1. What is Social Justice? An Action on behalf of those who are in Need; Micah refers to this as giving people their Due. A contribution to building a better society. A reflection of the love of God. The Kingdom of God Power guided by love. An effort to change social structures that keep people from reaching their potential. Fairness Which of the definitions above is correct?

2. If you guessed all of them you are correct. Social Justice is a complex action involving many concepts. Two of the most important components of justice are basic needs and social structures. Basic needs begin with food, clothing and shelter or physical needs but is not limited to these; needs can also be emotional or spiritual. Maslow, a psychologist in the 20 th century thought of needs this way:

3. Social Structures are the institutions that help society to organize it self in ways that people can meet their needs. Here are some examples:  Family  Schools and Universities  Health Care System  Economics: Business, Banks and Corporations  Government: Local, State and Federal  Can You think of others?

4. The Catholic Church has always provided moral guidelines for its faithful. Since the 19 th Century when Pope Leo the XIII wrote Rerum Novarum, On The Condition of Labor, the Church has developed an extensive body of teachings that explain the importance of justice; unfortunately many Catholics are unaware of these teachings. They are often referred to as the best kept secret of the Church. Traditionally, the faithful are more aware of the Church’s emphasis on charity. Both charity are essential to building the kingdom of God, and the differences between them can be seen in the chart below:

5. The Church’s structural contributions to Justice:  Hospitals  Labor Unions  Catholic Schools  Social Service Agencies  The Catholic Campaign for Human Development

6. Work Cited "Charity and Justice." Office of Justice and Peace. Diocese of St. Paul Minneapolis, Web. 16 Sep 2009. Massaro, Thomas, SJ. Living Justice. 1st. Lanham, MD: Sheed and Ward, 2000. Print. Wedel, Ethan,. "THE PRIMITIVE MODERNITY." Web. 16 Sep 2009..