What about humankind vs. humankind?

[dling]

Is there an official church position on the use of mankind and humankind when speaking generally of “people”.

I notice a lot of gender neutrality in modern Scriptures and hymns that have been recently revised. My concern with the use of “humankind” is that it is lowering persons to a species equal to all others, when we know that God created us “in His image” (Imago Dei). And that we are created a little lower than the angels.

I feel that this movement has come from outside the church, not from within… secular/worldly pressures of feminism. Am I wrong?

So, is it wrong to use the term mankind?

Is “humankind” the official Catholic term to use when speaking of men and women combined in the general sense?

I hope that your answer might help others who struggle with this as well.

Thank you.

Dave

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi Dave,

English is only one of many languages the Church uses. “Humankind” is not an issue with most of them. The Church doesn’t take official stands on such things. While the use of “human kind” is a politically correct thing, it does denote mankind. Actually, they are interchangeable.There certainly bigger challenges to focus on.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.