Thursday, March 11, 2010

Social Justice

Today I was asked to write an email to Glenn Beck to tell him that I'm a Christian who believes in the biblical call to social justice.

I did so, and I did spread the word. Since I did not listen to Glenn Beck, one answer I got was really interesting, this answer stimulated me to write this blog today:

The answer I got was as follows:
"... 'social justice', quite frankly is an evil & secular concept engineered by Satanic one-worlders & has no place being taught in conjunction with the Gospel."

I was really frightened and scared. Because for me social justice is essential.
And it is not only for me.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

PART THREE
LIFE IN CHRIST

SECTION ONE
MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
CHAPTER TWO
THE HUMAN COMMUNION


ARTICLE 3

SOCIAL JUSTICE


Society ensures social justice when it provides the conditions that allow associations or individuals to obtain what is their due, according to their nature and their vocation.

Social justice is linked to the common good and the exercise of authority.

I. RESPECT FOR THE HUMAN PERS
ON

Social justice can be obtained only in respecting the transcendent dignity of man
. The person represents the ultimate end of society, which is ordered to him:

What is at stake is the dignity of the human person, whose defense and promotion have been entrusted to us by the Creator, and to whom the men and women at every moment of history are strictly and responsibly in debt.

Respect for the human person entails respect for the rights that flow from his dignity as a creature. These rights are prior to society and must be recognized by it. They are the basis of the moral legitimacy of every authority: by flouting them, or refusing to recognize them in its positive legislation, a society undermines its own moral legitimacy. If it does not respect them, authority can rely only on force or violence to obtain obedience from its subjects. It is the Church's role to remind men of good will of these rights and to distinguish them from unwarranted or false claims.

Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that "everyone should look upon his neighbor (without any exception) as 'another self,' above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity." No legislation could by itself do away with the fears, prejudices, and attitudes of pride and selfishness which obstruct the establishment of truly fraternal societies. Such behavior will cease only through the charity that finds in every man a "neighbor," a brother.

The duty of making oneself a neighbor to others and actively serving them becomes even more urgent when it involves the disadvantaged, in whatever area this may be. "As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."

This same duty extends to those who think or act differently from us. The teaching of Christ goes so far as to require the forgiveness of offenses. He extends the commandment of love, which is that of the New Law, to all enemies. Liberation in the spirit of the Gospel is incompatible with hatred of one's enemy as a person, but not with hatred of the evil that he does as an enemy.

Source:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s1c2a3.htm
With his stated opinion Glenn Beck is condemning the European Church:

Social justice needed to revive economies faith leaders tell EU

May 12, 2009

Brussels (ENI). Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders at a meeting with top officials of the European Union have said that social justice needs to be at the centre of efforts to revive economies threatened by the global financial crisis. "Without targeting policies at enhancing the talents of the vulnerable, the marginalised will emerge at the end of a recession even more marginalised and society will be all the more fragile," said Roman Catholic Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin

Source:
http://www.ekd.de/english/News-news_090512_revive%20economies.html


With his stated opinion Glenn Beck is condemning the International Missionary Council:


Edinburgh 1910 was the impetus for the foundation of the International Missionary Council in 1921. Following the first world war, Protestant and Anglican participants from Edinburgh also joined a number of Orthodox leaders and activists in developing international conferences on "Faith and Order" - focusing on theology, doctrine, sacraments and ministry - and "Life and Work" - focusing on the churches' co-operation in addressing matters of human need and social justice. In those years between the two world wars, there was growing interest in advancing the cause of peace through turning the churches' attention to international affairs. In all these aspects of the 20th-century ecumenical movement, John R. Mott was a prominent figure. Methodism had instilled in him a commitment to mission and evangelism, to church discipline consistent with the gospel, to social activism that provided a voice to the voiceless and aid to all those in need, and he believed that people of diverse backgrounds could find peace together, despite all the cultural circumstances and human failings that conspire to divide us.

Source:
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/general-secretary/speeches/address-to-the-19th-world-methodist-council.html


Since a while I have the feeling there are people in this country who are in the same state of mind as people have been in 1914 in Germany - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_of_1914 -

I always had problems to believe that normal people are following propaganda promises.
Now I have the strong feeling that I am right with my observations. There are people who are influenced by demagogues to yearn for upcoming wars, and the kids are trained by video war games to be prepared for war.

More and more the situation in this country here looks to me like the situation in Germany between the two world wars. Sorry to write that. I would be really very happy if that would not be the case. But you will remember what I wrote when the day has come.

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