A Season for Social Justice: Working towards the common Good
As we begin the 2007-08 program year, Old St. Pat’s and The Justice Initiative invite your participation in our second annual “Season for Social Justice.”
The idea behind the “Season for Social Justice” is simple. What if each September we set our sights on gaining a greater appreciation of the Catholic Social Ethic? What if we created “a season” that became an annual reminder of the gospel call for justice and an inspiration for us to act in ways that create greater peace and unity in our world?
Through prayer and preaching, lectures and discussions, exhibits and other activities, we welcome you to help us explore the links between spirituality, ecology, and justice as well as finding new and creative ways to become even better stewards of God’s creation. Please join us!
What is Social Justice?
Ask two people and you're likely to get three answers. However, sometimes it helps clarify the conversation if we make a distinction between works of charity and works of justice. Acts of charity are good works directed toward meeting the immediate needs of others. Feeding hungry people at a food pantry or shelter is an act of charity. Acts of justice usually begin with questions. For example, why do so many people have to rely on food pantries and shelters for their food? Is it possible that something systemic or structural contributes to poverty? Do I in any way contribute to systemic inequalities? The key to acts of justice is naming the root causes of a social injustice. Acts of justice are good works directed toward eliminating injustice through systemic change. Working for social justice necessarily calls us to question our economic, political, and social policies and choices.
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