As a Christian, I believe in a commitment to the common good that will make our world a better place for present and future generations. In my opinion, the common good is based on three fundamental principles:

Respect for human dignity.

Respect for human rights is essential to respect human dignity. The most fundamental human right is the right to life. I consider abortion rights to go against this fundamental right. One is free as long as one does not harm others.

It is a scientific fact that life starts with fertilization. A fertilized egg (a zygote) has the full genetic complement of an individual of the human species, with the potential to develop fully into a human being. As well as destroying human life, abortion may also be a contributing factor to the excessively low birth rate in many Western countries.

Social justice.

Equality of opportunity, a fair distribution of wealth and the fight against poverty are essential components of social justice.

In my opinion, a global financial transaction tax is a socially-just tax and could provide billions of euros, which may then be used on social welfare, education, the environment and development aid.

Respect for the environment.

Humans without the environment would be like fish without water. Environmental degradation resulting from pollution and deforestation, the unsustainable use of natural resources and climate change threaten our future.

There should be a global commitment to seriously deal with these issues before it is too late.