Exploring Catholic Social Teaching

High School Chapter: Different Types of Justice
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Christ’s command to
treat others as we wish
to be treated is the
foundation of social
justice.
Vocabulary
The Golden Rule (n.):
The rule to “do unto
others as you would have
done unto you.” In other
words, to treat others
as you would wish to be
treated. and to love your
neighbor as yourself.
Distributive Justice (n.):
The most basic form of
social relations pertaining
to what any society owes
its individual members
in proportion to their
contributions and needs.
Sermon on the Mount by Ivan Kuzʹmich Makarov (1889).
required to follow the Golden Rule, which is to treat others as we wish
to be treated — to love our neighbor as ourselves. As Jesus put it, “Do to
others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and
the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). This command is the foundation of justice.
Distributive Justice
Over the centuries, great minds have named different forms of justice. The
Church identifies four basic expressions of this virtue: distributive justice,
legal justice, commutative justice, and social justice. Distributive justice
is the most basic form of social relations. It pertains to what any community
or social organization as a whole owes to its individual members.
This distribution is always proportionate to what the members contribute
to the common good. “Those in authority should practice distributive
justice wisely, taking account of the needs and contribution of each,
with a view to harmony and peace. They should take care that the
regulations and measures they adopt are not a source of temptation
by setting personal interest against that of the community” (CCC
2236). Distributive justice also pertains to the just allocation of resources
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