Respect for the Human Person

  The ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ paragraphs 1929 to 1933, refers to ‘Respect for the Human Person’. These paragraphs form part of Article 3 regarding ‘Social Justice’. I wonder what comes to your mind concerning respect for the human person? For sure we listen to a lot of debates and news items concerning the issue of respect for the human person. One can listen and read various ideas of what does it really mean regarding respect for the human person.

 The way I see it, is that man was created by God. God being a loving Father, created man for a personal relationship with him. A personal relationship built on love. So, the answer is simple. Respect for the human person requires love. Paragraph 1931 of the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ quotes that ‘Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that "everyone should look upon his neighbor (without any exception) as 'another self,' above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity." No legislation could by itself do away with the fears, prejudices, and attitudes of pride and selfishness which obstruct the establishment of truly fraternal societies. Such behavior will cease only through the charity that finds in every man a "neighbor," a brother.’

 Every human person is to be loved as a neighbour. Everyone is to live in dignity, no matter from which country our neighbour comes from. God who created every neighbour we come across in our lives, asks us to love our neighbour as ‘another self’. Through this personal relationship between God and man, God through His abundance of love, showers man with His mercy, comfort and with unconditional love. God created man to live with ‘neighbours’ and through their respect towards each other, the love of God enriches their life, experiencing the tremendous love of the Holy Trinity.

 Respect for the human person, is to love God.

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https://soundcloud.com/george-calleja-1/respect-for-the-human-person )