Human Dignity by Rev. Fr. Christian Ehimen Usifoh.

Talk on Human Dignity - Delivered on 18th of July, 2020. 

Audience: St. Vincent De Paul Society Members (Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Lekki. Lagos)

Dignity is the right of a person to be valued and respected for their own sake, and to be treated ethically. It is of significance in morality, ethics, law, politics and religion.

What is "Human Dignity?" The English word dignity comes from the Latin word dignitas, which means "worthiness." Dignity implies that each person is worthy of honour and respect for who they are, not just for what they can do. In other words, human dignity cannot be earned and cannot be taken. No wonder Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti in his song "Beast of no Nation" says "Human right na my property, you can't dash me my property."

Human dignity is a sense of self-worth. Therefore, dignity is a sense of pride in oneself that a human being has with them. This conscious sense makes human being feel that they deserve respect and honour from other human beings.

Where does Human Dignity comes from?

Human dignity originates from God and is of God because we are made in God's image and likeness (Gen.1:26-27). Human life is sacred because the human person is the most central and clearest reflection of God among us. This is the bedrock of Catholic Social Teaching. Regardless of any factors or reasons we can think of, individuals have an inherent and immeasurable worth and dignity. This theme is about our radical equality before God that leads us to think no less of somebody because they are of different place or culture, because they believe something different to you, or because of their work or employment.

The principle of Human Dignity means that Catholic Social Teaching takes a strong position on issues around the start and end of life. Since the human person becomes a person right from the womb ["Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, and appointed you a prophet to the nations" (Jer.1:5)]. From this abortion is a grievous sin. Death penalty is also a grievous sin. Abortion and death penalty violate God's commandment, "You shall not kill" (Exo.20:13). The dignity of the human person which begins from birth till death has big consequences for everything in between the conception and the death of the human person, has big consequences in between. For example, it can affect how we think about how society supports those with disabilities, how we address global inequality and the approach we take to civil rights issues.

The idea that each life has value isn't something Catholic Social Teaching has a monopoly on; it shares a lot in common with International Human Rights which are also universal, inviolable and inalienable. But Catholic Social Teaching differs slightly because of its basis. It grounds Human Dignity in the firm foundations of the Catholic Church's traditions thought about the sanctity of creation as told in the story of creation in the Book of Genesis and God's Incarnation in the Gospels.

The dignity of the the human person plays a significant role for us as Christians because the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ (God, the Son) became flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary (cf.John 1:14). He chose to be man like us in all things but sin. In his public ministry, Jesus in the Gospels testified to the dignity of the human person.

The dignity of the human person is so important that our gaining eternal life or being damned eternally will be based on how we treat our fellow human beings (cf.Matt.25:31-46).

It is so important to the extent that the Pharisees on accusing Jesus and his disciples concerning breaking the rule concerning the Sabbath day, Jesus came to the defence of his disciples with three valid arguments (Matt.12:1-8).

(i) Jesus quoted the action of David (1 Sam.21:1-6) when David and his men took and ate the sacred loaves meant only for the priests and were not condemned for this act. The claim of human need took precedence over ritual custom.

(ii) Jesus quoted the Sabbath work of the Temple. The Temple ritual always involved work - the kindling of fires, the slaughter and preparation of animals, the lifting of them to the altar, and a host of other things. This work was actually doubled on the sabbath, for on the sabbath the offerings were doubled (cf.Num.28:9). Any of these actions would have been illegal for any ordinary person to perform on the Sabbath day. But for the priests it was perfectly legal to do these things, for the Temple worship must go on. That is to say, worship offered to God took precedence of all the sabbath rules and regulations.

(iii) Jesus quoted the prophet Hosea: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice" (Hos.6:6). What God desired far more than ritual sacrifice is kindness, the spirit which knows no law other than it must answer the call of human need.

Jesus makes it very clear that the claim of human need must take precedence of all other claims. The claims of worship, ritual, liturgy are important but prior to any of them is the claim of human need.

The dignity of the human person is so important to Jesus to the extent that no amount of money put together can be as important as the life of an individual person (cf.Matt.8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:28-39).

Concerning the dignity of the human person, Pope St. John Paul II says: "At stake is the dignity of the human person, whose defence and promotion have been entrusted to us by the Creator." These words of the saintly Pope applies to us as members of St. Vincent de Paul Society. A pious group making sacrifice on regular basis to put smiles on the faces of the poor in our various parishes. We are called to emulate God, the Father who created us in his image and likeness, God, the Son who through his Incarnation became one with us in all things but sin and through his life and teaching taught us the uniqueness of the human person and St. Vincent de Paul the founder of your society. Your apostolate is very demanding and challenging but don't let that discourage you in remaining faithful to your calling. Always have it in mind that you are working for God and it is only God that can reward you for all your sacrifices.

I commend your efforts even in the midst of this lockdown as a result of the Covid19 outbreak you even gave it a taught to have a retreat through zooming. This is one of the dividend of the Covid19 outbreak.

May God grant you a fruitful retreat and above all at the end of our sojourn here on earth reward us with the crown of eternal glory through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Christian Ehimen Usifoh.