What is Catholic Social Justice?
Why a LibGuide on Catholic Social Justice? As a Vincentian University, St. John’s mission statement encourages us to strive, where possible, to “devote our intellectual and physical resources to search out the causes of poverty and social injustice, and to encourage solutions which are adaptable, effective and concrete.” To know a bit about the history of Catholic Social Justice, we should start by noting that enacting Social justice is one of the three “Constitutive Elements of Church” [1] • Scripture — hearing the Good News WORD • Sacraments — worship, prayer life, etc. WORSHIP • Social Mission — action for social justice WORLD In his most recent Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate [2], Pope Benedict stresses the basis of the Church’s Social Teachings and its relation to faith, reason and charity in action: This dynamic of charity received and given is what gives rise to the Church’s social teaching, which is caritas in veritate in re sociali: the proclamation of the truth of Christ’s
