Human beings need cooperative relationships with others to flourish.
Special days are mostly high in aspiration. They are also days for reviewing where the world is at. This is certainly so of Social Justice Day. The scorecard for social justice is always disappointing. On this celebration of Social Justice Day (30 August), however, it is particularly dire. For starters, think of the cynical dealings about the future of Gaza and Ukraine, the violence against Jews and Muslims, the expulsion of migrants and refugees, the conduct of war in Iran the treatment of children, and the breakdown of law based international relationships. Nor is the process to zero discrimination encouraging. The attack on the ideals and claims of inclusion, diversity, equity and inclusion, and the call to treat everybody the same, even when ‘the same’ means that minority groups will continue to suffer the effects of exclusion, are ominous. It is easy to believe that social division has triumphed over social justice.
VALUE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
In such a climate it is important to reflect on the value of social justice. At the heart of social justice is the belief that each human being has a unique dignity and value, whatever their race, religion, colour, gender or virtue.
In all our relations we are entitled to respect and we owe it to others. In business we may not treat employees simply as a cost; nor in war may we treat civilians and prisoners as things. Children in the justice system should not be treated as adults. They are persons like us and must be treated with respect for their unique humanity. Respect overcomes division.
This insight underlies the rule of law in and between nations. It is expressed in the surprised plea of people being tortured, ‘Why are you doing this to me?’ and in children’s outrage at differential treatment in the family, ‘It’s not fair’. It rules out discrimination on the basis of race, religion, wealth and political views. It also excludes arbitrary incarceration and other forms of punishment that do not respect people’s different levels of responsibility. It is enshrined in the rule of law.
RESPONSIBILITY
Social justice also insists that we human beings do not flourish as isolated and competitive individuals but through cooperative relationships to others. We rely on others and have responsibility to others. Governments have the responsibility to care for persons and particularly the most vulnerable, and to encourage and enable the contribution of small groups to the flourishing of their members and to society as a whole. They must serve the common good.
Together these two insights are a wall to keep out social division. They are also at the heart of the Gospel. God so loved the world and each person enough to join our world in Jesus who then reached out to the most despised people in society. They included the tax collectors who beat up people to pay taxes to the Roman occupiers of Israel, the prostitutes, those suffering from isolating illnesses, children who were overlooked, and Samaritans whose religious beliefs were considered to be primitive. And he called people together to live generously in a world where all were connected and treated with respect. That is the call we have inherited.
Social Justice Sunday invites us to respond to that call in our world.
LIVING THE GOSPEL IN TIMES OF SOCIAL DIVISION
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s latest Social Justice Statement Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division has been released in advance of Social Justice Sunday on 30 August. The statement and related resources can be found at Social Justice Statements.
Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ is an editorial consultant at Jesuit Communications
