Focusing on bioethical issues is to offer a partial (and too easy) reading of Dignitatis Infinita, the doctrinal declaration on human rights released by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, a view supported by Card Anthony Poola, archbishop of Hyderabad, in comments he shared with Asia-News, starting with the reactions generated in India and beyond by the Vatican document.
“We need to confront those socio-cultural and religious thought-patterns that are behind why many in India still live in subhuman conditions,” something that Dignitas Infinita challenges. The Archbishop of Hyderabad looks at the media reaction to the declaration released by the Dica-stery for the Doctrine of the Faith on human dignity. The media are “focused on gender theory, sex change, surrogacy etc., but” peo-ple who “struggle with poverty, exploitation, discrimination, lack of access to primary healthcare” cannot leave others indifferent.
It is significant to note that Card Poola is the first Indian from a Dalit family to be raised to the cardinalship in the consistory convened in 2022 by Pope Francis. Because of his direct knowledge of a form of negation of human dignity, his testimony takes on particular significance.