Some thoughts on Dignitas Inifinita
Plus: Plenary indulgences available to those who participate in Eucharistic Congress
Good morning and happy Saturday and happy Easter. Our Easter season continues as we hear about Jesus eating with his disciples after his death tomorrow at Mass.
At Mass on Sunday we will hear readings from Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-9; 1 John 2:1-5; and Luke 24:35-48.
In the Liturgy of the Hours, we are continuing into Psalter Week III.
Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us;
make our hearts burn while you speak to us.
Cf. Luke 24:32
In the news:
The United States
Survey: US Catholics more polarized than ever over Pope Francis - America Magazine
For those who need some blue: Is religion uniting or dividing America? - Religion News Services
Police arrest man suspected of robbing Catholic parishes in fake priest scam - Catholic News Agency
Which Mary should Catholic women follow? - Carrie Gress in the National Catholic Register
High school senior makes Fr. Tolton mosaic with 20,400 dice - The Catholic Missourian
For those who need some red: I’ve been at NPR for 25 years. Here’s how we lost America’s trust. - Uri Berliner in The Free Press
The Vatican
Pope Francis revives title “Patriarch of the West;” last used by Benedict XVI in 2006 - The Pillar
Pope Francis to head to Asia and Oceania in September - America Magazine
The World
Society of St. Pius X priest on trial in France for abusing former students - Stella Maris Media
CAFOD, official aid agency of English bishops, says “urgent action is imperative” for Sudan - Crux
Myanmar priest shot while celebrating Mass amid violent conflict - Catholic News Agency
Dignitas Infinita
Declaration Dignitas Infinita on Human Dignity - Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith
Dignitas Infinita: Not a perfect text, but a strong one - Jeff Mirus in Catholic Culture
Dignitas Infinita and the roots of human dignity - Fr. Raymond J. de Souza in the National Catholic Register
When Dignitas Infinita was release earlier this week, much of the secular coverage had to do with the end of the document which addressed gender ideology, sex changes, and surrogacy. It was very clear in the document that the Church teaches that these are affronts to human dignity.
The usual suspects in Catholic media were fairly quick to publish reactions from individuals who identify as transgender or homosexual. Many of those reactions repeated tropes, such as “the Church doesn’t see us” or that it was a “step in the wrong direction.”
As I alluded to in my comments on Fiducia supplicans back in December, it appears that a certain segment of the Catholic population has a hard time being told no and accepting definitive Church teaching on certain matters.
But, as I also said then, we must not become too comfortable. What are we doing and what are our positions on other affronts to human dignity? Dignitas Infinita also speaks at length about poverty, war, refugees, violence against women, and digital violence. It calls these “grave violations of human dignity.”
We are living in an era where human dignity is being assualted on all sides. War has broken out in Ukraine and the Holy Land, homosexuality and gender confusion are celebrated, and, of course, abortion remains generally legal here in the United States and around the world.
What are we doing to address these affronts to human dignity on our doorstep?
I have no doubt that there are countless opportunities to give or volunteer with our Churches or other organizations to address these issues.
When we approach the polls in November to vote for our legislatures and an executive, we ought to be thinking about the assualts on human dignity and the priorities published in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.
Finall, we must pray. We should never underestimate the power of prayer. Prayer has the power to transform hearts and minds (including ours).
If you are having trouble understanding why one issue or another may have arisen in Dignitas Inifinita as something that hurts human dignity, pray about it. Have a conversation with Jesus in this Easter season about what you should do about it.
Let me know if you agree or disagree with me in the comments or connect with me on X (@RadioHandley).
Have a good weekend,
Matthew