Social Action and Justice
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).
Three major themes run through scripture and Catholic social teaching. A core theme is that each human person is made in the image and likeness of God and has an inalienable human dignity and worth. Derived from this core theme are two further themes. These are the rights and duties that are proper to human persons and the freedom and responsibility that underpin these rights and duties. In more recent times there is growing awareness of the application of these three themes to both human persons and the whole of God’s creation.
Applying social action and justice requires two important dispositions: empathy (the capacity to stand in the shoes of another) and solidarity (the capacity to walk with another). Catholic and ecumenical schools work to build these dispositions in students through programs for service learning, social justice programs and outreach experiences. Social action and justice in schools have a particular connection with knowledge and skills from the social sciences. Foundational to the social sciences are: notions of continuity and change; democratic process; participation; stewardship; sustainability; peace; justice; cultural diversity; inclusion; power; resources and social systems. Schools plan, implement and reflect upon experiences of social action and justice, drawing on the social sciences, scripture and Catholic social teaching.
Three major themes run through scripture and Catholic social teaching. A core theme is that each human person is made in the image and likeness of God and has an inalienable human dignity and worth. Derived from this core theme are two further themes. These are the rights and duties that are proper to human persons and the freedom and responsibility that underpin these rights and duties. In more recent times there is growing awareness of the application of these three themes to both human persons and the whole of God’s creation.
Applying social action and justice requires two important dispositions: empathy (the capacity to stand in the shoes of another) and solidarity (the capacity to walk with another). Catholic and ecumenical schools work to build these dispositions in students through programs for service learning, social justice programs and outreach experiences. Social action and justice in schools have a particular connection with knowledge and skills from the social sciences. Foundational to the social sciences are: notions of continuity and change; democratic process; participation; stewardship; sustainability; peace; justice; cultural diversity; inclusion; power; resources and social systems. Schools plan, implement and reflect upon experiences of social action and justice, drawing on the social sciences, scripture and Catholic social teaching.