Life and the Dignity of the Human Person

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.

In our society, human life is under direct attack from   abortion and  euthanasia. The value of human life is being threatened by   cloning,   embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the   death penalty. The intentional targeting of civilians in   war or terrorist attacks is always wrong.

Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and   resolve them by peaceful means. We believe 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.