Justice
- The cardinal virtue concerned with the rights and duties within relationships
- The commitment, as well as the actions and attitudes that flow from the commitment, to ensure that all persons- particularly people who are poor and oppressed- receive what is due to them
Commutative Justice
- This type of justice calls for fairness in agreements and contracts between individuals
- Equal exchange of goods, money, or services
Legal Justice
-The social responsibilities that citizens owe their country and society
Distributive Justice
-The responsibility that society has for safeguarding essential human rights and ensuring the just distribution of the earth’s resources , with special regard for those people whose basic needs are going unmet
Social Justice
- The defense of human dignity by ensuring that essential humans needs are met and that essential human rights are protected for all people
- Examples:
- Sexism (women aren’t payed equal to men)
- Racism (Leads to economic gaps & people of different races not being treated equally)
- Homelessness (people’s needs are not being met physically–> not living a dignified life)
Social Encyclical
- A teaching letter from the Pope to the members of the Church on topics of social justice, human rights, and peace
- A pastoral letter is the same thing but written by a bishop
Subsidiarity
- The moral principle that large organizations and governments should not take over responsibilities and decisions that can be carried out by individuals and local organizations
- Large corporations and governments have the responsibility to support the good of human beings, families, and local communities, which is at the center and purpose of social life
- Example: systems of government have hierarchy (president, governors, mayors)
New Law
- Divine Law revealed in the New Testament through the life and teaching of Jesus Christ and through the witness and teaching of the Apostles
- Perfects the Old Law and brings it to fulfillment
- Also called the Law of Love
Old Law
- Divine Law revealed in the Old Testament, summarized in the Ten Commandments
- Also called the Law of Moses
- Succeeded by the New Law in the Gospels
Common Good
- The good that is collectively shared by a umber of people and that is beneficial for all members of a given community
- Social conditions allow for all citizens of the earth, individuals and families, to meet basic needs and achieve fulfillment promote the common good
Rerum Novarum
- Written in light of the poor working conditions in factories in the late 1800s
- Combat the poor working conditions for the vulnerable workers of the time
- In response to the industrial revolution
- Pope Leo XIII (the 8th)
- Significant because it help set up the working conditions of factories in the USA today
Racism
-Treating people of a different race without the full respect their equal dignity requires
Apartheid
- a system of racial segregation in South Africa enforced through legislation by the National Party
- Whites lived in the city, and then different shades of skin were separated into townships, which get progressively worse the darker you are
- How does this relate to USA history? How different?
Three Major Social Justice Teachings found in the New Testament
- Human Dignity
- Money and Material Possessions
- Concern for Poor and Vulnerable
Human Dignity
- Jesus asks us to see other human beings from his divine perspective (Beatitudes)
- We must see the image of God in every human person
- Must love all people as best we can, no exceptions
Money and Material Possessions
- The goods of earth are meant for all people
- Detachment of wealth is necessary to end the Kingdom of God
- Share our wealth with the less fortunate
Concern for Poor and Vulnerable
- Don’t treat wealthy people better than poor people
- Action on behalf of those who are poor & vulnerable is a necessary requirement for being a follower of Christ
- Requirement to enter the Kingdom of God
- Corporal works of mercy (feed, drink, clothe, visit, etc.)
Two Major Trends
- Technology
- Population Growth
Technology Social Justice issues
- Technology can replace jobs
- Technology is taking away social culture
- The money spent on the iPads, phones, and other devices could be used to help people in need
Technology
- Devices like tablets, phones, computers and more
- The lower the income of a family, the less likely that they have access to technology (unfair)
- 75% of whites have access, 64% blacks, 61% Hispanics
- In January of 2013 Apple announced it sold 47.8 Million iPhones and 22.9 Million iPads
Population Growth
- Africa has one of the highest population growth rates in the world, because their fertility rates have not dropped like those in North America and Europe, where they have just about halved.
- The average Nigerian woman will have seven children, and by 2050 Africa will have added over a billion people to their population
Population Growth Social Justice Issues
-Rise in population–> less and less people’s human needs being met
-Less access to clean water, food, shelter (land)
Response: Improvement in access to affordable housing, food, and health care
Human Dignity Scripture Passage
- Mark 12:31
- “Love your neighbor as yourself”
Money and Material Possessions Scripture Passage
- Luke 18:22
- “Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in Heaven”
