To really get to the heart of social justice, let’s take this subject from the very beginning. Where did it all begin? Where does “social justice” have its roots? Well, we as Catholic Christians look to Scripture, so let’s take a look at the beginning, Genesis 1. We are all familiar with the story of creation,God separated light from dark and it was good…. but listen to the last part of this…”Then God said, “And now we will make human beings; they will be like us and resemble us….So God created human beings, making them to be like himself…and God was very pleased! Humanity was created in the image and likeness of God himself….in other words, human life is sacred. Catholic social teaching begins from the premise of the sanctity of human life and dignity of the human person as a unique creation of our loving God.
Matt: 22: 37-39 “ Love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul and mind. The Second is Love your neighbor as yourself." This principle holds that every person,no matter what gender, age, nationality, religion, or economic status, all deserve respect. God valued each of us enough to create us in his image and likeness.
Life and Dignity of the Human Person (20min)
The Catholic belief in the life and dignity of the human person is the foundation of our moral vision. All life is sacred, and all people must be treated with dignity.
-Read the following article, from the Center of Social Concerns. Do you see our culture as a "culture of death" or life?
Call to Family, Community, and Participation (25min)
Participation in family and community is central to our faith and to a healthy society. From this foundation people participate in society, fostering a community spirit and promoting the well-being of all, especially those who are poor or vulnerable.
- View the video, Lily Grace, and think about what this child meant to the family and the community.
- Visit Project Rachel. How can abortion be changed to adoptions?
Rights and Responsibilities (25min)
The Catholic Church teaches that every person has a right to life as well as a right to those things required for human decency. As Catholics, we are responsible for protecting these fundamental human rights in order to achieve a healthy society.
Prayer for Basic Rights*
Lord of Wisdom,
awaken us to our duty
to care for the basic needs
of all people.
Strengthen with hope
people denied
their human rights and freedoms.
Provide us all with the voice
to cry out for justice
for the poor and the oppressed.
Amen
*From Being Neighbor: The Catechism and Social Justice, USCCB, April, 1998
- Watch the video "Go Make a Difference" Use this link if the video player does not work for you..
As Catholics, we are called to pay special attention to the needs of poor people. We can follow Jesus' example by making a specific effort to defend and promote the dignity of those who are poor or vulnerable and to meet their immediate material needs.
Embracing Father, you grace each of us with equal measure in your love. Let us learn to love our neighbors more deeply, so that we can create peaceful and just communities. Inspire us to use our creative energies to build the structures we need to overcome the obstacles of intolerance and indifference. May Jesus provide us the example needed and send the Spirit to warm our hearts for the journey. Amen.
Rights of the Worker (20min)
Work is an expression of our dignity and of our involvement in God’s creation. People have a right to decent work, fair wages, and private property. The economy exists to serve people, not vice versa.
- Read the following Scripture Versus: (There is also an audio option at the site.)
1 Peter 4:10-11—Use your gifts for the service of others. Luke 3:10-18—Justice in the workplace is an example of showing the Christian way.
Think about the work you do (either at a job, in school, or at home). Are you proud of your work? How do you express the gifts God has given you? How can you use these gifts more to serve others?
Solidarity of the Human Race (20min)
We are all one human family in the world. Because we realize our dignity, rights, and responsibilities in relationship with others, we need to continue to build a community that empowers people to attain their full human potential. By working for justice, we fulfill our mandate to build the body of Christ.
-Think of all the ways humans divide and separate themselves from each other, religiously, politically, economically, racially....the list goes on. Looking down from space, we see a world with no lines, no boundaries, no barriers between rich and poor nations. Rather, it is easy to see us as ONE human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences. Solidarity recognized that the fates of the peoples of the earth are linked. It requires richer nations to help poorer ones, commands respect for different cultures, and calls us to live in peace with one another. If we look beyond all that divides us, and truly work for the common good, war might be a thing of the past. This was the dream of the United Nations when it was formed. But, we can continue to pray together as one voice, for peace in the world. In the vastness of this great universe that is hard to comprehend its immensity, here we are…a creation so unique, so special, so awesome, there is no other in the universe. And we were placed together…to journey together in love.
Stewardship for Creation (10min)
God is truly an awesome God, who created the world for us!
- Watch this video, "Indescribable"(link provided), prayerfully. How do you take care of the world around you?
Investigate Organizations (45min)
- Take this time to investigate the various organizations briefly, so as to be familiar with their mission, where they serve, who they serve and how funds are attained.
- Choose which organization you would like help with fund-raising and awareness to the cause. Use the form(or this link) below to decide on your top three choices. You will be notified which group you will be placed in to work on the group project.
Go to Week 2 Discussion Board (20min)
The Catholic belief in the life and dignity of the human person is the foundation of our moral vision. All life is sacred, and all people must be treated with dignity.
Social Justice is a Way of Life. There are always “two feet” to social justice. Charity which is direct social service and Justice which is social change.
“It is necessary not only to relieve the greatest needs, but to go to their roots, proposing measures that will give social, political, and economic structures a more equitable and solidaristic configuration.”
Pope Benedict XVI Sept. 29, 2005
"Social Justice is acting with two separate, but compimentary ways of meeting the needs of others.
Charity is first of all the simple response to immediate needs and specific situations, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for and healing the sick, visiting those in prison, etc.." Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, no. 31.
"Justice concerns the social, political, and economic aspects and, above all, the structural dimension of problems and their respective solutions." Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, no, 201
Walking on Two Feet (20min)
- Download the pages on two feet of justice. Compare charity actions and justice actions.
Quiz (20min)
- Take the following quiz on the Principles of Social Justice.(quiz pdf)
Research your Organization for Group Project (60min)
- Take time to really research your organization. Think about some preliminary plans, brainstorm with your group.
Go to Week 3 Discussion Board Group forum (20-30min)
-Take time to really research your organization. Think about some preliminary plans, brainstorm with your group. Group forums are created on the message board.
Mary, our mother, mother of all,
We journey as pilgrims
To sacred spaces,
Where all are welcomed, all are family.
Guide our steps as we search for your face
In the faces of those who suffer,
Those who thirst for healing, for justice, for peace.
May we know the place we are called to
When we recognize and embrace them,
And know we have reached home.
by Jane Deren, Education for Justice
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The picture for this week says it all...we ARE all in this together! It is a group effort! Together, we can make great things happen! Now that you are familiar with the organization you have chosen, and the people in your group, it is time to start planning a project.
Planning takes much preparation, manpower and timely organization of steps. Here are some management planning tools to explore. Your team will complete a plan for a "pretend" service project. Make sure you add as many details as possible. One of the plans will actually be the service project for next semester!
- Check out the "Free the Children" website's history and notice how Craig Kielburger was affected by a newsstory. Notice how he began the organization. How did he plan charity? How did he plan justice? How did he organize and promote his cause?
Go to Week 4 Discussion Board and Group Forum(30m)
This week is project based! Keep working on your group plan and create your own individual glogster poster that promotes Social Justice. You should include pictures, scriptures, Catholic Social Justice Teachings, videos...etc!
Last week to work on projects. Projects are to be turned in on the projects page, Look over the assessment rubric to make sure your projects meet expectations! You want to have a successful plan for your service project!
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
-- St. Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Week 7 Go to Discussion Board
Final Reflections - Complete the following form and submit.
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