1. Social Justice: Elements of a Just World
Stage 1 Studies in Religion
Cabra Dominican College 2011

2. God’s dream for the world….
"God says to you, 'I have a dream. Please help me to realize it.’ It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts.“Archbishop Desmond Tutu

3. A ‘Just’ world…
Looks like…..?
Sounds like…..?
Feels like….?

4. My image of a ‘Just World’….
What is YOUR IMAGE OF A JUST WORLD ?
Take 5 minutes to think about it and write down some ideas to share with the class.

5. Elements of a Just World
1. Concern for Basic Needs
Concern for Personal Dignity
Concern for Solidarity
4. Concern for Social Structures

6. 1. Concern for Basic Needs
“God destined the earth and all it contains for all
people and nations so that all created things
would be shared fairly by all humankind under
The guidance of justice tempered by charity.”
Vatican II, The Church in the Modern World, #69

8. 1. Concern for Basic Needs
Food
Clothing
Shelter
Healthcare
Rest
Employment
Equal Opportunity
Social Services
Education

9. 2. Concern for Personal Dignity
“Then God said: Let us make (people) in our image, after our likeness…” Genesis 1:26

10. 2. Concern for Personal Dignity
Valuing dignity
respecting worth
right to self esteem
personal empowerment
make own decisions
participate in the decisions of country & communities.
Sharing power

11. 3. Concern for Solidarity
“Furthermore since work which (people) share together causes them to have common hopes, sorrows, desires and joy it unites their wills, their minds and their hearts. For when (people) work they recognize one another as brothers and sisters” Pope Paul VI, On Promoting the Development of Peoples, no 27.

12. 3. Concern for Solidarity
working WITH, not working FOR
recognizing that we are ONE human family: we need each other, the good of one coincides with the good of all.
breakdown barriers between rich/poor, young/old, black/white,
Inequity of powers requires a redistribution of power.

14. 4. Concern for Social Structures
“Society should be structured so that it is easy for people to be good” attributed to Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.

15. 4. Concern for Social Structures
recognizing that personal problems BECOME societal problems
Society's education system, transport system, patterns of government spending, use of natural resources etc are all part of working towards a JUST world
We need to transform societies structures to create a society that provides for all our basic needs and self-esteem.

17. Sources used: www.jmeelf.com/Elements%20of%20a%20Just%20World.ppt
Copyright © Maui Media, LLC - All Rights Reserved
‘The Four elements of a Just World’ in A call to Justice

18. Images Used:
Prepared by: Ms McIntosh, 2011