An exploration of the basis on which the Vatican presumes to proclaim universally binding prescriptions, paying particular attention to those concerning the value of human life. Against this background, the book assesses the demand that an embryo should be treated as a person.

Contenu
Part 1: Catholic and universal; inalienable human rights; embryos, human beings, and persons. Part 2 Mediation and St Thomas Acquinas: salvation through mediation; body and soul; knowledge of the natural law; the influence of Thomas. Part 3 What price human life?: dubious headlines; double-effect and the Pauline principle; irreconcible commitments; the price of humanlife; the inevitable conclusion. Part 4 Natural and divine values: revelation and knowledge of moral law; natural law and civil legislation; church teaching and natural law; natural law and the special value of human life; revelation and the special value of human life. Part 5 The argument of the instruction: the concept of a person; the embryo as person?; souls and embryos; the potentiality argument. Part 6 Doubt and scepticism: the benefit-of-the-doubt argument; further considerations regarding the concept of a person; the 19th century perspective changes; doubt and scepticism; "The one who will be a man already is one". Part 7 Revelation and legislation: the citizen's rights; the embryo/fetus as a citizen?; the Christian's dilemma; justice and inequality; concluding remark - religion, reason, and civil society.