Inherent Dignity Jesus Restores Our Image

Revelation of Inherent Dignity Assumed our human nature (Incarnation) – Restored our image that was tarnished from sin Ensured our ultimate destiny – Eternal life in the glory of God’s holy presence Revealed our inherent dignity – All people have been created in God’s image – Men and women are equal partners – Life is sacred, at all its stages, from conception to natural death

Human Dignity The heart of human dignity consists of these three fundamental truths: 1.We are all created as good 2.We are in need of salvation 3.We are meant for eternal life in the glory of God’s holy presence

We are created as Good Made in the image and likeness of God – Unique creatures of the creation Incarnation affirms the basic goodness of the world in general, humanity in particular – Jesus would not have come into the world if it were not good – Jesus would not have assumed a human nature if it were not good

In Need of Redemption The “Fall” brought sin into the world and has been part of the human experience since. Affected our human nature in that it is now weakened and inclined to sin. Because God loves us, he sent Jesus to expiate that sin, Jesus undoes what Adam did – Baptism heals our wounded nature and gives us the grace to fight temptation and sin – Jesus restored what we lost

Bound for Glory Ultimate destiny: eternal life in the glory of God’s holy presence – Beatific vision Sharing in the sacramental life strengthens us for the journey and enables us to attain this ultimate destiny

Inherent Dignity Inherent: in the very fabric of our being; cannot be taken away from us. We are born with it. A gift from God Unique: only humans have an immortal soul – Genetic make-up from parents – Spiritual soul from God, gives life – Death is the separation of the body and the soul – At the final resurrection our glorified bodies will be reunited with our souls

Men and Women Created for each other – Revealed in the creation story of Genesis Created as equals – Equal in dignity, rights, and capacity to be a sign of God’s presence in the world – Different physically Created with the gift of Sexuality – Love, procreation, and bonding – Chastity, the virtue that helps us successfully integrate our sexuality into the total person.

Respect for Human Life Sacred gift of life – God gives life only God can take life – Killing at any stage is a violation of the fifth commandment – “cides,” torture, trafficking and degrading conditions – Dignity of the body At life’s beginning – Abortion, the intentional termination of any pregnancy, in any circumstances – Genetic alteration – IVF At life’s end – Euthanasia, the direct action or deliberate and purposeful lack of action that causes the death of a person who is sick, disabled or dying.