Rainbow
Rainbow names the sign of God's covenant with humanity and all living creatures. The Church of Humans receives the display of the rainbow as a recognition of that covenant and of the equal dignity of all who bear the image of God.
The rainbow is among the oldest sacred symbols known to the Abrahamic traditions. According to the witness of Genesis, God set the rainbow in the clouds as a sign of a covenant not with a single nation, tribe, church, or people, but with the earth itself and with every living creature. The rainbow belongs first to God, whose covenant embraces all humanity and all living beings.
For this reason, the Church receives the display of the rainbow as a religious act. To display the rainbow is to acknowledge that human life is sacred, that every person bears the image of God, and that mercy is preferable to destruction. The rainbow reminds the faithful that God chose preservation over annihilation and reconciliation over wrath.
The Church further receives the rainbow as a sign of peace among peoples. The covenant symbolized by the rainbow was not restricted to the righteous, the powerful, or the chosen, but was extended to all. The faithful are therefore called to imitate that generosity by extending dignity, compassion, and goodwill to all persons.
Many meanings have been attached to the rainbow throughout history. The Church neither condemns nor depends upon those meanings. It receives the rainbow according to its own witness as a sign of God's covenant and a reminder of humanity's shared dignity.
Accordingly, the Church recommends the display of the rainbow in any form as a public recognition of God's covenant with humanity and all living creatures.
The faithful are called to honor every person as bearing the image of God.