Exploring Catholic Social Teaching

High School Chapter: Different Types of Justice
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Chapter Overview
We all have a natural impulse toward justice that arises from our human dignity.
But what exactly is justice? While people may use the term justice to mean
different things, properly speaking, justice is the moral virtue by which we give God
and our neighbor their due. Distributive justice requires that society as a whole
give its members what they deserve based on their contribution to the common
good. Legal justice obliges us to obey legitimate authorities and participate in the
political process. Commutative justice holds people to their promises and requires
us to honor the agreements we make. Social justice calls all levels of society to
work together to respect the dignity and ensure the well-being of all people. Finally,
each of these types of justice must be carried out in the spirit of Christian
charity, because without love, there can be no true justice.
In this chapter you will learn that…
■ Justice is a moral virtue that leads the Christian to give God and neighbor their due.
■ Distributive justice accounts for the needs, rewards, and punishments of a person.
■ Legal justice requires one to obey just laws in the service of their society.
■ Commutative justice is served through honoring contracts and conducting economic and social
matters with fairness.
■ Social justice necessitates that a member of society respects the dignity of other members and
ensures especially the well-being of the poor and vulnerable.
■ Justice must be tempered with love and mercy.
Bible Basics
Connections to the Catechism
“Do to others whatever you would have them
do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”
MATTHEW 7:12
“We must obey God rather than men.”
ACTS 5:29
CCC 1807
CCC 1928
CCC 1932
CCC 2236
CCC 2238
CCC 2239
CCC 2242
CCC 2243
CCC 2410
CCC 2411
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