Upholding the Dignity of Human Life

The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights—for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture—is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.

Pope St. John Paul II, On the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful

Every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. Human life is sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.

Because human life is sacred, every person—regardless of his or her stage of life or condition—has a universal right to live. Upholding the dignity of life applies to every person in every circumstance throughout life, from conception to natural death.

To uphold and protect the dignity of every human person, MCC supports:

Foundational Documents

News Releases

  1. Catholic Conference Releases 2025–26 Public Policy Principles (02/04/25)
  2. Final State Budget Reflects Priorities—and People—Michigan Policymakers are Willing to Support (07/24/24)
  3. Despite International Alarms Over the Practice, Legislature Moving to Legalize Compensated Surrogacy Contracts (03/14/24)
  4. After Appalling RHA Legislation Emerges from Committee, Catholic Conference Calls for Greater Respect for Women’s Health and Safety (09/20/23)
  5. Michigan Catholic Conference Helps Launch Statewide Campaign to Oppose Abortion-on-Demand Constitutional Proposal (05/24/22)

Additional Resources

  1. The Word from Lansing Column:
    1. To Respect Life is to Protect Life, Beginning at Conception (10/06/24)
    2. The Infinite Dignity of Each Person Must Shape Our Public Policies (06/25/24)
    3. Five Legislative Issues Catholics Should Know About in 2024 (01/09/24)
    4. Help Your Lawmaker by Urging Them to Oppose the RHA (10/02/23)
    5. Our Plan to Advance the Common Good This Legislative Session (02/03/23)
  2. Clean and Affordable Water for All (Focus Essay, 5/2019)
  3. Vaccinations and the Common Good (Focus Essay, 3/2018)
  4. Promoting a Respect for Life (Focus Essay, 12/2017)
  5. Confronting Violence in Society (Focus Essay, 9/2015)
  6. The Science of Stem Cells, Finding Cures and Protecting Life (Focus Essay, 10/2007)
  7. Letter to Catholics Regarding Stem Cell Research (Michigan Bishops, 10/2007)
  8. Statement on the Death Penalty (MCC Board of Directors, 3/1999)
  9. Living and Dying According to the Voice of Faith (Michigan Bishops, 9/1997)

Advocacy