Social Justice

Institute for Leadership in Ministry 2011

February 23: FOUNDATIONS

March 2: PRINCIPLES

March 16: APPLICATIONS

Kristin Heyer

Associate Professor, Religious Studies

Santa Clara University

Social Justice: FOUNDATIONS

Ecclesiology:What is the relationship of the church

to the wider world according to a Catholic understanding?

Anthropology:What vision of the person grounds the Catholic

social tradition?

Frameworks:

Catholic understandings of justice and rights

Charity and JusticeWhen I feed the poor they call me a saint;

when I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a Communist.

-Brazilian Archbishop Dom Helder Cámara

While the words and example of Jesus on earth require individual works of mercy and acts of charity, they also require wider-scale action in pursuit of peace and justice.

We are called to be both “Moses” and “the Good Samaritan.”

What has Jerusalem to say to Athens?

Contemporary Catholic Social Thought (CST) charts course between “nothing” (sectarian withdrawal) and “everything” (cooptation, theocracy)

Delicate balance of “depoliticized engagement”

“in the world but not of the world”

How did we get here?Impact of Second Vatican Council 1962-1965

Significant legacy for church’s social missionGaudium et spesDignitatis humanae

Gaudium et spes “Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern

World” (Joy and Hope)

The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts. For theirs is a community composed of men. United in Christ, they are led by the Holy Spirit in their journey to the Kingdom of their Father and they have welcomed the news of salvation which is meant for every man. That is why this community realizes that it is truly linked with mankind and its history by the deepest of bonds. (no. 1)

Shift away from Sacred-Secular Split

Gaudium et spes exemplifies this shift

Shift to perceiving element of sacred within the secular/temporal and political realms

The Council can provide no more eloquent proof of its solidarity with the entire human family with which it is bound up, as well as its respect and love for that family, than by engaging with it in conversation about these various problems. (no. 3)

Church-World Stance Shifts

Shift from church’s previous defensive, reactionary to open stance toward the world that takes serious the struggles of the marginalized and addresses structural change

“social question” becomes universalized

Church’s Social MissionGS presents the human person as the bond

between the church and the world, and the task of the church as safeguarding the dignity of the person (no. 76).

church’s social teaching was bolstered with “ecclesiological grounding” - its social teaching no longer a narrow category within moral theology, but rather a means of fulfilling the church’s very mission.

“Citizens of Two Cities”Disciples and citizens: “in the world but not of

the world”

Between cooptation and withdrawal

Rejects partisanship and “otherworldliess”

delicate balance: church is called to political engagement to protect the human dignity without conflating the Catholic faith with particular or partisan political systems

Depoliticized Engagement

indirect role for the church’s engagement in the political order the alternatives are equally unacceptable:

a politicized church erodes the transcendence of the gospel

a church in retreat from human affairs betrays the incarnational dimension of Christian faith

Method: “confident modesty,” church as teacher and learner, interpreting “signs of the times,” (1891-2009)

Dignitatis humanae (DH) “Declaration on Religious Liberty” 1965

landmark development in church teaching on religious liberty and in terms of the differentiation and proper relation of church and state

First Amendment (U.S. Constitution)

Church/state institutional separation and free exercise

Religious bodies receive neither favoritism nor discrimination

1st A: protects public theology as “politics of persuasion,” not coercion

1st A = political, therefore neutral on value of different religious doctrines

Implications of church’s affirmation of Religious Liberty

Implicitly rejected here is the outmoded notion that “religion is a purely private affair” or that “the Church belongs in the sacristy.” Religion is relevant to the life and action of society. Therefore religious freedom includes the right to point out this social relevance of religious belief.

John Courtney Murray, S.J.

on Dignitatis humanae

(Post-Vatican II): Action for Justice: Central to Gospel and Church’s Mission

Action on behalf of justice and participation in the transformation of the world fully appear to us as

a constitutive dimension of preaching the gospel, or, in other words, of the church’s

mission for the redemption of the human race and its liberation from every oppressive

structure.

-1971 Synod of Bishops, Justitia in mundo, no. 6

The mission of preaching the Gospel dictates at the present time that we should dedicate ourselves to the liberation of people even in their present existence in this world. For unless the Christian message of love and justice shows its effectiveness through action in the cause of justice in the world, it will only with difficulty gain credibility with the people of our times. (no. 35)

Catholic Vision of the Human Person

Genesis 1:1-31

“in God’s image God created them, male and female God created them.”

Humans as created in imago Dei (image of God)Inherently sacred, worthyInherently social

Created in image of Trinitarian God

- to be a person is to be in relationship

Human Dignity Human Rights

Human rights give shape & substance to the idea of human dignity

Human dignity grounds human rights : reciprocal relationship

Human rights provide societal framework

Range of Rights in CSTcivil and political rights (political-legal)

social and economic rights (socio-economic)

“These fundamental personal rights—civil and political as well as social and economic—state the minimum conditions for social institutions that respect human dignity, social solidarity, and justice.”

- “Economic Justice for All,” (no. 80)

United Nations Declaration on Human Rights

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Examples: article 12, 25, 23, 18

Justice in Western Context (U.S.)

Images and understandings of western justice

Biblical Justice

Creative

Liberating, vindicating

Relational

Care for Anawim

shalom

Justice in Catholic Social Teaching

contributive/legal; commutative; distributive; social

“Basic justice demands the establishment of minimal levels of participation in the life of the human community for all persons. The ultimate injustice is for a person or group to be treated actively or abandoned passively as if they were nonmembers of the human race. To treat people this way is effectively to say that they simply do not count as human beings.”

(U.S. Bishops, “Economic Justice for All,”no. 77)

Catholic Social Teaching: Encyclicals 1891 Rerum novarum Leo XIII

1931 Quadragesimo anno Pius XI1961 Mater et magistra John XXIII1963 Peace on Earth John XXIII1965 Church in the Modern World Vatican II1967 The Development of Peoples Paul VI1971 A Call to Action Paul VI1971 Justice in the World Synod of Bishops1979 Redeemer of Humanity John Paul II1981 On Human Work John Paul II1988 On Social Concern John Paul II1991 The One Hundredth Year John Paul II1995 The Gospel of Life John Paul II

2005 God is Love Benedict XVI

2009 Charity in Truth Benedict XVI

Social Justice: PRINCIPLES

Recall foundation of Catholic anthropology:Vision of person as sacred and socialYields CST themes

Life and dignity of human personCommon goodOption for poorDignity of work/rights of workersSolidarityCare for God’s Creation

Catholic Social Teaching: key themes

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Every human being is created in the image of God and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family

Common GoodCall to family, community and participation

Common good: those conditions necessary for the flourishing of all members of a given community

Not the same as a utilitarian “greatest good for the greatest number”

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Matthew 25: 31-46

Biblical justice is measured by a society’s treatment of the most vulnerable: the widow, the orphan, the sojourner.

The prime purpose of a preferential option for poor is to enable them to become active participants in the life of society—to enable all persons to share in the common good.

Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

Matthew 20:1-16

The economy must serve people, and not the other way around.

If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected—rights to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative. -U.S. Catholic Bishops

SolidarityA firm and persevering commitment to commit

ourselves to the common good on every level.

“We really all are responsible for all.”Pope John Paul II

Greg Boyle, S.J.Founder/Director, Homeboy Industries

Create a community of kinship such that God might recognize it.

Jesus wasn’t a man for others, he was one with others.

“Our problem is that we've forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Mother Theresa

Care for God’s CreationStewardship: the earth, created by God, has been entrusted to us for our care not just our own benefit.

Humans are part and parcel of the created order, not suspended over and above it.

CST affirms the “universal purpose of created goods”– God’s creation is intended for good of all humans.

Solidarity in TIME not just solidarity in space.

Sin in Christian thoughtSin: fact

act

orientation

Sins of omission: Failure to bother to Love.biblical examples

Walter Rauschenbusch, social gospel movement

Social SinSocial sin: embodiment of multiple sinful

choices, structures of evil that surround us and in which we take part

1 both ways in which our personal sins become embodied in unjust social structures (our complicity in sweatshop conditions as consumers)

2 and the ways those same structures make it harder to resist the temptation to sin (air we breathe tainted by acceptable injustices—racism, sexism, homophobia) 

Engaging the Signs of Our Times

Social Justice initiatives via

-Catholic charities and direct aid

-Catholic political advocacy (USCCB, NEWTORK Catholic Social Justice Lobby, Pax Christi USA, others)

-CCHD-funded/Catholic-based community organizing

-private sector: socially responsible investing and shareholder advocacy (religious orders)

CST and Signs of our Times

Small Group Discussions:

1. death penalty/capital punishment

2. environmental racism

3. liturgical practice and CST: marriage

4. scripture, justice and international trade

5. the working poor

6. 21st century slavery

AssignmentNote: You may select one essay question from

among the following options. Responses should be 3-5 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, 1” margins minimum. I prefer hard copies; please submit your completed assignments to ILM staff who can then send them to me as a set. Thank you for the conversation, and blessings upon your ministries and journeys. KEH

1. Pierce Hunsinger has been caught, for the third time, selling narcotics and is facing time in prison. He argues that selling drugs is his best chance at a better life for his family. With only a high school education as well as ex-felon status, he has had difficulty finding a job that keeps his wife and two children above the poverty line. He awaits his sentencing hearing. What would different responses to Pierce’s situation look like from the perspectives of western and biblical justice? 

2. Discuss the proper role of religion in public life according to post-Vatican II Catholic social thought and Massaro’s Living Justice. What changes took place at the Second Vatican Council, and how would you characterize the balance Catholicism seeks to strike? What is your own impression of the relationship of the Church to political issues today in light of this ideal?

3. What might it mean to reimagine a ministry in which you are currently involved (or have been involved) in light of Catholic social teaching? (baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, marriage preparation, reconciliation, youth ministry) Be sure to concretely identify several changes and how they reflect different principles or commitments of Catholic social thought. (E.g., describe how you might transform a youth group food drive to incorporate both charity and justice dimensions, more fully affirm human dignity, and attend to sustainability).

4. Your pastor has asked you to write a column for a special extended edition of the parish newsletter on why issues of social justice should matter to faithful Catholics. Pick one among the following topics and write your essay with parishioners as your audience:

  a.) Why should Catholics be concerned about environmental issues

(our energy consumption/“carbon footprint,” where our waste is stored, the environmental impact of industries, where our food comes from)?

b.) Why is the Catholic Church actively involved in immigration reform efforts?

c.) In what ways are we called to celebrate and promote life amid our broken world? To what concrete ministries of charity and justice does this commitment call our community?

Justice and Peace PrayerBy: Jane Deren

God of Justice and Peace,Mold our consciences according to justice,And shape our hearts according to peace,That we may recognize the talents that you have given usTo secure the rights of the poor, the oppressed, the sick and the marginalized.God, we are Your children.Grant us the courage and strengthTo work for justice,And in this way,Live out our call to be peacemakers.