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Natural Law, Human Dignity and Catholic Social Teaching

Abstract In this article I aim to interpret the theme of human dignity as one of the central themes of Catholic social thought. I take it as a concept that has its roots in the Jewish and Christian tradition and is handed down to us as a challenge to realise our understanding of it. By doing so I try to participate in the tradition and the community in which God's legislative activity is being continued along the lines of ‘natural law’ as I interpret that concept in the first section. For natural law obliges us above all to reflect carefully on every aspect of right and wrong. My reading of what the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church says about human dignity with the help of Biblical stories, may help to explain why something so fundamental as human dignity can in reality be denied so easily. The reason is that human dignity is not a fact but rather a twofold assignment, and we are dependent on each other in fulfilling it; therefore it is hardly surprising that our dignity, no matter how unassailable it is said to be, is in fact very vulnerable.