My thoughts of the Social Justice Statement

Just spent a good portion of the last hour reading the Social Justice
Sunday Statement of 2004 issued by the Australian Catholic Bishops
Conference.

It is one of the better pieces of writing I've read in a long time.

It starts off with the greeting 'peace be with you' on the cover.
The definition of Peace is given, followed by where it is cultivated, the areas of society in which it's lacking, and finally what can be done about it.

Here are some quotes which touched me -

• Requirements for peace: truth, justice, love and freedom.
• The family 'is the primary agent of a future of peace'
• Education, in its full sense, is the key to true equality
• There can be no peace among nations without peace among religions
• Development is the new name for peace
• Peace is our duty

The article ends with the beatitude 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God'. (Matthew 5:9)

The quote printed on the back cover of the booklet -

Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
Peace is not the silence of
cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity. It is right and it is duty.

Archbishop Oscar Romero

I was social justice minister for a year and in that year I tried to understand what Social Justice was all about.
I found a most fitting description of it today (months after serving my term), that it is peace, because 'justice builds peace when ... we respect others' rights and fulfil our duties towards them'.

Heh - I know I'm slow but at least I found out *grinz*.

Peace be with you, my friend.

+ Flisha spoke @ 1:18 pm

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