The first challenge in our desire to act justly is to struggle to bring justice into society. Concretely, this means to make an “option for the poor”. This is not a matter of being biased against the rich or discriminating morally against them as we are, often, accused.
It is simply a question of recognizing the more than a century-old history of the Church’s social teachings, beginning with Rerum Novarum by Leo XIII in 1892. The rich and the powerful are well able to look for themselves and their own interests. The poor, however, need special protection from society and those in authority.
The second challenge is to recognize that we – Church people – are privileged in many ways. It is very difficult for people like us to break with the vested interests of our own class, our institutions, friends, associates and comfort zones.
The third challenge is a paradigm shift. There is the real need for a change of outlook – a change of heart, a conversion! There is the need for a new UNDERSTANDING of how our society and communities work – and particularly how they are structured in ways that favor certain groups – usually the rich and the powerful. Then there is the need for a PASSIONATE COMMITMENT to correct injustices, not just on an “ad hoc” basis but the will and the act to replace the unjust structures with ones that are equitable.
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