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Social Justice

The Three Moments of Social Justice

As we try to live out the Christian meaning of salvation in our everyday lives, we commit ourselves to seek justice, in other words, to establish and live in right relationships. We turn with special affection towards the poor, the suffering and the voiceless in our society. This preferential option is an expression of the love a mother or a father feels for a family member in need, and of the love God has shown for the oppressed, the needy and the downtrodden throughout the history of salvation.

To establish such right relationships, we consider three moments of Social Justice:

  1. We attend to the immediate needs of the person so that he or she may have the chance again to participate in right relationships;
  2. We investigate the sinful social structures contributing to this person's dire situation, and implement the necessary changes;
  3. Since we are part of social structures, we ask ourselves what changes in our own lives and relationships are needed to effect and sustain structural changes in society.

Direct Service

  • Volunteer time, money or goods to: food banks; clothing centres for the poor; shelters for the homeless and those suffering from abuse; hospitals/health centres; educational and vocational centres for immigrants; refugee centres; overseas refugee agencies.
  • Visit the economically poor, elderly, sick, shut-ins and prisoners.
  • Support pregnant teenagers.
  • Provide quality education for the poor.
  • Transport the elderly to church, doctor, grocery shopping.
  • Sponsor immigrant families. 
  •  Work to house the homeless.

Social Changes

  • Get informed and think critically; this leads to action to eliminate the root causes of social problems.
  • Raise awareness of conditions and causes of poverty.
  • Support and join networks that address social problems. 
  • Monitor government agencies.
  • Change corporate policies that hurt the poor and undermine the dignity of the human person.
  • Write letters to newspapers about issues of poverty and injustice.
  • Join political protests; call on our leaders to fulfill their duties fairly and justly.
  • Support political candidates willing to change economic and social priorities.

Personal Change

Examine your lifestyle, your commitments, preferences and spending habits and see how they contribute to the current social and economic situation in our province, country and world.

Ask the question: How do I have to change to bring about right relationships?