Pope: Recognition of natural law's ethics would promote human dignity

Published: 2007-10-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The foundation of human rights, democracy, and cooperation among peoples and religions is threatened by a growing assumption that there are no ethical absolutes, Pope Benedict XVI said. Not recognizing that certain ethical and moral principles are naturally part of being human has "enormous and serious consequences on the civil and social order," Pope Benedict said in an Oct. 5 meeting with members of the International Theological Commission. Commission members, appointed by the Vatican, have been working on a document on the foundations of natural moral law and, specifically, on how those principles form the basis of a "universal ethic" that can be recognized and shared by all peoples of all religions. "It is not an exclusively or predominantly confessional theme," the pope said, but is one that is important for all people and for their ability to live together in peace and mutual respect. Pope Benedict said the commission's report is an important part of a project being promoted by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to encourage universities, associations and individual scholars "to identify useful lines and convergences for a constructive and effective deepening of the doctrine on natural law."

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