The degradation of the One True Faith during recent decades in the name of "social justice" has been appalling. Naturally, I would say that most traditionalists, and maybe even a good number of neo-conservative Catholics for that matter, cringe when they hear the term these days. But is social justice actually a principle that is not supported by the Church, or has it been warped to mean whatever modernists want (in the "spirit of Vatican II")? I always understood real Catholic social teaching to regard social justice as evangelization, care for the poor, etc. as performed by the laity and the religious together, but not advocating for socialism. What do you think?

Social Justice, esp w/AMericanists,was ignored and more liberal factions took it up, twisting it.

THere is nothing wrong with it, despite Glenn Beck attempts to get Catholics on board his corportist, americanist agenda......

read Rerum Novarum,etc......largely, anything that IHS Press and Loretto, Angelus Press sell on the matter.......it is NOT a dirty word, conservatives need only blame themselves for their americanism and hence, rejection of uniquely Catholic principles on economics, govt, etc,etc......

The degradation of the One True Faith during recent decades in the name of "social justice" has been appalling. Naturally, I would say that most traditionalists, and maybe even a good number of neo-conservative Catholics for that matter, cringe when they hear the term these days. But is social justice actually a principle that is not supported by the Church, or has it been warped to mean whatever modernists want (in the "spirit of Vatican II")? I always understood real Catholic social teaching to regard social justice as evangelization, care for the poor, etc. as performed by the laity and the religious together, but not advocating for socialism. What do you think?

All social justice is tied up intrinsically with the social reign of Christ the King, as it is from His enthronement as the center of government and society that all peace and order is derived.  The negative social good, that is due temporal punishment of the effects of man's concupiscence, is achieved through the creation and enforcement of laws in accord with the divine law of God, which is just as the natural end of government is order.  The positive social good, the care of the sick, the feeding of the poor, and correction of the sinner, is rightly undertaken by the Church, whose material wealth to perform these actions is the fruit of uncoerced Christian charity.  When that wealth and power is exercised by the government, especially a democratic government, they are invariably used in such a way as to unlawfully and forcefully redistribute wealth to them that have not earned it.

It's very positive to see this thread and a very necessary time to be engaged in propagating the social teachings and forms of Catholic Social Action.

Quote from: PaulLuke

The degradation of the One True Faith during recent decades in the name of "social justice" has been appalling. Naturally, I would say that most traditionalists, and maybe even a good number of neo-conservative Catholics for that matter, cringe when they hear the term these days. But is social justice actually a principle that is not supported by the Church, or has it been warped to mean whatever modernists want (in the "spirit of Vatican II")? I always understood real Catholic social teaching to regard social justice as evangelization, care for the poor, etc. as performed by the laity and the religious together, but not advocating for socialism. What do you think?

All social justice is tied up intrinsically with the social reign of Christ the King, as it is from His enthronement as the center of government and society that all peace and order is derived.  The negative social good, that is due temporal punishment of the effects of man's concupiscence, is achieved through the creation and enforcement of laws in accord with the divine law of God, which is just as the natural end of government is order.  The positive social good, the care of the sick, the feeding of the poor, and correction of the sinner, is rightly undertaken by the Church, whose material wealth to perform these actions is the fruit of uncoerced Christian charity.  When that wealth and power is exercised by the government, especially a democratic government, they are invariably used in such a way as to unlawfully and forcefully redistribute wealth to them that have not earned it.

I was going to post my own thoughts, and then I read this.  Perfect!