HR arise from our dignity as created in the image of God Card. Turkson

December 08, 2012: ‘Ever since our Council began its work, soon after the Second Vatican Council, the promotion and protection of human rights has always been an essential component of our mandate’, said Cardinal Peter Turkson President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He was speaking on Saturday at the International Human Rights Education Conference, being held in Krakow, Poland, 6 -10 December.
In his presentation Cardinal Turkson pointed out how Blessed Pope John XXIII and his successors have developed the Church’s social doctrine in the area of human rights.
There are many parallels between the Catholic Church’s position and the evolution of human rights on the world scene since the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Church doctrine coincides with national laws and international covenants on numerous points, especially the foundation in human dignity. Another major point in common is religious freedom, Cardinal Turkson said.

The Church strongly defends the universal character of fundamental human rights. The Church rejects the relativism that national regimes and interest groups increasingly apply to rights. The Church urges that religious freedom be treasured and defended by all, whatever their own convictions, because it epitomizes the freedom to live by one’s deepest understanding of truth.

Inherent dignity of the human person Many people speak of human rights. Very rightly, they refer to their violations. Very rightly, they proclaim that human rights must be protected. Very rightly, they advocate that human rights must be promoted. Yet what are human rights? he asked.
Citing the first sentence of the Preamble of the Universal Declaration, the Cardinal said: “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world….” That is, the ground, the foundation, the substrate of human rights and freedoms is the inherent dignity of the human person.

The roots of human rights are found in the dignity that belongs to each and every human being. This dignity, inherent in human life and equal in every person, is perceived and understood first of all by reason. It is not found in the human will or in the reality of the State or in public powers. It is found in the human person himself and in God his Creator.
Your human rights and mine do not depend upon the will of other humans. Human rights arise from our dignity as created in the image and likeness of God. They are a given of human nature. They are not subject to a vote any more than to be human is subject to a vote. Each and every person has inherent dignity and worth because he or she is a human person. Thus you should not be surprised that the Catholic Church regularly affirms the inherent dignity of the person as the foundation of human rights, and the right to life from conception to natural death as the first among all human rights and the condition for all other rights of the person.
Cardinal Turkson also discussed in his presentation: Human rights in Pacem in terries; Universal nature of human rights; and Religious education for building the social order.