1. See ~ Judge ~ Act How should we respond? Title Slide
What Should We Do? We recommend discernment: We discern when we listen for and recognize God’s call to us on how to bring about the good of all in our own lives or when we work for fairness. We do this when we act humbly, gather information, pray and reflect on current events. These events can be in our lives, our communities and our world. We will know we have made a good decision when we feel at peace.

2. How do we respond ?
when natural disasters strike here in Canada or in other countries?
in situations of war?
when a crisis happens in our own community or country?
In situations of injustice here in Canada or around the world?
SLIDE 2 //
How do we respond ?
Give current examples for each and ask the participants to identify responses. As the discussion is to tap into prior learning, it can be brief.
When natural disasters strike here in Canada or in other countries? (e.g. floods, earthquakes, typhoons, drought)
In situations of war? (e.g. Syria, Darfur)
When a social crisis happens in our own community or country? (e.g. bullying, violence, religious intolerance)
When faced with ongoing injustices here in Canada or around the world? (e.g. poverty, racism, the legacy of residential schools)

3. When an earthquake happens, famine strikes, or a violent conflict starts around the world or in Canada, we naturally want to respond as quickly as possible. However sometimes the quickest way to help is not always the most effective way to help. Sometimes our efforts to ‘help’ others in need can lead to unintended or even harmful consequences - especially when we do not understand the problem fully. We also know that bad things happen when good people do nothing. So, what can a person of good will do to help?
What Should We Do?
A catholic approach starts with discernment. We discern when we listen for and recognize God’s call to us on how to bring about the good of all - in our own lives or when we work for fairness. We do this when we act humbly, gather information, pray and reflect on current events. These events can be in our lives, our communities and our world. We will know we have made a good decision when we feel at peace. Development and Peace uses the Tree of Catholic Social Teaching to show how we can discern wisely and act fairly to respond to natural disasters, human crises or stop situations that are unfair or exclude people. This cycle called See-Judge-Act was first developed by Belgian Cardinal Joseph Cardijn. It allows us to judge the impact of our own actions when we work for fairness.
The people affected by the unfairness are central to each situation we act to change. These people have knowledge, hopes, skills and the power to transform their own situations. Keeping their work and ideas at the centre of our actions reflects the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Human Dignity and helps ensure that our own actions are just.
In Stage 1 we SEE. We ask important questions to help find information, and we look at how unfairness and injustice affects people. We also look at how we are connected to the situation.
In Stage 2 we JUDGE. We determine the following:
Who is affected, how and why; and
What our faith says about these kinds of situations.
In Stage 3 we ACT. Now we plan and carry out actions in light of our Faith. We work to change the situation and build the Kingdom of God here ‘on Earth.’
In Stage 4 we RESTART the CYCLE. We return to the SEE stage and examine the impact of our actions.

4. The soil represents the place where there is unfairness or injustice
The soil represents the place where there is unfairness or injustice. We must see, hear and experience the lived realities of people and their communities, so that we can:
Learn as much as we can about the unfairness and how it affects people; and
Learn about our relationship to the situation.

5. SEE Learn what’s happening What is happening and where?
When did it start?
Who is involved?
What are people saying about their experiences?
How do they feel about it?
What are they already doing?
What other questions we can ask?
SEE
a) We have to learn as much as we can about the unfairness we are looking at and those it affects. To begin, we can ask the questions on the slide.

6. SEE How are we connected?
How do I feel about this situation?
How does it touch me personally?
If I were in this situation, what would I hope for?
SEE
b) To find out the connections between ourselves and this issue, we can ask the following questions:

7. A. Understand the Situation B. Teachings of our Faith
Then we JUDGE the situation, as at Confirmation we receive the gift of Right Judgement.
The trunk is where the filtering process of the tree takes place. Here, it represents our thinking about the unfairness or injustice through:
a) Understanding the situation, and
b) Applying the teachings of our faith so that we can discern which path to follow.

8. Judge Understand the Situation: Guiding Questions
Why is this happening?
What are the root causes?
Judge
Understanding the situation gives us a more complete picture of the injustice, its causes and what contributes to it. Here we try to make sense of the reality we saw in step one and answer these questions:

9. Judge A. Understand the situation Who benefits from this situation?
Who is excluded? How?
Why are some included and some excluded?
Judge
Social Factors: Now we can look more deeply at the situation. Who is it who suffers in this situation, and how? In some situations there are people who benefit, who get something from a situation of unfairness.

10. Judge A. Understand the Situation What groups or people have power?
Does everyone have a say in the decisions that affect them?
Judge
Political Factors

11. Judge A. Understand the Situation
What values and beliefs do people have?
Judge
Cultural Factors

12. Judge A. Understand the Situation
What events led to what is happening today?
Judge
Historical Factors

13. Judge A. Understand the Situation
How will land, water, air, animals and other parts of the natural environment be affected?
Which people will be most affected by changes in the environment?
Judge
Ecological Factors

14. Judge A. Understand the Situation
What are those who are most affected doing about their situation?
What successes and struggles are they having?
Judge
Current Responses

15. Judge B. The Teachings of our Faith
What does the Bible teach us about how to love our neighbour?
What did Jesus teach about this kind of situation?
Where else can we find guidance?
Judge
Now we can judge the situation in light of the teachings of our faith: scripture, the life and teaching of Jesus, and Catholic Social Teaching. This includes reflection and prayer.
We can ask the following questions:

16. Judge Catholic Social Teaching Principle Definition
Human Dignity
We are each made in the image and likeness of God.
Common Good
Each and every person’s well-being is protected.
Solidarity
As members of one global family, we are committed to the good of every person and group, and responsible to one another. Even if we are different, we are our sisters’ and brothers’ keepers, called to love one another in this world.
Judge
Next we find out what Catholic Social Teaching says. Catholic Social Teaching is the teaching of the Church. It is developed by the Pope and the Vatican, bishops in Canada and around the world, and Catholic thinkers. They look at what is happening in the world and apply the teachings of Christ to our lives in the 21st century. It also helps us see how people around the world are connected.
Here are three principles of Catholic Social Teaching. How can they guide us in our actions on the issue we are exploring?

17. Judge B. The Teachings of our Faith
What values come to mind when we think of this situation?
How can Catholic Social Teachings guide us?
Judge

18. Now that we have answered these questions, we can ACT
Now that we have answered these questions, we can ACT! We can plan and carry out actions to transform the situation. We can use the information we gathered in the SEE stage and what we learned in the JUDGE stage. Through this process, we learn how God calls us to respond.
Sometimes we may need to return to an earlier stage to gather more facts; to think more; or prayerfully consider new information in the light of our faith before we act.

19. ACt
“Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action . . .”
– 1John 3:18
In acting to address situations of unfairness or injustice, we show our love for God and neighbour. We must act in a way that brings about a more fair and just situation for everyone. Through fair action to transform the situation, we reach out like the branches of the tree, and our actions bear fruit. First we must ask (Slide 20):

20. First We Must Ask
What do the people most effected by the situation want?
What are they or other groups already doing about the situation?
ACt

21. ACt Before we act What act of charity is needed?
What act of justice is needed?
ACt
Slide 20-21
Our action should include both aspects of social justice: charity and justice.

22. Acts of Charity meet immediate needs –such as food, water, shelter, clothing – and reflect the compassion of Christ.
Acts of Justice try to resolve the root causes of a problem, so that charity is no longer needed. When he was on Earth, Jesus worked for fairness and justice.
Both are equally important! Both are crucial to any response!
ACt
Our action should include both aspects of social justice: charity and justice. Both are equally important; both are equally necessary in any response.
Acts of Charity meet immediate needs, such as food, water, shelter, and clothing. They reflect the love of Christ.
Acts of Justice seek to resolve the root causes of the problem for the long term, so charity is no longer needed. When Jesus was here on Earth, he worked for justice and fairness.

23. ACt To plan our Action How will we be a part of the solution?
What tools and support do we need?
When will we start?
ACt
To plan effectively for our action, we can ask ourselves the following questions:

24. ACt Reflect on Our Plan Are those we want to help leading the way?
Will our actions reflect the values of our faith?
Will our actions be realistic? Will we be able to complete them?
ACt
(You can test the proposed action plan against the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in slide 15. Ask these guiding questions:)

25. Our actions bear Fruit To Judge our Actions What impact did we have?
How were we changed by doing this?
The fruit falls and nourishes people, animals and the soil. Seeds produce new roots that will grow into more trees. We cultivate justice through right action. We can ask ourselves these questions:

26. The fruit enriches the soil and
New Things Happen
How did our actions change the situation?
What is different about the soil now?
What long-term seeds were planted?
How can we nurture them?

27. Living in solidarity means we don’t abandon an issue or the people affected after one action. With them, we continue to look for long- term solutions together.
Restart the Cycle
By acting we not only change the world, but change ourselves. However, we need to remind ourselves that See-Judge-Act is a cycle and that it begins again after each action. We can examine the fruits of our labour, and the impact of our actions by starting again at SEE.

28. References
“Catholic Social Teaching Series - Reading the Signs of the Times.” Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, 2016.
Doran, Thomas G. “Dare to Dream: Essential Steps to Discerning God’s Will.” Catholics United for the Faith, 2012.
References