JESUS, THE DEFINER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

JESUS, THE DEFINER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
My column is always related to social justice. When I present a subject, there will be differences of opinion. To avoid the shouting and pounding gavel, let’s agree on a definition of social justice which by its nature I think should avoid turmoil.
If you open the Vatican web page to the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, there are twelve chapters which discuss social justice. Set your search engine to social justice and you will find conservative and liberal points of view with pages to justify their viewpoints. Let’s not get that complicated.
Instead, to make up our minds on issues as a Catholic, let us refer to the conclusion of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. They conclude that the answer lies in the person of Jesus:
Jesus teaches us that “the fundamental law of human perfection, and consequently of the transformation of the world, is the new commandment of love” (cf. Mt 22:40, Jn 15:12; Col 3:14; Jas 2:8)[1219]. Personal behavior is fully human when it is born of love, manifests love and is ordered to love. This truth also applies in the social sphere; Christians must be deeply convinced witnesses of this, and they are to show by their lives how love is the only force (cf. 1 Cor 12:31-14:1) that can lead to personal and social perfection, allowing society to make progress towards the good.
Let us refer to the person of Jesus and the ideal of love to determine the correct responses to issues of social justice.