Dublin Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Field, the Council’s chairman, said the document is “not simply a pre-election statement,” although it is relevant.
“A core aim of the publication is to set out some of the values that should inform the choices we make at this critical time,” he stated.Speaking at the launch of the document, the bishop stressed in particular the principle of human dignity. “As Christians,” he affirmed,
“our commitment to human rights stems from our belief in the dignity of each and every human being, made in the image and likeness of God, from the moment of conception until the natural end of their life.”Thus, the prelate outlined some implications of the Christian obligation to defend human dignity, including primarily the need to protect human life from conception until its natural end. The defence of human dignity, said the bishop, also implies “strengthening and protecting family life,” since “families are the cornerstone of strong communities".
