Exploring Catholic Social Teaching
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190 <strong>Exploring</strong> <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Teaching</strong><br />
The Truth Is…<br />
The topic of social justice has come to be widely misunderstood in our society.<br />
The modern world thinks if we only right every wrong, real or imagined, then we<br />
can achieve a perfect society. At face value, this does not seem so bad. After<br />
all, is justice not giving people their due? If someone is wrong, then correcting<br />
them is an act of justice! The problem is that our society has come to define<br />
what is wrong and what is right without any reference to God’s law. In fact,<br />
God’s law and the natural law have been discarded for the whims of human<br />
fancy — or worse, the schemes of those who have been corrupted by wealth<br />
and power. The modern idea of social justice tends to align itself more with<br />
socialism than with justice, and this is precisely why we as <strong>Catholic</strong>s have a<br />
responsibility to discuss and practice what the Church teaches about authentic<br />
social justice.<br />
The Church has always taught that the social order requires both authentic<br />
justice and charity. Someone who does in fact co-opt the term social justice<br />
as a cover for socialist and communist policies undermines human dignity by<br />
inverting the relationship between the government and the individual and dismissing<br />
the human right to property and autonomy. Handing over the responsibility<br />
of caring for others to the government is not only a dodge, but it leads to<br />
worse treatment of the poor and, ironically, creates more poor people. On the<br />
other hand, someone who totally dismisses social justice as a cover for socialism<br />
ignores the fact that we have a solemn duty as Christians and as human<br />
beings to care for the true dignity of others. We must practice true, Christian<br />
social justice in order to combat both these flawed points of view, and — as<br />
always — that process begins with conversion to Christ at the individual and<br />
family level. You are at an age now where you can truly begin to exercise justice<br />
in a social context, and you can start by giving a witness of respect and<br />
love to your family, friends, and community.<br />
© Sophia Institute for Teachers