We live in an interconnected world where inequalities persist in many forms, affecting people’s lives and opportunities. As the World Day of Social Justice is observed on February 20, the Church stands as a beacon of hope, pivotal in bridging divides, reducing inequalities, and fostering empowerment.
Observance of the World Day of Social Justice each year by the United Nations aims to raise awareness for overcoming all barriers to social justice based on gender, age, racial-ethnic-linguistic, religious or cultural identities. Among such disparities, the Church has a crucial role in creating a more just and equitable society by bridging divides and promoting social justice.
Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus, the social teachings of the Church emphasise the dignity of every human person, the importance of community, and its responsibility to promote the common good. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger, and you made me welcome” – Matthew 25:35. We are called to be people for others. But what does this mean in practical terms?
In his address to judges from the Americas and Africa in 2020, Pope Francis stressed that working for social justice must also be achieved with an attitude of commitment that follows “the path of the good Samaritan” and ensures we do not fall into a culture of indifference. In his Lenten message this year, the pope continues to use the image of the good Samaritan to state that it is not only a time for action, but it is also a time to pause in prayer and to pause “in the presence of a wounded brother or sister,” as he did for the wounded man on the road.
A similar statement is made in the Lenten Pastoral Letter of Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., which outlines five categories of people who need our accompaniment so that they may also belong to a just and unbiased society and experience God’s merciful love. We are responsible for protecting and promoting the rights and well-being of all individuals as part of social justice, especially those target groups listed by the cardinal: those suffering from mental health issues, the youth, the displaced, the people of goodwill, and the created world.
Decades before the UN came up with the concept of a day of social justice, St. Pope Paul VI elaborated on the responsibility of the Church to “keep the eyes of the Church open, her heart sensitive and her hands ready to carry out the work of charity which she is called to accomplish in the world, to promote progress in needy regions and global social justice.”
Social justice is not merely about acts of charity but also about addressing the root causes of inequality and injustice, such as poverty, discrimination, and oppression, that hinder human dignity. Will our society or our Church be held accountable for paying no heed to the sad plight of thousands of migrant workers – the modern-day enslaved people around us? Migrants and ethnic minorities, the working poor and the elderly should find a space of hope and comfort in the Church. Jose, CMF
