Understanding Social Justice

[winginitx]

I have read the CCC on Social Justice, but that rather vague definition doesn’t seem to reconcile with contemporary societies version of social justice. Theirs seem to be more centered on economic justice i.e. limiting wealth, income re-distribution and equality of outcome.

When talking heads on tv, or even some liberal clergy speak of SJ, I look at the CCC description of it, and I wonder what the heck they are talking about.

Is there a disconnect there between the CCC description of SJ and the world/ Or am I reading the CCC wrong in that regard?

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

I have read the CCC on Social Justice, but that rather vague definition doesn’t seem to reconcile with contemporary societies version of social justice. Theirs seem to be more centered on economic justice i.e. limiting wealth, income re-distribution and equality of outcome.

When talking heads on tv, or even some liberal clergy speak of SJ, I look at the CCC description of it, and I wonder what the heck they are talking about.

Is there a disconnect there between the CCC description of SJ and the world/ Or am I reading the CCC wrong in that regard?

There is a disconnect you are right.

 

[Joe_5859]

I assume you are talking about CCC 1928-1948?

If you want a fuller picture of the Church’s definition of social justice, you might want to look at the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace’s excellent Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Obviously, it goes much more in depth than the Catechism is able to do.

Yes, the Church and the “world” do not use the term in precisely the same way.

 

[Bluegoat]

All the above being said, I don’t see that the two are unrelated or that it is hard to see how the CC’s teaching might be applied.

 

[markbrumbaugh]

All the above being said, I don’t see that the two are unrelated or that it is hard to see how the CC’s teaching might be applied.

Confiscation of the fruit of ones labor, to be redistributed to others by an “all knowing body”, is neither justice, nor charity.

 

[Joe_5859]

All the above being said, I don’t see that the two are unrelated or that it is hard to see how the CC’s teaching might be applied.

True enough. The way that secular society uses the term and the way that the Church uses the term are not identical, but neither are they mutually exclusive. We should identify the overlap and rejoice that secular society is not completely depraved.

 

[JulieAA]

Confiscation of the fruit of ones labor, to be redistributed to others by an “all knowing body”, is neither justice, nor charity.

Absolutely!!

 

[St_Francis]

I have read the CCC on Social Justice, but that rather vague definition doesn’t seem to reconcile with contemporary societies version of social justice. Theirs seem to be more centered on economic justice i.e. limiting wealth, income re-distribution and equality of outcome.

If you want a fuller understanding of Catholic social justice, you should read the encyclicals themselves–well, I have to admit that I haven’t read the Compendium so I can neither recommend it or not recommend it, but the encyclicals are wonderful reading and very clear.

When talking heads on tv, or even some liberal clergy speak of SJ, I look at the CCC description of it, and I wonder what the heck they are talking about.

Is there a disconnect there between the CCC description of SJ and the world/ Or am I reading the CCC wrong in that regard?

In my own opinion, there has been a hijacking of the term social justice by people who do not understand the Faith and who do not understand the necessary underpinnings for true social justice. Sometimes I see this even within the Catholic Church by people who are not well-instructed in their faith.

What the Pope said the other day really covers it: the Word of God… gives meaning to our daily activity… Without a profound meaning, everything we do is reduced to sterile and disordered activism…

 

[Joe_5859]

If you want a fuller understanding of Catholic social justice, you should read the encyclicals themselves–well, I have to admit that I haven’t read the Compendium so I can neither recommend it or not recommend it, but the encyclicals are wonderful reading and very clear.

The Compendium is a nice synthesis of the papal encyclicals presented in a structurally cohesive way. Nonetheless, I agree the encyclicals themselves are definitely worth reading.

Here’s a list of the most notable ones (starting with the most recent):

• [Caritas in veritate (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/b...-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html) - Benedict XVI (June 29, 2009)
• [Evangelium Vitae (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/j...f_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html) - John Paul II (March 25, 1995)
• [Centesimus annus (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/j...f_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus_en.html) - John Paul II (May 1, 1991)
• [Sollicitudo rei sociales (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/j...enc_30121987_sollicitudo-rei-socialis_en.html) - John Paul II (December 30, 1987)
• [Populorum Progressio (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/p...uments/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum_en.html) - Paul VI (March 21, 1967)
• [Gaudium et spes (http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_...vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html) - Vatican Council II (December 7, 1965)
• [Pacem in terris (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/j...cuments/hf_j-xxiii_enc_11041963_pacem_en.html) - John XXIII (April 11, 1963)
• [Rerum Novarum (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/l.../hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum_en.html) - Pope Leo XIII (May 15, 1891)

 

[Tigg]

You may want to struggle through this essay which calls the Compendium a “Lost Opportunity” and helps to p(name removed by moderator)oint some of the more obvious problems and discrepancies.

I agree something has really gone haywire of late with the term SJ.

acton.org:80/publications/mandm/mandm_article_33.php

 

[Mary_Carlisle]

Confiscation of the fruit of ones labor, to be redistributed to others by an “all knowing body”, is neither justice, nor charity.

Right on, right on, right on!

 

[fisheaters]

I assume you are talking about CCC 1928-1948?

If you want a fuller picture of the Church’s definition of social justice, you might want to look at the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace’s excellent Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Obviously, it goes much more in depth than the Catechism is able to do.

Yes, the Church and the “world” do not use the term in precisely the same way.

“Though not without its strengths, the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church fails to present a clear and concise synthesis of the principles of Catholic social teaching. While parts of the Compendium are very precise, other sections are likely to facilitate considerable confusion among those who desire to know and understand the principles of the Church’s social doctrine. Careful analysis of the Compendium’s structure, method, and content indicates that the text’s problems primarily stem from departures from the guidelines set forth for the Compendium’s drafting in John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America (1999).”

acton.org/publications/mandm/mandm_article_33.php