Life+and+Dignity+of+the+Human+Person

Life and Dignity of the Human Person Group Members: Devi D, Laura Z, Marielle P, Maddie H, Lydia K, Anna B

What is human dignity?

 * Human dignity is the equal value and worth given to us by God because we are made in God's image



Some important things to remember about human dignity:

 * We **do not share** human dignity.
 * A person's human dignity is **not dependent** on another person's, and everyone has equal value and worth; no one's is no more or less.
 * Human dignity is **intrinsic**. This means we do not earn human dignity, it is a gift from God within us that we are given. Intrinsic means something is naturally within us and it does not depend on what we do.

What are some issues that go along with this theme?

 * ====Abortion ====
 * ====Death Penalty ====
 * ====Euthanasia ====
 * ====Cloning ====
 * ====Embryonic Stem Cell Research ====
 * ====Human Trafficking ====
 * ====In Vitro Fertilization ====
 * ====Domestic Violence ====



**Abortion**

Every year, there are approximately 42 million abortions. Despite the Catholic Church's view of abortion being a grave evil, 31.4% of abortions in the United States are from Catholic women. While what defines these women as "Catholic" is unclear, it still shows that many people disregard the Church's view, even if it goes against the Commandment "Thou shall not kill," because abortion is the murder of unborn children. Even if they are killed before they can receive baptism to clean themselves of original sin, they still have a soul even before they are born, which makes them a person, even if a doctor or the unborn child's mother does not think of them as a child. Although abortion is still legal in the United States, it is important to raise awareness about being pro-life and doing all we can to make women feel differently about having a child, because a baby is a gift no matter what the circumstance, and no woman should ever feel obligated to have an abortion.

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">**Abortion Fast Facts**
 * <span style="color: #0e0c0c; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 23px;">There are approximately 42 million abortions per year around the world
 * <span style="color: #0e0c0c; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 23px;">There are about 115,000 abortions per day around the world
 * <span style="color: #0e0c0c; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 23px;">83% of abortions are from developing countries and 17% are from developed countries

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Human Trafficking
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Every year many people are forced into human trafficking or in other words modern-day slavery. Forms of trafficking include: prostitution, domestic servitude, involuntary servitude, bonded labor, and child labor. All these consist of some type of physical labor wether it is selling yourself or performing near death tasks, either way it is never easy. A staggering fact is that 95% of trafficking victims faced abuse either physical or sexually. Many of these cases are of people who have been tricked into this kind of slavery, this can happen when families are poor and owing money or if someone is nw to an area. THe sad side of this story is that adults aren't the only people involved. People who participate in this business now force children to drop out of their education and work for little to no money. These children are treated as if they were adults and receive the same treatment. This is an industry where age is only a number. There have been sex brothels where children as young as 5 were found, also in sweatshops in asian countries children the age of 7 are forced to support their family with the little money earned from this job. It is vital that we raise awareness towards this subject and work to lessen and hopefully end this unthinkable reality.

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Trafficking Fast Facts

 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Human trafficking- is the illegal [|trade] of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial [|sexual exploitation], [|forced labor] , or a modern-day form of [|slavery].
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">2.5million people are forced into manual labor. The highest offenders are Asia and the pacific. Most of the trafficking are from sweat shops and sexual exploitation.
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The majority of trafficking victims are between 18 and 24 years of age- these victims are mostly woman that are forced to become prostitutes and receive less than a dollar a day.
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Children are also a major part of trafficking and children between the ages of 5-14 are forced to drop out school and work in terrible conditions for little to no money
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">95% of all people were trafficking experienced physical of sexual abuse.
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The church obviously rejects trafficking and hold meetings every few years and think of ways to make people aware of the horrors occurring in the world.

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Websites and Descriptions
These are staggering statistics on hum a trafficking. Trafficking is becoming more and more common and it's important that we have this type of information so we can educate society on such horrid happenings. <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[]

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The Church is obviously against human trafficking and hold annual meeting to discuss ways this problem and many other injustices that are plaguing our world. This meeting usually lasts from a day to a week. During this time they talk about their view on the subject as well as ways they can help and make a change in the situation at hand. <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[]

<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Many people are tricked and even forced into this modern- day slavery. This is a story of a girl who was tricked into prostitution and considers herself “Lucky to Escape.” <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[]

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfZdSsYTB4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwAhti93QYU&feature=related

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px;">**IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">IVF babies are those unnaturally place in a mother’s womb. A surrogate mother would carry the child. A mother would consider to use this method is she was having difficulty becoming pregnant. The intensions of this are good, but the Catholic Church does not support it. Technically the Church only believes or supports the birth of a child from original and natural means.

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">**Embryonic Stem Cell Research**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> This form of scientific research has encountered many problems with the laws regarding the Catholic Church. Embryonic Stem Cell research actually has good intent. Stem cells are cells that help to cure diseases. Scientists have discovered that the strongest stem cell areas is the embryo. However, in order to retrieve these stem cells, you must have just given birth to a baby or just aborted one. Obviously, the Catholic Church supports the scientist's quests to find cures for diseases, but it does not support using stem cells recovered after abortion. The Church argues that this is trying to make a wrong a right, as the stem cells will eventually be used to cure diseases. However, the Church does support retrieving the stem cells after birth.

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">**Death Penalty**
<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Death Penalty is also against the Catholic Church. The Death Penalty is capital punishment. This means that a person is punished for a serious crime by being sentenced to death. The death penalty is usually carried by the means of lethal injection or the electric chair. The Catholic Church is firmly against this, as it involves taking away a human's life. Although that person has done wrong, by hurting others and therefore hurting God, that does not give anyone the right to take their life away. This is the ultimate punishment, and only God can decide punishments for us. The Death Penalty is more brutal is some parts of the world than others. For example, in other countries, the death penalty may occur by stoning. The death penalty can also be practiced as retribution for war crimes.

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">**Statistics about t****h** **<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">e Death Penalty: **
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Since 1976, there have been 1,280 executions in America.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Thirty-four states allow the death penalty
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">56% of those killed are white, 34% are black, 8% are Hispanic, and 2% are other.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Since 173, over 130 have been released from death row after their innocence was proven
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The South has the highest number of executions
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The majority of people support the punishment of life without parole and with restitution as a punishment instead of the death penalty.

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">**Domestic Abuse and Violence**
<span style="color: #090a0b; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Domestic abuse and violence can occur between a person and their partner, parents and their children, or between almost any people who are close, and it usually occurs on a regular basis. When a child is abused, however, they become 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy and 30% of abused children abuse their own children when they are old. Underneath the category of domestic abuse is also sexual abuse, neglect, psychological maltreatment, and medical neglect. All of these are very serious issues and have continued to grow as there are about three million reports of child abuse each year in the United States. In 2009, there were 3.3 million reports of child abuse made that involved about 6 million children. Children who are neglected, abused, or are raised in unhealthy environments are much more likely to have problems with alcohol, drugs, or breaking the law later in life. It is extremely important to raise awareness about this issue, especially because there are over five deaths of children a day because of abuse or neglect, although neglect is almost never put as the cause of death on their death certificates. They may be afraid to speak up for themselves, so it is our job to help and support them in any way possible.

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">**Euthanasia**
<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Euthanasia is the i ntentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his/her alleged benefit. Voluntary Euthanasia is when the person who is killed has requested to be killed. Non-voluntary Euthanasia is when the person who is killed made no request and gave no consent. Involuntary Euthanasia is when the person who is killed made an expressed wish to the contrary.

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">**Cloning** <span style="color: #222222; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Cloning is the creation of an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another. This means that every single bit of DNA is the same between the two. Currently, there are no human clones but animals such as sheep and dogs have been cloned. Cloning can be done for many different types of reasons. Today, many scientists are using the method of cloning for medical reasons by cloning vital organs such as the heart, lungs, eyes, etc. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Grande',Arial,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Lucida Grande',Arial,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The first step for cloning is extracting small parts of the somatic cells. These are then put into petri dishes, where more cells are replicated. Then, one of these cells are extracted and inserted to a cell that had its own DNA taken out. Then that cell is activated with a short electrical current. Cloning is against the Catholic Church because the church is against destroying the individuality of any living thing. Also, the Catholic Church strongly believes that only God should be in total control of life.




 * <span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Commoncraft Video Link- 8A **

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">For more information about the Life and Dignity of the Human Person, click on the link below for an original informational video

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">[]

<span style="color: #0094ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">**Citations** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">“Abortion.” //Catholic.com.// Catholic Answers, 2012. Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> “Abortion Facts.” //AbortionNo.org//. Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">“Brief Reflections on Euthanasia.” //PriestsForLife.org//. Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">“Catholic Church Fights Human Trafficking and Slavery.” //RenewAmerica.com.// Barbara Kralis, 2006. Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">“Domestic Violence Facts.” //NCADV.org.// National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2011. Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">“Euthanasia.” //Euthanasia.com.// Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> "Facts about Death Penalty." // Death Penalty Info //. 12 Feb 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">“Human Trafficking: The Facts.” //UNGlobalImpact.// Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">“Nation Child Abuse Statistics.” //ChildHelp.org//. Childhelp, 2011. Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">“Sex Trafficking.” //IStopTraffic.com.// Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Shea, John B. “The Moral Value of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Method.” //CatholicInsight.com.// Catholic Insight, 2006. Web. Jan 23. 2012. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">“Stories.” //HagarUSA.org//. Hagar USA, 2010. Web. Jan 23. 2012.