The political left and secularists have hijacked the term “social justice”. Ask anyone and they will describe social justice in terms of wealth distribution and expanding the role of government in the name of justice. This might sound ideal. Who would not want to be for spreading the wealth? But for the last few decades, the political left’s definition of social justice has been a catchphrase for increasing government power over the lives of individuals in the name of justice and equality.
This definition and the left’s plan to implement it by government force does not increase justice. It decreases it because the rise of government power will destroy the family, society and the Catholic Church.
But what does the Catholic Church say about the state’s role in social justice?
Dignity of Man
An important aspect of Catholic Social Justice teaching is the “transcendent dignity of man.” This means that each life is sacred, and God is present in each person. The bible says that “God created mankind in his image” (Genesis 1:26-31). “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb (Psalms 139:13-16)”. Jesus showed us how to treat people with respect and dignity in his interactions with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:1-42.
Catholics take very seriously that each person is to be treated decently, humanely and justly. Because each person we encounter is an interaction with God.
But in our current state of affairs, government programs usurp the role of the Church in the name of the new definition of social justice. The government does not uphold the “dignity of man” because these government programs do not respect life and do not treat each life as precious. Examples abound such as, federal funding to Planned Parenthood, pro-euthanasia laws, and forced participation in programs that are contrary to the teachings of Christ.
Individuals are turned into cogs for the government not as instruments of God’s plan.
The Church Teaches Restraint
The Catholic Church does not command the government to take over the individual’s responsibility for charity. On the contrary, the Church teaches that the government should be restrained. Because it is the individual that has to be active in helping their fellow man, not a society under coercion.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1931):
Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that “everyone should look upon his neighbor (without any exception) as ‘another self,’ above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity.” No legislation could by itself do away with the fears, prejudices, and attitudes of pride and selfishness which obstruct the establishment of truly fraternal societies. Such behavior will cease only through the charity that finds in every man a ‘neighbor,’ a brother.
The Church understands that the government cannot force and legislate people to be charitable. Only through Christian charity can people help each other.
Voluntary Associations
The Catechism (CCC 1882) goes on to say:
To promote the participation of the greatest number in the life of a society, the creation of voluntary associations and institutions must be encouraged “on both national and international levels, which relate to economic and social goals, to cultural and recreational activities, to sport, to various professions, and to political affairs.”
The key word in the paragraph above is voluntary. God gave us free will not just to live out our lives but to help and to love each other.
Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative. The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which “a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co-ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good. (CCC 1883)
The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to all forms of collectivism. It sets limits for state intervention. (CCC 1885)
The Church understands that limited government is best for a free people to practice charity and respect life. Charity freely given by people is vastly superior to the welfare state. The funds voluntarily donated will be used more likely to causes that support life, the individual and promote justice.
Full story at Catholic Stand.
‘Social Justice’ – Without a Strong Framework to base it upon, is usually doomed to failure and worse.
The old saw that ‘The Revolution Devours its Young’ is actually the lesson of hard won experience, and ignored at the peril of all.
The Church teaches subsidiarity, but practices government welfare.
Thank you. The social justice ministries at the parish level as well as the diocesan level have become politicized.
There is less emphasis on love of God and love of neighbor, and more emphasis on ideology and political movements.
There needs to be a push back at the parish and diocese levels to bring us back to the proper place.
The Oakland Diocese is an arm of the Democrat Party. Just one in-your-face example: https://cal-catholic.com/post-election-protest-at-oakland-cathedral/
The unholy political alliance between Democrat Party oligarchy and union bossism according to Stanford research is going to cause an imminent collapse in funding of basic California cities’ educational and social services. See the through report entitled, ” Stanford Says Soaring Public Pension Costs Devastating Social Services and Educational Budgets, zerohedge.com, October 4th 2017 by Tyler Durden.
Gee, the CA Catholic Bishops (D-CA) were all on board with this type of leadership.
Indeed – the Infiltration / of what Our Popes have termed “Professional Catholics” (those who see the Church as a Cash Cow to fund their Leftist / Gender Feminist / Homosex Political Ideologies) has done great harm to All, save the Demo-Krat Machine that benefits from their Bias.
The Virtrual Banishment of those who fail to pander to such agendas from Parish / Diocese Decision Making bodies is a Disgrace
The claim that those so Banished were ostracized because they were “Not Being Fed” is simply a Sham Cover Up for the Purging of Politically Unhood (though often Faithful to the Magisterium) Viewpoints, which conflict with the “Professional Catholic” Political Agenda subverting the donations of the Faithful in to PC Activism.
First paragraph: “Who would not want to be for spreading the wealth?”
To what purpose the rest of his meanderings?