A Culture War Worth Fighting

Fighting culture wars can be very draining. So often, they are filled with emotion and not much reflection and thought. Angry rants and threats replace honest debate and rational persuasion. Demonstrations at School Committee Meetings and Library Boards drown out considerate discussion. This hyper-anger can turn us off from considering such polarizing matters, but it must not turn us away from contemplating some of the crucial issues of our time. 

Earlier this month, in anticipation of the release of a Vatican document called “Dignitas Infinita” from the Discastry for the Doctrine of the Faith on April 8, Pope Francis identified gender ideology as today’s worst danger. Pope Francis described gender ideology as the attempt to erase differences between men and women. He said, “The gifts of men and women are fruitful, and to erase difference is to erase humanity. Man and woman, on the other hand, stand in fruitful ‘tension’ with each other.” Pope Francis sees the dangers of gender identity intertwined with a disregard for human dignity.

As Bill McCormick, S.J. wrote in an article, “The signs of the times are clear: Human dignity is under grave threat. But almost paradoxically, this is an opportune time for Catholics to recommit to the true task of freedom, to recognize and safeguard human dignity wherever it is threatened.” Dignitas Infinita gives every Catholic the foundation for opposition to all attacks on human dignity, both social and moral. 

A great thing about any Vatican document is that it is a reaction given with thought and theological reflection. Dignias Infinita has been five years in the writing. It has been given thought and does more than offer a strong critique of moral issues such as sex change, surrogacy, gender ideologies, etc., but everything that attacks human dignity, such as immigration, poverty, war, and environmental degradation. 

Catholic commentators have described the beginning of the document as a case study on the development of Catholic doctrine on human dignity. Reflection and growth in the understanding of human dignity haven’t come overnight but through centuries. It reminds the world that our human dignity comes from the Judo-Christian belief that humans are created in the image and likeness of God, the Christian belief God embraced human nature in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, and the promise of the eschatological communion with God at the end of time. The new document encourages Catholics to support human dignity by recognizing and cultivating it. The document reminds us that human dignity is dynamic and complex, and our understanding of it continuously evolves and grows deeper. 

Finally, as Cardinal Fernandez, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote: “The Church sees the condemnation of these grave and current violations of human dignity as a necessary measure, for she sustains the deep conviction that we cannot separate faith from the defense of human dignity, evangelization from the promotion of a dignified life, and spirituality from a commitment to the dignity of every human being.”

Being informed about and prayerfully reflecting on the topics addressed by Dignitas Infinita will keep us from being overwhelmed by debate on gender theory and the other threats to human dignity being experienced today so we can confront and win this battle of the culture wars.