity for ourselves, to accept ourselves and know that our own worth is unconditional. Open yourself to the realization that The Father, Son and Holy Spirit of the Holy Trinity, each and together, love you and claim you as their own. Once rooted in this truth, bringing dignified love to others becomes natural. It becomes much easier to:
- See the strengths, goodness and uniqueness in people
- See a person’s ill behavior perhaps as a reflection of pain & brokenness, not necessarily reflecting the essence of the core person
- Have empathy for people, and keep clear of anger & self-righteousness
We are seeing firsthand the results of ignoring the dignity of the human person in our society today. But we can shape our future together when we prayerfully resolve to treat everyone that we meet with such respect, and to bring the love of God to all that we meet. Violence will never solve violence – but steadfast love of others will always win out in the long run.
