Ordo Praedicatorum wrote:
I am fully aware of what social justice is. In fact I did not state that social justice was defined as a "desire to help others". Rather, I stated that a persons motivation for pursuing social justice could be from a desire to help others instead of pushing a political agenda.
Then you do not understand social justice as defined by the Church. Although it is laudable and obligatory that each individual work toward it and be so motivated, it is the primary obligation of the State, not private individuals and actually involves the entire order of the commonwealth, not simply help for the poor, i.e. it is not defined as "charity", (as the modern secular definition defines it.). It is due justice, the proper order of the commonwealth and the upholding of the common good. It isn't the end product of the desire you describe because it has to do with issues like living wages, the inalienable right to health care, the proper understanding of private property, etc.
Ordo Praedicatorum wrote:
I have read both the compendium you linked as well as the catechism on the subject along with other writings as well. Social justice is probably better stated, albeit simplistically, as ensuring that others get their due based on their inherent dignity as a person, vocation in life, and the common good.
No problem there, as far as it goes. Big problem when those like Glenn Beck say things like...
Beck wrote:
If you have a priest that is pushing social justice, go find another parish. Go alert your bishop and tell them, “Excuse me are you down with this whole social justice thing?” I don’t care what the church is. If it’s my church, I’m alerting the church authorities: “Excuse me, what’s this social justice thing?” And if they say, “Yeah, we’re all in that social justice thing,” I’m in the wrong place.
Ordo Praedicatorum wrote:
Agreed, to a point. Voris is correct as is Beck that many things have been done in the name of Social Justice which do not match up with Church teaching on the subject. From the nanny state to pushing for things like a single payer health care system.
If that were all that they said I would have less of a problem with it. It isn't. They both deny the State's very reason for existence according to Catholic teaching. As to your specifics, there is absolutely
nothing in Catholic teaching that would, in the abstract, oppose a single payer health care system if that is what the legitimate political authority of the State determines is the most competent level and method of insuring that the inalienable right to health care is met. That is not to say that I think that best. I don't, but I highlight it because it points out that I really don't think you do understand said teaching.
Ordo Praedicatorum wrote:
Heck, the supposed right to abortion has been treated as a social justice issue along with pushing for women priests, and various other ridiculous things. Furthermore, social justice may be the state's primary role but that is not the same thing as saying that the primary entity responsible for social justice is the state. Far too many of us, Catholics included, have pawned off our responsibilities to the state. Finally, because of this, the state has pushed their big fat nose into places they have no business being.
All of that may be true and has nothing to do with what I am stating. I am not and will not defend any erroneous idea of what social justice might mean.
