Charity and Justice

Charity and Justice

A society that wishes and intends to remain at the service of the human being at every level is a society that has the common good as its primary goal. The human person cannot find fulfillment in himself, that is, apart from the fact that he exists with others and for others.

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church 165

The more we strive to secure a common good corresponding to the real needs of our neighbors, the more effectively we love them.

Pope Benedict XVI

God's Charity and Justice

• Inseperable

• God's justice is fulfilled with the coming of Jesus (John 3:16)

• Jesus is perfect embodiment of living both charity and justice

• We perform the same not just because of his good example, but in him and through him (grace)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord

Luke 4:18-19

Open Ended

What is the difference between charity and justice?

Charity or Justice?

• Charity: (love) a theological virtue and is the very nature of God himself; treating others as God would :

• Charity is direct work to give relief to those suffering

• Justice: describes efforts to address and transform sinful structures that cause suffering

Multiple Choice

Donating money to a shelter for homeless families

• Charity

• Justice

Multiple Choice

Writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper voicing opposition to the death penalty

• Charity

• Justice

Multiple Choice

Serving dinner at a soup kitchen

• Charity

• Justice

Multiple Choice

Voting for a bill which increases safety standards in an industry for workers

• Charity

• Justice

Multiple Choice

Tutoring children in a subject you're good in

• Charity

• Justice

Multiple Choice

Helping an elderly neighbor board up her windows before a major hurricane

• Charity

• Justice

Multiple Choice

Picketing a place of business that has racist hiring practices

• Charity

• Justice

Multiple Choice

Donating clothes to a battered women's shelter

• Charity

• Justice

Multiple Choice

Refusing to buy a pair of running shoes produced by a company with child laborers

• Charity

• Justice