1. Faith Perspectives on Social Policy: Social Justice, Social Gospel and CRED Policy Lecture 2 Tuesday 12 th April

2. Overview of the lecture In this lecture we will explore the Social Policy from a Christian perspective. We will introduce the concept of social justice and consider the social Gospel and the implications for our work. Briefly exploring Catholic social teaching and its principles. Finally, with Jim McDowell, we will finish with an in-depth analysis of the biblical imperative for the Youth Work CRED policy and its application to practice.

3. RECAP on previous session

4. What is Justice? Justice is a concept that has many definitions. The definitions in this presentation all have their roots in biblical justice.

5. Scriptural Justice According to Scripture, a just or righteous person is first in right relationship with God and second in right relationship with other human beings.

6. Old Law In the Old Testament, justice is primarily about treating members of one’s own community fairly and equally.

7. New Law In the New Law of Christ, justice means “extending God’s compassion, forgiveness, and mercy to all people, even when that means sacrificing one’s own comfort and material wealth.”

8. Commutative Justice Image in shutterstock Commutative justice is the fairness that should exist when exchanging goods and services among individuals and institutions. It requires that both parties receive exactly what they agreed to; in this way the human dignity of everyone involved in the exchange is protected. It is the most fundamental form of justice in societies; without it all other forms of justice are impossible.

9. Legal Justice Legal justice is concerned with the responsibilities that individuals have to society. It is called “legal” justice because these responsibilities are usually spelled out in laws or other legal documents. Our country and community organizations cannot fulfill their responsibilities unless we fulfill our obligations to society.

10. Distributive Justice In 1986, the U.S. Catholic bishops provided this explanation of distributive justice in Economic Justice for All: “Distributive justice requires that the allocation of income, wealth, and power in society be evaluated in light of its effects on persons whose basic material needs are unmet” (70).

11. Distributive Justice Distributive justice is concerned with the responsibilities that society has to its members. It is called “distributive” because it calls for the just distribution of the earth’s resources to all people. Image in shutterstock

12. Distributive Justice Thus the principle of distributive justice means, for example, that it is a social sin for people to go hungry in a country that can produce enough food for all its citizens. Image in shutterstock

13. Social Justice “Society ensures social justice when it provides the conditions that allow associations or individuals to obtain what is their due, according to their nature and their vocation. Social justice is linked to the common good and the exercise of authority” (CCC, 1928). Image in shutterstock

14. But it is individuals who make the decisions that determine the policies and practices of these organizations. They are the leaders, or authorities, of these institutions. The primary responsibility for social justice rests with the social institutions that make up society—governments, businesses, and other civic organizations. Social Justice

15. Image in shutterstock In the Northern Ireland and many other democratic countries, citizens have a say in the country’s decisions and policies. Therefore we all share some responsibility for ensuring social justice.

16. Social Justice Image in shutterstock Thus the principle of social justice applies to all of God’s people.

17. Four social justice principles are found in the Creation accounts: 1. Each human life has great worth and must be protected. We must promote values that emphasize the inherent worth of each individual. 2. As human beings we cannot find the happiness we long for by pursuing things that do not lead to God. 3. God intends that human beings form communities of love and justice to work together for the common good. 4. We must have the same concern for other people’s welfare that we do for our own.

19. How is social justice applicable to your work and life? Where are the areas in your community were there is injustice? What makes your heart yearn for justice? What are some of the things which young people find as unjust? How can we put Social Justice on the RADAR?

20. Should there be an preferential treatment for the poor?

21. According to said doctrine, through one's words, prayers and deeds one must show solidarity with, and compassion for, the poor. Therefore, when instituting public policy one must always keep the "preferential option for the poor" at the forefront of one's mind. Accordingly, this doctrine implies that the moral test of any society is "how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation. We are called to look at public policy decisions in terms of how they affect the poor." Jesus taught that on the Day of Judgment, God will ask what each person did to help the poor and needy: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." This is reflected in Catholic canon law, which states, "The Christian faithful are also obliged to promote social justice and, mindful of the precept of the Lord, to assist the poor."

22. The notion of a preferential option for the poor also appears to conflict with several passages in the Bible. These passages suggest that neither the poor nor wealthy should receive preferential treatment. Equality before the law and justice is to be honored and obeyed. Exodus 23:2-3 states, “do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit.” (emphasis added) Leviticus 19:15 states, “do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (emphasis added)

23. Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI taught that “love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel”. This preferential option for the poor and vulnerable includes all who are marginalized in society, including unborn children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and terminally ill, and victims of injustice and oppression. (DEUS CARITAS EST)

24. Social justice in the Bible?

25. Four Key Principles The Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace’s Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, identifies four principles of Catholic Social Teaching that are valid always and everywhere: Human dignity. The common good. Subsidiarity. Solidarity.

26. Where do we get our inspiration to help the poor and needy?

27. As we continue to explore social justice, we need to examine sin and its presence in the world. Personal sin is defined as an act that is... an offense against God a rejection of God’s love a failure to respect a person’s God-given rights neglecting our God-given responsibilities a deliberate action a wound to human nature Mortal sin is a grave offense against God and results in a total separation from God.

28. The morality of a human act is determined by answering the following questions about it: What is the object the person is choosing? What is the intention of the person doing the action? What are the circumstances surrounding the action?

29. Sin has three dimensions : personal social structural Image in shutterstock

30. The Personal Dimension of Sin Image in shutterstock The personal dimension of sin... harms our relationship with God harms our relationship with others

31. The Social Dimension of Sin Image in shutterstock The social dimension of sin affects society and the world through... hurting people through attacks on life, freedom, dignity, or human rights hurting God’s creation through practices that harm the land and God’s creatures

32. The Structural Dimension of Sin becomes a barrier to the common good affects patterns of relationships results from collective choices of many and is sustained by selfishness stems from personal sin

33. How can we respond to pain and suffering in the world caused by personal and social sin? Become aware. Analyze the causes. Take action. o Provide direct aid. o Correct social structures that cause injustice. Image in shutterstock

34. WikiMwdiaCommons This is the Circle of Social Action. It calls us to... be aware of social needs and injustices analyze appropriate responses to the needs and injustices in the world act to help meet the needs of others and correct injustices

35. The Pastoral Cycle: see, Judge, reflect and act

36. “ It is too easy to throw back on others responsibility for injustices, if at the same time one does not realize how each one shares in it personally, and how personal conversion is needed first. ” (Pope Paul VI, Octogesima Adveniens, 1971)

37. Image in shutterstock The first step in the Circle of Social Action calls us to awareness. What are complex social injustices? poverty hunger homelessness The Circle of Social Action: Be Aware other

38. The second step in the Circle of Social Action is to carefully examine the issue. Ask these questions: What are the causes of suffering or injustice? What social structures support injustice? How do I support these social structures? The Circle of Social Action: Analyze the Situation Image in shutterstock

39. The third step in the Circle of Social Action challenges us to respond. Consider the following: How can I bring God’s love and justice to those who are suffering? What personal action can I take? What long-term action can bring about change in social structures? The Circle of Social Action: Act Image in shutterstock

40. Reflecting on these questions can help you to engage in the Circle of Social Justice: Am I aware of social injustices? Do I pray to God to help me understand my personal response to injustice? How willing am I to sacrifice my own comfort to help others in need? My Personal Discernment What actions can I take to help eliminate the source of an injustice or need? Image in shutterstock

41. We need social action to bring about justice. Social action includes works of charity such: Give drink to the thirsty. Shelter the homeless. Clothe the naked. Care for the sick. Feed the hungry. Visit the imprisoned. Bury the dead. Hungry Thirsty Homeless Naked Sick Imprisoned Dead

42. We also practice works of charity when we respond to spiritual needs through : Give advice to those who need it. Comfort those who suffer. Be patient with others. Forgive those who hurt you. Share knowledge. Give correction to those who need it. Pray for the living and the dead. Knowledge Counsel Comfort Forgive Patience Correct Pray

43. Solidarity Image in shutterstock We are called by our faith to act in solidarity with one another because... every person is equally loved by God the person who serves benefits as much as the person being served acts of solidarity result in life-giving relationships of mutual respect

44. The Role of the State Image in shutterstock Working together for the common good involves individuals’ as well as governments’ pledging to serve the needs of others. The state plays a part in God’s plan of salvation. The state is the civil authority intended to achieve the common good. The state recognizes, respects, defends, and promotes citizens’ rights and individuals’ freedom to pursue rights.

45. The Three Primary Functions of Civil Authority executive: essential services provided and regulated legislative: laws and human rights protected judicial: laws fairly enforced and injustices corrected Image in shutterstock

46. Needed in a complex, global society Support international justice and peace (such as the United Nations) The Functions of Public Authority

47. WikiMediaCommons Moral responsibility to fulfill civil obligations (such as paying taxes) Participation in the political life of society (such as voting) The Role of Citizens

48. Conscientious Objection to Unjust Laws Image in shutterstock If human reason and God’s Law lead us to believe a civil law or civil authority is morally wrong, we are morally obligated to resist it. Voice objection to the law. Work to change the law. Organize others to protest against the law. Forms of Conscientious Objection: Directly disobey the law.

49. Conscientious Objection to Unjust Laws What informs our conscience? How do we know when we are hearing the truth? We can count on the media to communicate the truth to us, right? Not always! WikiMediaCommons

50. Critiques of faith and social justice

51. What’s this got to do with Christianity?

52. 1.Modernism is at heart of social gospel 2. Shift in emphasis