Most of the controversy surrounding the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s recent document on human dignity, Dignitas Infinita, has focused on its repudiation of gender ideology. Another section of the document deals with an even more pervasive threat to human dignity as the church understands it, euthanasia and assisted suicide.
The document argues that proponents of euthanasia and assisted suicide use a “mistaken understanding of human dignity to turn the concept of dignity against life itself.”
It notes that “laws permitting euthanasia or assisted suicide are sometimes called ‘death with dignity acts.’ With this, there is a widespread notion that euthanasia or assisted suicide is somehow consistent with respect for the dignity of the human person.”
Against this misconception, the dicastery reminds us: “Suffering does not cause the sick to lose their dignity, which is intrinsically and inalienably their own. Instead, suffering can become an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of mutual belonging and gain greater awareness of the precious value of each person to the whole human family.”
You would think Christians who worship a crucified God wouldn’t need the reminder, but we do.
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With thanks to the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) and Michael Sean Winters, where this article originally appeared.
