Human rights in a secularized society

Willem Jacobus Eijk

doi:10.21697/CSP.2023.27.1.02

Published: 2023-12-29

No. 27 (2023)

Human rights in a secularized society

Willem Jacobus Eijk

Christianity-World-Politics

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.21697/CSP.2023.27.1.02

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of the attitude of the Catholic Church towards the doctrine of human rights. This doctrine was originally developed on the grounds of Catholic reflection accompanying the phenomenon of colonial conquests. Its use in the context of the Peace of Westphalia and the French Revolution caused the Church to distance itself from the doctrine. The return came with the person of John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council. Pope John Paul II proved to be a particularly important promoter of human rights. However, during the period in which the Church officially lent support to the doctrine of human rights, significant changes occurred in the Western world due largely to secularization. As a result, the way human rights were interpreted changed fundamentally. This has caused the secular understanding of human rights that dominates Western politics to be increasingly distant not only from the Catholic interpretation of them, but also from their original expression in the UN Universal Declaration.

Keywords:

Human rights, secularization, christians

Download files

PDF_EN PDF_PL (Język Polski)

Citation rules

ACM
ACS
APA
ABNT
Chicago
Harvard
IEEE
MLA
Turabian
Vancouver
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX

Eijk, W. J. (2023). Human rights in a secularized society. Christianity-World-Politics, (27), 25–44. https://doi.org/10.21697/CSP.2023.27.1.02

Cited by / Share

References

Breve Pastoralis officium ad archiepiscopum Toletanum (29 May 1537), DH 1495.
Google Scholar

Beauchamp R. L., Childress J. F. (1994), Principles of Biomedical Ethics, New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, (4th ed.).
Google Scholar

Benedict XVI (2006), “Ad Congressum a « Populari Europae Factione » provectu (30 March 2006)”, AAS 98 (2006), no. 4.
Google Scholar

Eijk W. J. (2022), “Der christliche Glaube im demokratischen Staat und im öffentlichen Raum”, in: Zum 95. Geburtstag: Festschrift für den Heiligen Vater em. Benedikt XVI. 16. April 2022, Braun K., Ratzinger G., Zörb R. (eds), Rohrbach: Wenzlik Consulting & Publishing, 2022.
Google Scholar

Eijk W. J., Hendriks L. M., Raymakers J. R., Flemming J. I. (eds) (2014), Manual of Catholic Medical Ethics: Responsible Healthcare from a Catholic Perspective, Ballarat: Court Connor Publishing.
Google Scholar

Eijk W. J., Hendriks L. M., Raymakers J. R., Flemming J. I. (2017), “Is Medicine Losing Its Way? A Firm Foundation for Medicine as a Real Therapeia”, Linacre Quarterly 84 (2017), no. 3, (https://doi.org/10.1080%2F00243639.2017.1301112). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00243639.2017.1301112
Google Scholar

Francisco de Vitoria (1917), Relecciones teológicas, Torrubiano Ripoll J. (ed.), Madrid: Librería Religiosa Hernández, 1917 (facsimile of the first edition of 1557).
Google Scholar

Institutiones Gai (1904) I, § 1, in: Gai Institutiones or Institutions of Roman Law by Gaius, E. Poste (ed. and trans.), revised and enlarged by Whittuck E. A., Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1904 (4th ed.).
Google Scholar

John XXIII (1962), “Discorso durante la solenne apertura del Concilio Vaticano II (October 11, 1962)”, no. 8.1-8.4, AAS 54.
Google Scholar

Leo XIII (1892), “Lettre Encyclique Au milieu des sollicitudes (16. Februar 1896)”, ASS 24 (1891-1892).
Google Scholar

Mass «Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice» Homily of His Eminence Card. Joseph Ratzinger Dean of the College of Cardinals (April 18, 2005), https://www.vatican.va/gpII/documents/homily-pro-eligendo-pontifice_20050418_en.html.
Google Scholar

Mirbt C. (1911), Quellen zur Geschichte des Papsttums und des Römischen Katholizismus, Tübingen: Verlag von J.C.B. Mohr, 1911 (3rd improved and extended ed.).
Google Scholar

Papal bull Sublimis Deus (29 May 1537), https://www.papalencyclicals.net/paul03/p3subli.htm.
Google Scholar

Pius XII (1949), “Nuntius radiophonicus Gravi et ad un tempo”, AAS 41 (1949). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ie50477a901
Google Scholar

Pope John Paul II (1980), “Message on the value and content of freedom of conscience and of religion (November 14, 1980)”, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/messages/pont_messages/1980/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_19800901_helsinki-act.html#:~:text=On%20the%20eve%20of%20the%20Madrid%20Conference%20on,reference%20to%20the%20implementation%20of%20the%20Final%20Act.
Google Scholar

Pope John Paul II (1989), “Address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See (January 9, 1989)”, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1989/january/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19890109_corpo-diplomatico.html.
Google Scholar

Pope John Paul II (1978), “Address to the Italian Catholic Doctors Association (December 28, 1978)”, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1978/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19781228_medici-cattolici-ital.html.
Google Scholar

Pope John Paul II (1979), Encyclical Letter Redemptor Hominis, 4 March 1979, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_04031979_redemptor-hominis.html.
Google Scholar

Pope John Paul II (1983), “General Audience (August 17, 1983)”, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/it/audiences/1983/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_19830817.html.
Google Scholar

Pope John Paul II (1979), “Homily during Holy Mass at the Logan Circle in Philadelphia (October 3, 1979)”, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/1979/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19791003_logan-circle-philadelphia.html.
Google Scholar

Pope John Paul II (1981), “Message for the celebration of the Day of Peace To serve peace, respect freedom (January 1, 1981)”, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/messages/peace/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_19801208_xiv-world-day-for-peace.html.
Google Scholar

Pope John Paul II (1980), “Message on the value and content of freedom of conscience and of religion” (November 14, 1980)”, https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/messages/pont_messages/1980/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_19800901_helsinki-act.html#:~:text=On%20the%20eve%20of%20the%20Madrid%20Conference%20on,reference%20to%20the%20implementation%20of%20the%20Final%20Act.
Google Scholar

Roy O. (2020), Is Europa nog christelijk?, Utrecht: KokBoekencentrum (original title: L’Europe est-elle chrétienne?, Edition du Seuil, 2019).
Google Scholar

Ryan E. A. (1948), “Catholics and the Peace of Westphalia”, Theological Studies 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/004056394800900407
Google Scholar

Salas V. M. (2012), “Francisco de Vitoria on the ius gentium and the American Indios”, Ave Maria Law Review 10.
Google Scholar

Taylor Ch. (2007), A Secular Age, Cambridge/London: The Belknap Press of Harvard University.
Google Scholar

Taylor Ch. (2002), Varieties of Religion Today: William James Revisited, Cambridge/London: Harvard University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1p6hqbp
Google Scholar

United Nations, “LGBTQI+”, https://www.un.org/en/fight-racism/vulnerable-groups/lgbtqi-plus.
Google Scholar

Utz A-F. (1963), Sozialethik, Heidelberg/Louvain: Kerle Verlag F.H. /Verlag E Nauwelaerts, 1963, II. Rechtsphilosophie.
Google Scholar

“Wet van 21 december 2000 tot wijziging van Boek 1 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek in verband met de openstelling van het huwelijk voor personen van hetzelfde geslacht (Wet openstelling huwelijk)” [Act of 21 December 2000 amending Book 1 of the Civil Code in connection with the opening of marriage to same-sex couples (Marriage Opening Act)], Staatsblad van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden (2001).
Google Scholar

World Health Organization (2019), “Moving One Step Closer to Better Health and Rights for Transgender People”, https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/17-05-2019-moving-one-step-closer-to-better-health-and-rights-for-transgender-people.
Google Scholar