Human Rights in an Ecumenical Perspective

Abstract

Human Rights have become a benchmark in international arena, since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. However, the declaration itself was a climax of a long process, originating in the Enlightenment movement. What was the Christian attitude towards this development of Human Rights? This paper explores this question from an ecumenical perspective, comparing Catholic understanding of human rights and the view of the theologian Jürgen Moltmann. The paper then follows a threefold framework. The first point presents a progressive Catholic attitude towards human rights, starting from the reaction of Pope Gregory XVI, to the full endorsement of Pope John XXIII, through a half openness of Popes such Leo XIII and Pius XI. The second point exposes Moltmann’s position, and the third makes a comparison between these two positions in order to highlight the common ground and their complementarity.