Human life and dignity should never be determined by public opinion or changing political majorities, said Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi in an article published in The Sunday Times of Malta.
Reflecting on a recent address by Pope Leo XIV to the Spanish Parliament, the Bishop highlighted the Pope’s words that “every truly just society is built upon the recognition of the inviolable dignity of the human person.” He stressed that human dignity exists simply because every person exists and should never depend on the decisions of governments or shifting social attitudes.
The Bishop noted that history has repeatedly shown how majorities have supported practices that are now recognised as grave injustices, including slavery, racial segregation and discrimination. For this reason, he argued that popularity alone cannot determine what is morally right, adding that while public opinion may change, human dignity remains constant.
He also emphasised that laws should protect the most vulnerable members of society, including the unborn, the elderly, people with disabilities, migrants and those whose voices are often overlooked. Public policy, he said, should be guided by careful judgement and lasting principles rather than emotional reactions or temporary trends.
Bishop Galea-Curmi said that protecting human life and dignity is not only a legal responsibility but also an ethical one. He added that respect for the inherent worth of every human being remains “the cornerstone of every truly just society.”
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