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These are "serious violations of human dignity": In a declaration of principles, the Vatican condemned abortions, surrogacy, gender reassignment operations and "gender theory."

In the more than 20-page declaration “Dignitas infinita” (Infinite Dignity) of the Roman Dicastery for the doctrine of the faith, approved by Pope Francis, it is said, among other things, that wanting to control oneself means nothing other than “giving in to man’s age-old temptation "To make yourself God."

With regard to surrogacy, the text says that in this case a child becomes a "mere object" and that the woman's dignity is violated for profit reasons. The legitimate desire to have a child cannot be converted into a right to have a child.

The Vatican also took a clear position regarding gender adjustments: a body must be accepted and respected as it was created. The human body is endowed with personal meanings, especially in its sexual nature. Gender reassignment risks threatening the unique dignity that a human being possesses from the moment of conception.

In addition, it should be seen as a violation of human dignity that in some places people are imprisoned, tortured and even deprived of their lives because of their sexual orientation. According to the declaration, every person must be respected in their dignity and received with respect. Nevertheless, the “gender theory” should be criticized because it claims to make everyone equal and eliminate differences, which is very dangerous. The document speaks of “ideological colonization.”

The topics addressed in “Dignitas infinita” also include war, poverty, migration and human trafficking. Violence against women is also a global scandal.

Statement comes after conservative criticism

The reason for the new document, which took five years to prepare, is the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights last December. Four months after the Vatican's permission to bless same-sex couples, which was heavily criticized, particularly by conservative parts of the Catholic Church, it is also seen as an attempt to bridge divisions within the church.

As the head of more than 1.4 billion Catholics, shortly before Christmas, Francis surprisingly allowed Catholic priests to give their blessing to "couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples" - but only under strict conditions. There was mostly praise from Germany for the declaration “Fiducia supplicans” (roughly: “Pleading trust”), even if for many in the Catholic reform movement the declaration does not go far enough. However, massive criticism came from other countries - especially in Africa, where homosexuality is still punishable in many places.

A few weeks earlier, Rome had also announced that trans people could be baptized and also be godparents under certain conditions.

sol/dpa/AFP