What Human Rights?

[Catholic_Lady]

Thank you.  That's -not- the catechism, btw....lol.  

So...

153. In fact, the roots of human rights are to be found in the dignity that belongs to each human being[305]. This dignity, inherent in human life and equal in every person, is perceived and understood first of all by reason. The natural foundation of rights appears all the more solid when, in
light of the supernatural, it is considered that human dignity, after having been given by God and having been profoundly wounded by sin, was taken on and redeemed by Jesus Christ in his incarnation, death and resurrection[306].
The ultimate source of human rights is not found in the mere will of human beings[307], in the reality of the State, in public powers, but in man himself and in God his Creator. These rights are “universal, inviolable, inalienable”[308]. Universal because they are present in all human beings, without exception of time, place or subject. Inviolable insofar as “they are inherent in the human person and in human dignity”[309] and because “it would be vain to proclaim rights, if at the same time everything were not done to ensure the duty of respecting them by all people, everywhere, and for all people”[310]. Inalienable insofar as “no one can legitimately deprive another person, whoever they may be, of these rights, since this would do violence to their nature”[311].

Well, with this (and the authors earlier quoted remarks) I can't say I'm onboard.  Would I have no dignity were I not a created being, you?  I think that you would grant human dignity even in the absence of a god.  Truthfully, what more do you think is required for human dignity....than human beings?  If our rights are based in dignity (also a popular secular justification - you can believe this without believing in god, people do) then so long as human dignity exists, those rights exist...regardless of whether or not god exists.

My fault.  When I read "compendium" I assumed they were referring to the compendium of the Catechism, not to the compendium of social doctrine. They are both Church documents and representatives of the teachings of the Church.

Well the thing is, we don't believe any of us would exist in the first place if there was no God or if God hadn't created us. So it's kind of a moot point to say "Oh see??? They're saying I would be worth nothing if not for God!!!" Well, yeah, you would be worth nothing because you wouldn't exist lol.