To those more familiar with Pope Francis from headlines and Father James Martin clips, the Catholic Church’s outright condemnation of surrogacy, euthanasia, and radical gender theory as grave violations of human dignity may come as a surprise. But it shouldn’t.
Pope Francis was in the headlines again last week with the Vatican’s release of “Dignitas Infinita,” or “Infinite Dignity,” a phrase drawn from a 1980 address by Pope John Paul II. The new theological treatise reflects on these topics, as well as war, poverty, and human trafficking, in light of human dignity.
“Dignitas Infinita” undercuts the popular perception of the Francis papacy as primarily liberal. With radical consistency, the document reflects on social issues associated with both sides of the American political divide, reminding us that faith transcends partisanship, offering a viable third way for Christians committed to reason and truth.
The document offers essential, though not exhaustive, guidance on major moral issues of the 21st century. With its strong grounding in natural law, it presents wisdom any serious Christian should appreciate.
This long-anticipated declaration has been in the works for years: The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith began drafting it in 2019. It has been subject to multiple major revisions, some at the behest of the pope, who asked that the document highlight “grave violations of human dignity in our time.”
It’s consistent with Catholic social teaching dating back to the earliest days of the church, with the document referencing major Catholic theologians such as Clement of Rome, Augustine
