“Infinite Dignity”, this document which summarizes the positions of the Church on current issues

It took five years to write these 20 pages. The text summarizes the position of the Church on most major current issues such as the reception of migrants, abortion and even digital technology.

The document, published Monday April 8 by the Vatican, is 20 pages long but it took five years to write it and choose this title: Infinite dignity. If it summarizes the positions, variously received, of the Church, the text is presented as having a single common thread: human dignity.

It all comes from there: the idea that human dignity is infinite because man and woman are created by God. This declaration evokes the reception of migrants, the fight against poverty and the refusal of abortion. She also focuses on more recently topical subjects such as the refusal of surrogacy – making the child an object is an attack on dignity.

“Respect for the body” and “right to life”

No to “gender theory” – this is the expression used – because it leads to denying sexual differences, explains the text. In the name of respect for the body, the Vatican opposes any sex change operation. In summary, the teaching of the Church is a whole, we cannot pick and choose, depending on whether we are conservative or progressive.

Regarding abortion, Cardinal Fernandez, who wrote this text, was questioned about France, which has just included this right in the Constitution, and he replied this: “When a child develops in its mother’s womb, it can be a woman in the making. For us, between the rights of these two women, the right to life is the most important.”

Strong support for the blessing of homosexual couples

Alongside the presentation of this text, Cardinal Fernandez, who is responsible for doctrine at the Vatican, also returned to the blessing of homosexual couples to fully embrace it. While its positions may be firm on social issues, the Church welcomes everyone – “Tutti, tutti”the Pope frequently repeats.

To those who refuse to apply the instructions, he reminds that all priests and bishops have sworn loyalty to the Pope. And as a sign of support for the bishops who say they cannot apply the measure in countries where homosexuality is repressed by law, he calls for general decriminalization.

Finally, to a journalist who pointed out to him that the Church’s catechism always condemns homosexuality, he replied: for the Church, relationships between men and women are what is most beautiful because they give life. The cardinal does not specify when the text could be revised.