The Politicization of Social Justice
The recent scrap over Glenn Beck's comments about social justice and now more recently Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, bring to light this commonly used term "social justice." Beck wants people to equate social justice with marxism. He claimed that Dorothy Day was a marxist.
(After her conversion to Catholicism, she remained loyal to the teachings of the Church and magisterium and her cause is currently being put forth for possible canonization. Just to set the record straight, she was pro-life is all respects. Marxism is not. She went to Mass daily and made use of the confessional weekly.)
The left-leaning contingent in the Catholic Church want to claim that social justice is about freeing the poor from "oppressive effects of capitalism." (unfortunately they aren't particularly interested in oppression of the unborn) They have had a significant influence on the USCCB in the past as Michael Voris has pointed out on Catholic TV videos.
As much as I appreciate the conservatives' efforts to uncover the marxist/communist influences
that are currently threatening our country, I bristle at the lumping together of Catholic teaching on social justice and leftist politics by recent conservative commentators. But, I also reject those who use their interpretation of Catholic social justice as a weapon to further their political objectives. (many of which are not compatible with Christianity)
Social justice isn't marxism or communism.
It is not owned by a political party, movement or philosophy.
It is applying gospel principles to the world we live in, as taught by our Lord.
It is practicing what we preach.
It is attempting to see the poor and needy from God's perspective, not our own.
Here's Official Catholic Teaching on Social Justice from the Vatican: Check it out.
(After her conversion to Catholicism, she remained loyal to the teachings of the Church and magisterium and her cause is currently being put forth for possible canonization. Just to set the record straight, she was pro-life is all respects. Marxism is not. She went to Mass daily and made use of the confessional weekly.)
The left-leaning contingent in the Catholic Church want to claim that social justice is about freeing the poor from "oppressive effects of capitalism." (unfortunately they aren't particularly interested in oppression of the unborn) They have had a significant influence on the USCCB in the past as Michael Voris has pointed out on Catholic TV videos.
As much as I appreciate the conservatives' efforts to uncover the marxist/communist influences
that are currently threatening our country, I bristle at the lumping together of Catholic teaching on social justice and leftist politics by recent conservative commentators. But, I also reject those who use their interpretation of Catholic social justice as a weapon to further their political objectives. (many of which are not compatible with Christianity)
Social justice isn't marxism or communism.
It is not owned by a political party, movement or philosophy.
It is applying gospel principles to the world we live in, as taught by our Lord.
It is practicing what we preach.
It is attempting to see the poor and needy from God's perspective, not our own.
Here's Official Catholic Teaching on Social Justice from the Vatican: Check it out.
posted by Russ Rentler, M.D. | 8:41 AM
3 Comments:
Pithy and useful post, thanks.
Did you know for Lent I gave up reading Crossed The Tiber?
Well your a better man for that kkol
I tried not to post during Lent,as well.
thanks for reading !
I would only differentiate between social justice as done by the church I love and donate to freely, and social justice as engineered by the government which takes my money and uses it as they see fit, not as I would support. Charity by choice is not a Marxist theory. Forced charity by the government is.
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