Principle One: Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Last week, I introduced the seven Catholic principles of social justice, rooted in the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching (CST). As I have noted in previous blogs, these principles align meaningfully with the goals of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Both CST and DEI emphasize the inherent dignity of every person, the importance of equitable participation in society, and the shared commitment to fostering environments where all individuals are respected and valued.

The Catholic bishops of the United States, in their teaching on the principle of “Life and Dignity of the Human Person,” affirm that “human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.” This recognition of the sanctity and dignity of human life underpins all the other Catholic principles of social justice. Indeed, CST teaches that the value of human life is compromised whenever some lives are valued more than others, or some are granted greater dignity at the expense of others.

One passage from the Old Testament stands out above the rest when speaking about the value of human life and the equal dignity of all persons. As translated in the New American Bible Revised Edition, “God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

Lest we become immediately preoccupied with gender and pronouns, and lose the intent of the passage, it is important to note that the term for “mankind” in Hebrew is adam—a word that also refers to “red clay,” from which the first human being was formed. The sense of the term here is worth noting: this first human being is not yet “the man Adam” as we later encounter him, because at this point in the narrative, Eve has not yet been created to distinguish male from female. More profoundly, adam in this context refers not just to an individual, but to the entirety of humanity. Adam, as presented here, is the progenitor of all people who will come to be, and all share in this common humanity that begins with adam.

What the passage conveys is profound: human beings are created in the image of God. Because God’s dignity is infinite and beyond all measure, to be created in God’s image is to share in a dignity that is likewise immeasurable. As Thomas Aquinas and other medieval theologians taught, human beings participate in the very being of God, who is the source of all existence. Without God, neither humanity nor the universe itself could exist.

Further, while we are undeniably material beings—formed from the clay of the earth—it is the breath of God, imparted to the human creature, that unites us intimately with the divine. In this way, what belongs to the material world becomes a vessel for what is of God. Our rational and spiritual nature, bonded with our material existence, reflects this extraordinary unity: in human beings, what is of this world is united with what is of God.

This theological understanding enriches our appreciation of CST and deepens our commitment to the principles of DEI. When we recognize the sacred dignity bestowed upon every human being, we are compelled to build communities, on our campus and beyond, where that dignity is honored, protected, and celebrated.

This understanding of the human person — created in the image of God, body and soul united — continues to resonate in our time. Contemporary science, which traces the shared biological ancestry of all people, affirms what theology has long held: that we belong to one human family. Likewise, CST today, particularly as expressed in the encyclical of Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, emphasizes our universal fraternity and interconnectedness. Pope Francis reminds us that the dignity of every person is not a static truth of the past but a living reality that calls us to solidarity across cultures, races, and nations. In the language of human rights as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and in the aspirations of movements for equity and justice, we see echoes of the ancient conviction that every person bears God’s image and deserves to live in freedom, dignity, and peace. This vision challenges us to build communities where diversity is honored, where the earth itself is cherished as our common home, and where the sacred worth of each human life is both proclaimed and protected.

If you would like to comment or ask a question, I can be reached at dtheroux@smcvt.edu.  Let’s talk.