JUSTICE & PEACE: FOSTERING PEACE AND PROMOTING

COMMUNITIES OF INDIVIDUALS AND NATIONS

Common Good (CCC 1905-1912)
Definition: the sum total of social conditions which allows
people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their
fulfillment more fully and more easily.
CONCERN: the life of all
Common Good: Good that is shared and beneficial for all
members of a given community
PEACE
Definition: the stability and security of a just order.
Authority: should ensure by morally acceptable means the
security of society and its members.
How to secure peace?
Secured by legitimate personal and collective defence.
ON VIOLENCE
Violence is an injurious force inflicted upon human life
ON POLITICAL AND NON POLITICAL VIOLENCE
Coercive when used instrumentally to control the future
actions of people
Political when used to control or influence collective
policies or distribution of power.
FORMS OF VIOLENCE
Violent Crime (common crime)
Social banditry and gangsterism
Peasant rising and urban riots
Guerilla raids or insurrections
Revolutionary warfare and urban revolution
Assassination
Vigilante violence
Coup de etat
Regime of terror
RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE
1. Counter Violence
- aggression is met with another aggression
2. Apathy or Indifference
- doesnt recognize the violence and its aggressor
3. Active Non Violence
- doesnt use violence nor is passive

CHARACTERISTICS OF NON VIOLENT ACTIONS (NVA)

a. Objectively just
b. Employs just means
c. Properly prepared
d. Creative and democratic
e. Effective or fruitful
METHODS OF NON VIOLENT ACTION
Preparation (analysis based on truth)
Preparation of groups through educational process
Acquisition of non violent attitudes and methods
Build alternatives
Dialogue or negotiation
Direct action (public dialogue)
Non cooperation and civil disobedience (refusal to obey
unjust laws or orders)
Fasting ( a religious means of purification)
The Constructive Program
JUSTICE AND PEACE
Peace is not merely an absence of war
Peace results from the harmony built into the human
society
Peace is a result of justice
A firm determination to respect fellow humans is absolutely
necessary for the establishment of peace.
CHRIST AS PRINCE OF PEACE
Jesus came not to bring division but peace
By His paschal mystery, Christ the Prince of Peace
reconciled all men with God
CHRISTIANS AS PEACEMAKERS
The Church cannot accept violence as the response to
oppression
Christians are to practice truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and
to join with all peacemakers in bringing about peace
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children
of God
Mt. 5: 9
JUSTICE AND SOLIDARITY

Catholic Social Teachings

SOLIDARITY (Emile Durkheim)
it is social cohesion based upon the dependence
individuals have on each other in societies.
the order and very solidarity of society depends on
their reliance on each other to perform their specified
tasks.
SOLIDARITY
It is a firm and preserving determination to commit
oneself to common good;
that is to say, good to all...
because we are all really responsible for all
JP II, on Social Concern, 1987
Solidarity prevents rich
nations from being
indifferent to the poverty
and human rights violations experienced by people
living in other nations.
How Do We Practice Solidarity?
We practice solidarity whenever we work for the
common good.
Examples of Solidarity..
Treating people equally, regardless of their gender,
race or national origin
For instance, if our employment practices discriminate
unfairly against a group of people, we can practice
solidarity by reforming the practices.
Striving for a more just society that respects the
rights of all people
For example, we are in solidarity with the unborn
when we work to reduce the number of abortions.
We are in solidarity with people who are homeless
or hungry when we meet their immediate needs
and work to overcome the underlying causes.
Promoting inter-religious dialogue and tolerance
Examples of Solidarity
Donating or volunteering to help people in need,
even if they live far away
For instance, when we donate to help people well
never meet, whether as part of a missionary effort

or in response to a natural disaster, we are affirming

the truth that we are one, human family.
Examples of Solidarity
Speaking out against injustices and human rights
violations
For example, when we join in letter-writing campaigns
to put pressure on governments who are unjustly
imprisoning someone, we are showing solidarity with
that person.
Solidarity and Politics
Solidarity can affect our attitudes towards several
current political issues.
Example: Although well-informed people may disagree
strongly about the best approach to immigration or to
health care reform, solidarity helps us remember that
these political issues affect real people, people who are
our brothers and sisters. When we remember this, we
are more likely to arrive at a truly just solution.
We are called to work for
and promote the common good.
We are called to work for both local and global peace
and justice.
"We are members of a universal Church that transcends
national boundaries and calls us to live in solidarity and
justice with the peoples of the world.
Am I my brothers keeper?
Solidarity
Solidarity is manifested in the first place by the
distribution of goods and remuneration for work.
It also presupposes the effort for a more just social
order where tensions are better able to be reduced and
conflicts more readily settled by negotiation.
Socio-economic problems can be resolved only with the
help of all the forms of solidarity:
solidarity of the poor among themselves,
between rich and poor,
workers among themselves,
between employers and employees in a business,
solidarity among nations and peoples.

The principle of solidarity, is articulated in terms of

"friendship" or "social charity, is a direct demand of
human and Christian brotherhood. CCC 1939

JUSTICE AND WORK

What is Work?

Work is a way of supporting our family, realizing our

dignity, promoting the common good.

This means often doing the ordinary well, making the

most of our talents and opportunities, treating others
fairly, and with dignity, and working with integrity and
creativity.

What is Work?
Work is a share in Gods own activity therefore work has
dignity.

Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of

continuing participation in Gods creation

Scriptural Foundation:
Gen. 1:28
God said Go, be fertile and multiply, fill the earth and
subdue it
Deuteronomy 14:28-29
The Lord blesses our work so that we may share its fruits
with others.

The Philippine Situation

4.3 million Filipinos need a job, 8 million wish they had a
real one, full-time
Since May 1998, 62,000 jobs have been lost
In the countryside, 40% of the Filipinos still work for one
third of wages in the city
The basic average wage rate is 120% short of decent
living
Employment Issues
Unemployment and Underemployment.
Low wages and income
Poor working conditions

Exploitation

THE DIGNITY OF WORK

Work exists for human beings, not human beings for work

The human person is the center of work, therefore labor

has priority over capital
POSITIVE DIMENSIONS OF WORK
Work is a fundamental means for people to express and
to develop themselves as human beings

It is the ordinary way for us to provide for our material

needs

It contributes to the well being of the larger community

Work is a share in the cross of Christ

Right to Employment
RIGHTS OF WORKERS
Right to Employment

It is the duty of the societyto help its citizens find

opportunities for adequate employment (GS no.67)
The government is required to show no less energy and
efficiency in providing opportunities for suitable
employment, (PT no.64).

Right to a Just Wage

RIGHTS OF WORKERS

Right to a Just Wage

the norms of justice and equityrequires that workers
receive a wage sufficient to lead a worthy life of human
being and to fulfill family responsibilities properly/ (MM
no. 71).
The wage ought not to be in any way insufficient for the
bodily needs of a thrifty and upright worker.(RN no. 63).

Right of Association
RIGHTS OF WORKERS
Right of Association

Among the basic rights of the human person must be

counted the right of freely founding labor unions
another such right is that of taking part freely in the
activity of these unions without risk of reprisal (GS
no.68).

Right to a Safe Workplace and Health Care

RIGHTS OF WORKERS

Right to a Safe Workplace and Health Care

..insurance programs that are established for the general
public should not differ markedly whatever be the
economic sector in which individuals work or the source
of their income (MM no.1)
If a worker is forced to accept harder conditions imposed
by an employer or contactor, he/she is the victim of
violence against which justice cries out.(RN no. 63).

Right to Rest

Strikes?

Strikes: Permissible or Not?

Recourse to a strike is morally legitimate when it cannot

be avoided, or at least when it is necessary to obtain a
proportionate benefit.

It becomes morally unacceptable when accompanied by

violence, or when objectives arent directly linked to
working conditions or are contrary to the common good
WORK AND YOU: Toil, Job, Career, Vocation

Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small

people always do that, but the really great make you feel
that you too can become great
- Mark TwainFar and away, the best prize that life offers is the chance to
work hard at work worth doing
-Theodore RooseveltThere is always the danger that we may just do the work for
the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the

love and devotion come in that we do it to God, to

Christ, and thats why we try to do it as beautifully as
possible
- Mother TeresaWhatever your work is, put your heart into it as done for the
Lord and not for man, knowing that the Lord will repay
you by making you his heirs. It is Christ the Lord you are
serving.
Colossians 3: 23 - 24

THE SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM

LAND

the worlds topsoil is subject to water logging,

salinization, and erosion

Good farm land is turning into desert

The loss of rainforests presents a especially grave

risk for life on earth
Due to Urbanization environmental degradation has been
occuring rapidly and causing many problems like

Shortages of housing

Worsening water quality

Excessive air pollution

Hazardous waste
WATER

Industrial pollutants are a major factor in

contaminating the worlds water supply (pesticides,
gasoline)

There is a crisis in availability of clean water over

1 billion lack access to clean water
AIR

Over 20% of the worlds population breathes filthy,

polluted, unhealthy air

Air pollution causes respiratory diseases, eye

irritation, cancer, birth defects, and other ills

Acid rain (resulted from air pollution) pollutes rivers,

lakes, trees, and vegetation s to clean water.
SPECIES EXTINCTION
BIBLICAL TEACHING ON THE ENVIRONMENT
1. Creation is good
2. Humans are Gods special creatures
3. Dominion over creation requires cultivation and care.
God alone has sovereignty over creation
4. Sin has led humans to abuse the gift of creation
Violations against Creation
Violations against Creation

Violations against Creation

Violations against Creation

CHURCH TEACHING ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Ecological responsibility includes:

Creation of a God centered, sacramental world

Respect for life

Participation in the common good and solidarity

Universal purpose of created things

Option for the poor

Authentic development, consumption and

population
God gave humans dominion over the earths resources.
We are responsible for
caring for the earth,
using its resources
wisely, and preserving
these resources for
future generations.
We must respect the integrity of all creation.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2415
Humans should treat animals with kindness because they are
Gods creatures and their existence glorifies him.
Animals are entrusted to the tewardship of human beings and
it is morally permissible to domesticate them or use them
for food and clothing.
However, it goes against human dignity to cause
any animal to suffer or die needlessly.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2416-2418
We can each be a good steward of the earth,
finding ways to live more in harmony with
nature and to respect all of Gods creation.