By Judie Brown
In 2008 the Vatican issued Dignitas Personae, which explains that “dignity belongs equally to every single human being, irrespective of his parents’ desires.”1
This is not a new teaching but rather a restatement of the fundamental reason why the Fifth Commandment says “Thou shalt not kill.”
Simple truth has become twisted, if not tossed away, during the past several decades as people have become more and more desensitized toward those who are viewed as less than human. This occurs whether we are talking about the preborn child, the elderly person, or those who have conditions that make them incompatible with someone else’s lifestyle.
How often have we heard it said that an abortion is the only choice available because someone’s life has been planned ahead of time and pregnancy is simply not acceptable? It makes us think, If that is so, why did you involve yourself with someone else and get pregnant in the first place?
The common response may be that the baby’s creation was an accident or simply unplanned, but at this point we are dealing with a tiny human being. What if that were your life? Would you want someone choosing to kill you because you were in their way?
That is exactly what happens when an elderly person is prematurely killed or a prenatal diagnosis troubles a parent because the baby could be born with a challenging problem.
To read the remainder of this article, visit the Celebrate Life Magazine site at clmagazine.org/post/pro-life-basics-the-dignity-of-the-human-person.
To read additional pro-life articles that will inspire and educate you, visit clmagazine.org.