What is Social Justice, Anyway?

Last updated on: January 26, 2010 at 11:22 am by Sarah Babbs

What is Social Justice, Anyway? 2010-01-26T11:22:50-04:00 Sarah Babbs

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The second question on my personal narrative portion of the MSW application asks the following question:

“Social work is committed to social justice. What is social justice?…”

Ha! Imagine my surprise when they asked me to summarize what I just spent two years learning about, “What is social justice?”, in a page or less. Should I laugh or cry?

Social justice is a very broad term. Though many try to, I do not think it can be properly understood or implemented without the light of faith. Notice, I did not say, without the light of the Church. Though I do believe that the Church’s understanding of social justice, as evidenced in the canon of Catholic social teaching, is the most complete, many other faith traditions have a notion of social justice which contributes much to society. (I am thinking here of the pillar of Islam which calls for continuous alms-giving, and the ancient Jewish practice of gleaning.)

Broadly defined, social justice is something you live or work for. It’s achievement cannot be passive, its precepts must be acted upon in order to be achieved. It is the recognition of unjust social structures, institutions (both cultural and governmental), and practices. Along with recognition, is the desire and action to empower those who are having injustice thrust upon them.

Social justice is not the same thing as charity. Writing a check to your favorite non-profit is not social justice. Nor is throwing a dollar into the homeless guy’s cup. And neither is participating in the annual giving tree at Christmas. These are all beautiful examples of charity. Charity, and here I do not mean the theological virtue, but the human construct, is different from justice, though the two are often connected.

Charity gives money or even volunteer time to those who are “less fortunate”. Justice asks why people are homeless in the richest nation on Earth. Justice is giving from not from our excess, but our need, in order to understand a little better the plight of those oppressed. Justice advocates for those in society whose voice is unheard or ignored. Charity seeks to meet the immediate needs of people. Justice seeks to meet the needy; to engage with the people society has thrown away, in the hopes of helping them help themselves.

Charity (non-virtue) is a gift of money or time. Justice is a gift of oneself.

The word justice itself has several different meanings. Probably you are most familiar with Aquinas’ definition of justice, which is, “according to just desserts”. What that means is that we are given what we deserve, in terms of person-to-person justice. I suppose this is a good starting place, but I think we can do better. A more complete definition of justice is, “being in right relationship”. This is the form of justice that has most to do with Charity (the theological virtue) because the only way to consistently be in right relationship with all the people around us is to love them. And let me tell you, there are some people out there it is darn hard to love. But the dictates of God’s justice require it. So I must look to God and His love, in order to be able to love, and thus treat justly each person I encounter.

How have you experienced social justice? Do you think it is an important part of a life of faith?

This is just scratching the surface of what social justice is or can be. Perhaps another post, on how social justice is understood through Catholic social teaching is in order!

Catholic

Faith

Previous Post

January 22, 2010

7 Quick Takes Friday

Next Post

January 27, 2010 101 Wednesday

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 7 QT Beauty and Style Blogging Books Catholic Culture Family Funny Making House Poetry Social Justice The Children Uncategorized Various Women

Select a Month December 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 December 2017 November 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz