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Religious Freedom Toolkit

Part IV | Select Quotes from Church Leaders

Category D | Human Rights

Topic 19 | Human dignity for everyone everywhere

“Human dignity for everyone everywhere” highlights the universal value of human dignity as a cornerstone principle in advancing and safeguarding the rights and well-being of individuals worldwide. Article 1 of the Punta del Este Declaration on Human Dignity for Everyone Everywhere begins, “The inherent human dignity of all people and the importance of respecting, promoting, and protecting human dignity for everyone everywhere is the foundational principle and the key objective or goal of human rights, as well as an invaluable criterion for evaluating laws, policies, and government actions for how well they accord with human rights standards.” The protection of human dignity for everyone everywhere necessarily includes protections for freedom of religion or belief.

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Elder Ulisses Soares: Dignity is the principle on which human rights stand.  

“Dignity is the principle upon which human rights stand. Societies flourish when both law and culture recognize, respect, and protect the value of each person. The many religious and cultural differences across the globe only enhance that dignity.

It is a universal birthright. Everyone possesses dignity simply by being human, regardless of religion, race, gender or nationality. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that dignity is the ‘foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.’ Therefore, we have the right to life, liberty, security, equal protection of the law, and the freedom of thought, speech and religion. These rights put all of us on a similar moral footing and endow our lives with meaning. Human dignity is a common denominator between religious traditions around the world. But not everyone enjoys these rights.”

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Elder D. Todd Christofferson: Religious freedom teaches us to see the inherent dignity of each person.  

“Protecting and respecting religious freedom serves as a training ground for protecting and respecting other human rights and freedoms. It teaches us that government has limits: that there are aspects of life that are so sensitive and personal that the coercive jurisdiction of the state must yield to the jurisdiction of the sacred and individual conscience. Religious freedom teaches us to see the inherent dignity of each person. It teaches us first to tolerate, then to respect, and then to love our neighbor.

I fear that if our societies fail to vigorously protect and respect religious freedom, then we will lose not only religious freedom but many other freedoms too.”

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Elder Gerrit W. Gong: Every human being is born with a level of dignity not granted by man.  

“We start with a basic truth: every human being, regardless of social or economic status, race, gender or any other identifying characteristic, is born with a level of dignity that is not granted by man. This level of dignity is inherent with his or her human condition. We then ask ourselves this question:

Which rights, if restrained, would most strongly intrude on that individual´s human dignity? I am confident not only for this audience, but for a vast majority of people in the world, Freedom of Religion or Belief and Freedom of Expression would be at or near the top of the list. Together, these two rights protect the individual's core conscience and right of self- determination, perhaps more than any other rights.

Of course, neither right is absolute. Governments define in different ways where the appropriate restraints exist, both as to Freedom of Religion or Belief and Freedom of Expression. I am not suggesting to any government where it should draw those lines. But I do highlight and reiterate the fundamental nature of these two freedoms with respect to individual Human Dignity and happiness.”

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Elder Ulisses Soares: We find meaning in human connection when we climb out of ourselves and discover the dignity of others.  

“No single group has a monopoly on the wise, beautiful, and just things of the world. We can all learn from everyone else. Our experiences have gaps that need to be bridged, and our perspectives have blind spots that need to be filled. We find meaning in human connection when we climb out of ourselves and discover the dignity of others, even if we disagree. Underneath our flaws, suspicions, and prejudices exists a common bedrock of dignity.”

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Elder D. Todd Christofferson: A state cannot protect human dignity if it fails to protect religious freedom.  

“Religious liberty is essential for protecting human dignity. For millions of believers from diverse religious backgrounds, religion is not a hobby, pastime, or social club. It is, rather, the foundation of our lives and the very center of our identities. Our religious identities constitute who we are and how we understand the purpose of life, the meaning of death, and our hope for what lies beyond this mortal sojourn.

Religion is central to the familial and community traditions and practices that sustain and give meaning to our lives, from birth to death. The naming and blessing of children; coming-of-age ceremonies; sabbath worship and daily prayers; marriage rituals; burial rites—these and many other religious practices are the rhythm of our lives. Our religious institutions are places of belonging where we gather in the company and strength of fellow believers. Houses of worship where we commune with God, religious schools and colleges where we teach our children, and religious charities where we serve the poor—are all essential to our faith communities. (And these religious institutions need to be able to decide for themselves what religious leaders will lead the communities and teach the faith to the rising generation.)

The state’s failure to provide legal protection for these and many other fundamental aspects of religious life imposes grave harm on its religious citizens. No liberal democracy can be free and respect the human dignity of all its citizens if it fails to protect and accommodate the right freely to practice one’s religion.”

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See also Religious Freedom Library
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