Social Justice: February 2011

Human Dignity

Belief in the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all Catholic social teaching. Human life is sacred, and the dignity of the human person is the starting point for a moral vision for society.

The principle of human dignity is grounded in the idea that the person is made in the image of God. The person is the clearest reflection of God among us. We are required to honour the human person, to give priority to the person.

Community and the Common Good

Human dignity can only be realised and protected in the context of relationships with the wider society.

Everyone has a responsibility to contribute to the good of the whole society, to the common good.

Rights and Responsibilities

Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency – starting with food, shelter and clothing, employment, health care, and education.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

A basic moral test of society is how it treats its most vulnerable members. The poor have the most urgent moral claim on the conscience of the nation.

The obligation to evaluate social and economic activity from the viewpoint of the poor and the powerless arises from the radical command to love one’s neighbour as one’s self.

The option for the poor is an essential part of society’s effort to achieve the common good. A healthy community can be achieved only if members give special attention to those with special needs, to those who are poor and on the margins of society.

Participation

All people have a right to participate in the economic, political, and cultural life at society. It is a fundamental demand of justice and a requirement for human dignity that all people be assured a minimum level of participation in the community.

It is wrong for a person or a group to be excluded unfairly or to be unable to participate in society.

Dignity of Work/Rights of Workers

The economy must serve people, not the other way around. All workers have a right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, and to safe working conditions. They also have a fundamental right to organise and join unions.

People have a right to economic initiative and private property, but these rights have limits. No one is allowed to amass excessive wealth when others lack the basic necessities of life.

Stewardship of Creation

Catholic tradition insists that we show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. The goods of the earth are gifts from God, intended for the benefit of all.

We humans are not the ultimate owners of these goods, but rather, the temporary stewards. We are entrusted with the responsibility of caring for these gifts and preserving them for the future generations.

Global Solidarity

Catholic social teaching proclaims that we are our brothers and sisters’ keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences. Solidarity means that “loving our neighbour” has global dimensions in an interdependent world.

John Paul II has called solidarity by a virtue. It is the virtue, he says, by which we demonstrate “affirm and preserving determination to commit oneself to the common good... because we are all really responsible for all”.

Constructive Role for Government

Because we are social beings, the state is natural to the person. Therefore, the state has a positive moral function. It is an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights, and build the common good.

One of the key functions of government is to assist citizens in fulfilling their responsibility to others in society. Since, in a large and complex society these responsibilities cannot adequately be carried out on a one-to-one basis, citizens need to help of government in fulfilling these responsibilities and promoting the common good.

Promotion of Peace

Catholic teaching promotes peace as a positive, action-oriented concept. In the words of Pope John Paul II, “Peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collaboration and binding agreements”.

1. List the 5 issues social justice aims to cover.

U Poverty

U Child Labour

U Refugees

U Homelessness

U Hunger

2. In your own words explain what is meant by human dignity.

Human dignity comes from self respect and respecting others. Human life is sacred and everyone is a value, was made in the image of God.

3. What is meant by a moral vision for society?

Aiming to do good for all levels in society, e.g. helping a woman cross the road and helping the poor.

4. Which of the 5 social justice issues relate to human dignity?

U Poverty

U Child Labour

U Refugees

U Homelessness

U Hunger

5. Give an example of a community that you are part of.

Stella Maris College.

6. How is this community both sacred and social?

It is sacred because we are a catholic organisation and we aim to live a moral and religiously significant life.

7. What is the major test of a moral society?

A moral test for society is how we treat our most vulnerable members of society.

8. In what way does our community look after the poor?

U World Vision

U Caritas

U Meals on Wheel

U St Vincent De Paul

U Oasis

U Red Cross

9. What are every human’s fundamental rights?

Everyone has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency – starting with food, shelter and clothing, employment, health care and education.

10. What is the role of the Government in maintaining human rights?

The government is an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights and build the common good.

11. Who is responsible for assisting the government to achieve its goals?

All people have the right and responsibility to participate in political institutions.

Background:

Gender equality refers to the equal rights of women and men. It works to overcome stereotypes so that both sexes are able to equally contribute to and benefit from economic, social, cultural and political developments within their society. When women and men have equality, economies grow faster and there is less corruption. When women are healthy and educated, their families, communities and nations benefit.

Men and women are physically different but it is the social, economic, political and legal interpretation of these differences that lead to inequality between them.

Why there is inequality:

Women and men are physically different but it is the social, economic, political and legal differences that lead to inequality between them.

Whos trying to stop it:

Many international agreements have been made to try and stop gender inequality, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the World Conference on Human Rights and the Millennium Development Goals, have all highlighted the need for countries to take action against gender inequality.

There are still many inequalities: