CST_Distributive_Justice_JSRC.pdf

Understanding CST Catholic Social Thought and Distributive Justice Seal of the Society of Jesus By Fred...

Understanding CST Catholic Social Thought and Distributive Justice Seal of the Society of Jesus By Fred Kammer, S.J. In their 1986 pastoral letter on wealth—and, especially, to insure “the Economic Justice for All, the U.S. bishops ”Distributive justice priority of meeting the basic needs of the remind their readers of the three classical poor and the importance of increasing forms of justice: commutative justice requires that the allocation the level of participation by all members (dealing with fairness in contracts among of society in the economic life of the individuals and private social groups), of income, wealth, and power nation.”5 distributive justice, and social justice. In The practice of distributive justice is in society be evaluated in the context of the nation’s recent a delicate balance of various competing awakening to economic inequality— light of its effects on persons economic, social, political, and prompted in large part by the Occupy prudential concerns: “Those in authority movements—it is most helpful here to whose basic material needs should practice distributive justice wisely, revisit the meaning and roots of the taking account of the needs and concept of distributive justice. In the are unmet.” contribution of each, with a view to bishops’ words: harmony and peace.”6 However complex and delicate, the practice of distributive Distributive justice requires that the good: “Political authority has the right justice is critical to realizing the common allocation of income, wealth, and and duty to regulate the legitimate good of the members of society and power in society be evaluated in light exercise of the right to ownership for the protecting those who are “the least” of its effects on persons whose basic sake of the common good.”3 One of the among us. material needs are unmet. The Second ways in which this is done is by attending Vatican Council stated: “The right to to the question of equity in distribution have a share of earthly goods sufficient for of income: ENDNOTES oneself and one’s family belongs to The economic well-being of a country 1 National Conference of Catholic everyone. The fathers and doctors of the is not measured exclusively by the Bishops, Economic Justice for All: church held this view, teaching that we are quantity of goods it produces but also Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social obliged to come to the relief of the poor by taking into account the manner in Teaching and the U.S. Economy, and to do so not merely out of our which they are produced and the level 1986, No. 70 (emphasis in original). superfluous goods.” Minimum material of equity in the distribution of resources are an absolute necessity for 2 Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. income, which should allow everyone human life.1 2402-6. access to what is necessary for their Undergirding this form of justice is personal development and perfection… 3 Ibid., no. 2406. the fundamental understanding of what Authentic economic well-being is pursued 4 Pontifical Council for Justice and the Church calls the universal destination also by means of suitable social policies for Peace, Compendium of the Social of goods.2 This, in turn, reflects God’s the redistribution of income, which, taking Doctrine of the Church (Washington, original gift of all creation for the good of general conditions into account, look at D.C.: United States Conference of all humanity and our inextricable link to merit as well as at the need of each Catholic Bishops, 2004), no. 303. one another in solidarity with all peoples. citizen.4 5 National Conference of Catholic Private property rights, as important as Bishops, op. cit., No. 185. Those social policies might include they are, are to be exercised in the progressive taxation, financial assistance 6 Catechism, no. 2236. context of our being responsible stewards to families and the poor and vulnerable, of our goods for the sake of the common minimum wage legislation, provision of good of society. public education or health care, social The Church sees a role of insurance, and other measures designed government in relationship to both to reduce inequalities in income or property ownership and the common Loyola University New Orleans 3