"At the center of all Catholic social teaching are the transcendence of God and the dignity of the human person. The human person is the clearest reflection of God’s presence in the world; all of the Church’s work in pursuit of both justice and peace is designed to protect and promote the dignity of every person. For each person not only reflects God, but is the expression of God’s creative work and the meaning of Christ’s redemption ministry.”
(The Challenge of Peace: God’s Promise and Our Response, U.S. Bishops, 1983)

Notable Quotations from Scripture and Catholic Social Teaching

      Pro-Life Issues
      Church Pro-Life Documents
      Respect for Life
      Post-Abortion Counseling
         (See Project Rachel)

Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, we believe that every human life -- whether young or old, guilty or innocent, born or unborn, rich or poor -- is sacred. Because Catholic social thought maintains the inherent holiness and equality of all people, we believe that social and cultural discrimination in fundamental rights on the basis of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion are not compatible with God's design.

The life and dignity of the human person is the foundation for all principles of our social teaching and forms the basic building block of a moral vision of society. The Catholic Church proclaims that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.