Faith Perspectives on Social Policy: Social Justice, Social Gospel and CRED Policy

Lecture 2Wednesday 9th April

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.

RECAP on previous sessionSocial Policy

What is Justice?

Justice is a concept that has many definitions. The

definitions in this presentation all have their

roots in biblical justice.

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.

Old Law

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

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.”

Commutative Justice

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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.

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.

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).

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.

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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.

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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

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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

Social Justice

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• 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.

Social Justice

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Thus the principle of social justice applies to all of God’s people.

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.

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?

Should there be an preferential treatment for the poor?

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."

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)

Pope 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)

Social justice in the Bible?

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

FERNANDO'S STORY

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.

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?

Sin has three dimensions:

• personal

• social

• structural

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The Personal Dimension of Sin

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The personal dimension of sin . . .

• harms our relationship with God

• harms our relationship with others

The Social Dimension of Sin

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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

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

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.

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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

The Pastoral Cycle:see, Judge, reflect and act

“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)

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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

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

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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

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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?

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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

SickImprisoned

Dead

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

PatienceCorrect

Pray

Solidarity

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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

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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.

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

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• Needed in a complex, global society

• Support international justice and peace (such as the United Nations)

The Functions of Public Authority

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• Moral responsibility to fulfill civil obligations (such as paying taxes)

• Participation in the political life of society (such as voting)

The Roleof Citizens

Conscientious Objection to Unjust Laws

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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.

Conscientious Objectionto 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!

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The Social Gospel

Gospel MessageIs A

Redemptive Message

I. Gospel Addresses Man’s Need: Sin

II. Gospel Gives A Remedy: Christ

III. Gospel Has A Message: Salvation

IV. Gospel Does Not Address: Social Needs

There are social implications of the gospel

When people become Christians, there will be: • less crime• more compassion• greater honesty• improved relationships• honorable treatment of others.

Do you Agree?

History of theSocial Gospel Movement

I. Background of Modernism

I. Background of Modernism

A. Modernism: Rejection of Bible fundamentals1. Darwin taught the theory of evolution

Charles Darwin(1809 – 1882)

Evolution(Survival of Fittest)

I. Background of Modernism

A. Modernism: Rejection of Bible fundamentals1. Darwin taught the theory of evolution

a. Darwin’s thought undermined & rejected the Genesis accountb. Some tried to hold to Bible & Evolution (Theistic Evolutionist)

2. Denies the Bible is inerranta. Rejected idea of verbal inspiration (cf. 1 Cor. 2:13)b. “The rise of the social gospel in this country was simultaneous

with the rise of Biblical liberalism and modernistic religion” (Dr. David Harrell, FCC Lectures, March 23, 1960)

I. Background of Modernism

A. Modernism: Rejection of Bible fundamentals1. Darwin taught the theory of evolution2. Denies the Bible is inerrant3. Present a “real” or “liberal” Jesus: stripped of the miraculous

a. Strip him of deity (cf. John 1:1)b. Result: a watered-down Jesus – a mere human moral teacherc. Teachings favor modern progressive social programs

I. Background of Modernism

A. Modernism: Rejection of Bible fundamentalsB. Social Setting of late 1800’s & early 1900’s

1. “Social Darwinism”a. Survival of the fittest - opposed to the social gospelb. Argued that proof was seen in wealthiest exceeded in

business.c. Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) – Progress: Its Law and Causes

(1857) argued evolution of mind, culture & society.d. William Graham Sumner (1840-1910) – Strongly influenced by

Spencer, but later rejected “Social Darwinism”e. Idea: All forms of social reform were misguided

I. Background of Modernism

A. Modernism: Rejection of Bible fundamentalsB. Social Setting of late 1800’s & early 1900’s

1. “Social Darwinism”2. Problems of society following the Industrial Revolution

a. Crimeb. Povertyc. Inequalityd. Drunkennesse. Etc.

I. Background of Modernism

A. Modernism: Rejection of Bible fundamentalsB. Social Setting of late 1800’s & early 1900’sC. Social Gospel Concept

1. A / the primary message of the gospel is social justicea. Church (institutional manifestation of Christianity) is obligated

to do something about the social maladjustments.b. Rejected idea: gospel has one primary intent: spiritualc. Thus: primary purpose of the social gospel is to improve social

circumstances of man

I. Background of Modernism

A. Modernism: Rejection of Bible fundamentalsB. Social Setting of late 1800’s & early 1900’sC. Social Gospel Concept

1. A / the primary message of the gospel is social justice2. How it works:

a. Evangelism /conversion culminates in the promised “kingdom of God” (i.e. better – more perfect society)

b. Business man converted1) Primary concern is not his personal salvation2) Change in better business practices3) Even more: better business practices of others

I. Background of Modernism

A. Modernism: Rejection of Bible fundamentalsB. Social Setting of late 1800’s & early 1900’sC. Social Gospel ConceptD. Leaders of the Movement

1. Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918)2. Washington Gladden (1836 – 1918)3. Civil Rights Movement (1950s – 1960s)

a. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)b. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (1941 - )c. Al Sharpton (1954 - )

4. National Council of Churches

Spiritual

A Great Shift

Social

II. Impact on Church?

A. Denominations were influenced by modernismB. Nearly all denominations developed social programsC. YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association)

1. Started in 1844 in response to the social conditions in the inner cities following the Industrial Revolution

2. 1997 adopted “Challenge 21” which said, “…we declare that the YMCA is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on and the genuine involvement of young people and that it seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.”

Churches took on social gospel concept and Churches now have:1. Church colleges2. Orphan’s home3. Old folks home4. Youth camps5. Gyms 6. Fellowship halls7. football teams8. Etc.

Gimmicks?Gimmicks?

• “Community Class Series” free to public• October 20: Woodcarving & Window

Treatments• October 27: Wallpapering• November 3: Basket Making• For Men Only! Featuring Dr. James Flatt “Fun

Facts About Your Prostate”

What’s this got to do with Christianity?

What’s this got to do with Christianity?

What is a Fresh Expression?Alternative worship communitiesBase Ecclesial CommunitiesCafé Church Cell ChurchChurches arising out of community initiativesMultiple and midweek congregationsNetwork focused churchesSchools based churchSeeker churchTraditional church plantsNew monastic communitiesYouth Congregation/church

Examples

Conclusion1.Modernism is at heart of social gospel

2. Shift in emphasis

Catholic Social teaching

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.

Human Dignity Every human being is made in the image and

likeness of God and has an inalienable and transcendent human dignity which gives rise to human rights.

People are always more important than things. People are never a means or an instrument to be used for the benefit of another.

Each person is equal in dignity and rights, and every human community, every race and culture is equal in dignity and rights. We are one human family because we are all children of the one God.

Related Themes & Ideas in CST

• Unity of the human family• Defense of life• Human rights• Non discrimination• Priority of labour over

capital• Integral human

development

Human Dignity

Key Question:What is happening to people?

The Common Good

We are all really responsible for each other and must work for social conditions which ensure that every person and every group in society is able to meet their needs and realize their full potential.

Every group in society must take into account the rights and aspirations of other groups, and of the well being of the whole human family.

God intended the goods of creation for the use of all, and so everyone has a right to access the goods of creation to meet their needs.

© Sandie Cornish, Australian Jesuits, October 2009.

Related Themes & Ideas in CST

• Universal destination of goods

• Option for the poor• Integrity of creation• Role of the state• Promotion of peace

© Sandie Cornish, Australian Jesuits, October 2009.

The Common Good …

“To love someone is to desire that person’s good and to take effective steps to secure it. Besides the good of the individual, there is a good that is linked to living in society: the common good. It is the good of ‘all of us’, made up of individuals, families and intermediate groups who together constitute society ... To take a stand for the common good is on the one hand to be solicitous for, and on the other hand to avail oneself of, that complex of institutions that give structure to the life of society, juridically, civilly, politically and culturally, making it the polis, or ‘city’.”

Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, n 7

The Common Good

Key Questions:Is every group able to share in the benefits of life in society?Are some groups excluded?

Subsidiarity

Responsibility should be kept as close as possible to the grassroots. The people or groups most directly affected by a decision or policy should have a key decision making role.

More encompassing groups should only intervene to support smaller, more local groups in case of need, and where this is necessary in order to coordinate their activities with those of other groups in order to promote the common good.

Related Themes & Ideas in CST

• Participation• The role of the State• International

community

Subsidiarity …

“Subsidiarity is first and foremost a form of assistance to the human person via the autonomy of intermediate bodies. Such assistance is offered when individuals or groups are unable to accomplish something on their own, and it is always to achieve their emancipation, because it fosters freedom and participation through assumption of responsibility. Subsidiarity respects personal dignity by recognising in the person a subject who is always capable of giving something to others... It is able to take account both of the manifold articulation of plans – and therefore the plurality of subjects – as well as the coordination of those plans.”

Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, n 57

Subsidiarity …

“... the principle of subsidiarity must be respected: a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the later of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.”

John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, n 48

Subsidiarity

Key Questions:Who is making the decisions?Can everyone participate?

© Sandie Cornish, Australian Jesuits, October 2009.

Solidarity

Human beings are social by nature. We can not survive without others and can only grow and achieve our potential in relationship with others.

Our salvation is bound up with that of each other.

Solidarity is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good.

© Sandie Cornish, Australian Jesuits, October 2009.

Related Themes & Ideas in CST

• Role of the economy• Integral human

development• Option for the poor

Solidarity …

“Solidarity helps us to see the ‘other’ - whether a person, people, or nation - not just as some kind of instrument, with a work capacity and physical strength to be exploited at low cost and then discarded when no longer useful, but as our neighbour, a helper (cf Gn 2:18-20), to be a sharer, on a par with ourselves, in the banquet of life to which all are equally invited by God.”

John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, n 39

Solidarity …“Today we can say that economic life must be understood as a multi-layered phenomenon: in every one of these layers, to varying degrees and in ways specifically suited to each, the aspect of fraternal reciprocity must be present…Solidarity is first and foremost a sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone and it cannot therefore be merely delegated to the State.”

Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate, n 38

Solidarity

© Sandie Cornish, Australian Jesuits, October 2009.

Key Questions:Who do we really care about?Would we like this to happen to us?

For Reflection

• For each key principle, think of an example where:• The principle was respected or put into action?• The principle was not respected or put into

action?

• How might these principles be better integrated into decision making in your placement?