The Vatican has unveiled a pivotal document, “Dignitas Infinita” or “Infinite Dignity,” which delves into the church’s perspective on modern ethical dilemmas, including gender theory, transgender surgeries, and surrogacy. Crafted by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) over a span exceeding five years, this extensive discourse reaffirms the church’s stance on the inherent dignity of the human person as divinely created and redeemed.
The document articulates, “In the light of Revelation, the Church resolutely reiterates and confirms the ontological dignity of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God and redeemed in Jesus Christ.” It scrutinizes a spectrum of contemporary issues through the doctrinal lens, touching on matters such as abortion, human trafficking, and euthanasia, among others.
A significant portion of “Dignitas Infinita” is dedicated to addressing the church’s views on gender theory, a topic it regards as an ideological imposition. The document asserts that life, in all its dimensions, is a divine gift that should be revered. It criticizes gender theory for promoting a self-determination disconnected from this essential truth, likening it to humanity’s age-old fallacy of aspiring to godlike status.
Pope Francis has been vocal about his concerns regarding gender ideology, previously denouncing it as one of the most perilous ideological infiltrations of our time. The document elucidates, “Another prominent aspect of gender theory is that it intends to deny the greatest possible difference that exists between living beings: sexual difference…In the male-female couple, this difference achieves the most marvelous of reciprocities.”
After thorough revisions, Pope Francis endorsed the publication of “Dignitas Infinita” on March 25. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the prefect for the DDF, formally introduced the document, emphasizing the church’s established opposition to abortion and surrogate pregnancies, the latter of which the document describes as turning the sacred life of a child into a mere commodity.
The church also critiques the surrogacy industry for exploiting impoverished women in developing countries, stating, “Moreover, acknowledging the dignity of the human person also entails recognizing every dimension of the dignity of the conjugal union and of human procreation.”
“Dignitas Infinita” aims to shed light on various aspects of human dignity that may be overlooked in contemporary discourse. It does not claim to cover every moral controversy but offers reflections to guide the understanding of human dignity in today’s complex world, concluding, “This Declaration does not set out to exhaust such a rich and crucial subject…Instead, its aim is to offer some points for reflection that can help us maintain an awareness of human dignity amid the complex historical moment in which we are living.”