Pondering this section, and with the benefit of time for reflection, it seems to me that in this document the Pope and the Dicastery are forging a new and fundamentally humanist and universalist ideology. It has points of connection with Catholicism but it cannot be considered Catholic because it abstracts from Catholic tradition and teaching only the principle of dignity, and asserts this principle to be self-sufficient for its ethics, and omits intrinsically Catholic teaching on the sacraments, virtue and sin. Neither does its bedrock tenet depend on Catholic teaching, because human dignity is defended by many non-Catholics, not excluding atheists. It seems obvious once it is stated, but unlike obeying the commandments of God from love of Him, “human dignity” does not have to be a religious principle. In fact, it can be argued that it flourishes best as a secular humanist principle for the simple reason that God and what pertains to Him is above humanity. Thus, the fact that this declaration does not say that infinite dignity pertains to God alone, is troubling. To put it another way, if infinite dignity is being ascribed to humanity, the dignity of God is displaced. Scripture and all the components of Catholic tradition are quoted in support, more than appealed to as an authority.