At the heart of the Catholic approach to life is the understanding that God created man and woman in his image and likeness. We recognise that human life is sacred and that each person has an intrinsic value and dignity that cannot be altered. Furthermore, nothing we ‘do’ or ‘achieve’, gives us this dignity and worth. It is part of who we are and how we have been created.
Human life is a precious gift from the moment of conception to the moment of death. God has given us the gift of creation, the gift of life, and it is in respecting this order and design that we experience genuine human happiness and flourishing.
Although there have been great technological advancements in medicine and the health sciences, we must ensure these developments are serving of the good of the human person and respecting the dignity of all of God’s creation. The Church rejoices in modern technology to the extent that it aids and supports the genuine care and well-being of all people. However, there can be a serious misuse of our knowledge and technology when it actively works towards an end that is contrary to the dignity of man, such as abortion or euthanasia. There are many issues relating to bioethics and each raises its own challenges, but we cannot lose sight that every single person has innate value and a person should never be seen as merely material or expendable.
The Church strives to enable human flourishing by respecting all creation and all life as it has been given to us by God. We are all responsible for protecting and promoting a culture of life and the genuine good of the human person.