Chapter 2 Justice and VirtuesChapter 2 Justice and Virtues

I. VirtuesI. Virtues

A. What is a virtue?A. What is a virtue?

1. virtue – habit of doing 1. virtue – habit of doing and and choosing goodchoosing good

2. 2 major categories2. 2 major categories

a. theological a. theological virtuesvirtues

b. cardinal virtuesb. cardinal virtues

B. Cardinal VirtuesB. Cardinal Virtues1. virtues make it possible for us to master ourselves so we 1. virtues make it possible for us to master ourselves so we can live can live good, moral livesgood, moral lives2. 4 Cardinal Virtues – or “hinge”2. 4 Cardinal Virtues – or “hinge”

a. Prudencea. Prudence1) good common sense1) good common sense2) prudent person always seeks the most loving 2) prudent person always seeks the most loving

and justand just thing to do in a given circumstancething to do in a given circumstance

3) example – avoid making a decision when we 3) example – avoid making a decision when we are angryare angry

b. Fortitudeb. Fortitude1) firmness, strength, courage to deal with 1) firmness, strength, courage to deal with

temptations, temptations, difficulties, dangersdifficulties, dangers

2) example - not to participate in bullying2) example - not to participate in bullyingc. Temperancec. Temperance

1) moderates pleasures, provides balance1) moderates pleasures, provides balance2) examples- food, drink, recycling2) examples- food, drink, recycling

3. Theological Virtues3. Theological Virtuesa. what are they?a. what are they?1) faith, hope, love1) faith, hope, love2) God-given2) God-given3) God is their motive, origin, and object3) God is their motive, origin, and object4) orient us to God4) orient us to God5) very foundation of Christian life5) very foundation of Christian life6) allow the Holy Spirit to live in us and 6) allow the Holy Spirit to live in us and work through work through ususb. Faithb. Faith1) gives us the power to believe in God1) gives us the power to believe in Goda) what he has revealed to usa) what he has revealed to usb) what the Church proposes for b) what the Church proposes for our beliefour belief2) gift from God2) gift from God3) example – work at soup kitchen3) example – work at soup kitchen

c. Hopec. Hope1) helps us to desire heaven 1) helps us to desire heaven

and eternal happinessand eternal happiness2) trust in God’s promises2) trust in God’s promises3) rely on not only our own 3) rely on not only our own

effortsefforts4) example- study hard for a 4) example- study hard for a

testtestd. Charity (love)d. Charity (love)

1) love God above all1) love God above all2) love our neighbor as ourself2) love our neighbor as ourself3) without it we are nothing3) without it we are nothing4) perfectly binds together all the 4) perfectly binds together all the

other other virtuesvirtues5) example – social work among 5) example – social work among

the poorthe poor

II. Justice as a virtueII. Justice as a virtueA. What is it?A. What is it?

1. the moral and cardinal virtue by which we 1. the moral and cardinal virtue by which we give God and our neighbor what is their duegive God and our neighbor what is their due2. 4 types 2. 4 types

B. Commutative justiceB. Commutative justice1. fairness in agreements and exchanges 1. fairness in agreements and exchanges between individuals or social groupsbetween individuals or social groups2. you get what you pay for2. you get what you pay for3. ex- agree to mow the lawn for a neighbor3. ex- agree to mow the lawn for a neighbor4. based on the principal of equality- what is 4. based on the principal of equality- what is given, what receivedgiven, what received5. respect the dignity of others and fulfill our 5. respect the dignity of others and fulfill our obligationsobligations6. society could not function- theft, fraud, 6. society could not function- theft, fraud, disregard for propertydisregard for property

C. Distributive justiceC. Distributive justice1.1. guarantees the common welfareguarantees the common welfare

2.2. distribution of God’s creationdistribution of God’s creation

3.3. each person has a right to enough of the earth’s each person has a right to enough of the earth’s goods to have a truly human lifegoods to have a truly human life

4.4. we pass on to govt. the responsibility that basic we pass on to govt. the responsibility that basic needs are metneeds are met

a. police and fire protectiona. police and fire protection

b. access to health careb. access to health care

c. disability compensationc. disability compensation

5.5. pay attention to the weakest and poorest to make pay attention to the weakest and poorest to make sure they are taken care ofsure they are taken care of

D. Legal justiceD. Legal justice1.1. citizen’s obligation to toward society and govt.citizen’s obligation to toward society and govt.

2.2. obey the laws of society obey the laws of society

3.3. serve the govt.serve the govt.

E. Social justiceE. Social justice1. society guarantees the rights of individuals1. society guarantees the rights of individuals2. everyone has a right to be heard2. everyone has a right to be heard3. tyrannical govts. are unjust3. tyrannical govts. are unjust

II. The Bible on justiceII. The Bible on justiceA. DemandsA. Demands

1. Bible presents justice as a 1. Bible presents justice as a burning burning concern of Godconcern of God

2. a deep commitment to 2. a deep commitment to uphold a uphold a relationshiprelationship

a. God made, formed, a. God made, formed, loved his loved his peoplepeople

b. requires fidelity to what b. requires fidelity to what relationships relationships

requirerequire

B. Old TestamentB. Old Testament1. covenant1. covenant

a. 2 partiesa. 2 partiesb. mutual agreementb. mutual agreementc. symbolc. symbol

2. blessed Abraham; rescues his people; sent 2. blessed Abraham; rescues his people; sent the the prophetsprophets

3. chosen people unfaithful to God – He did 3. chosen people unfaithful to God – He did not not abandonabandonC. New TestamentC. New Testament

1. never gave up on his chosen people1. never gave up on his chosen people2. fulfilled covenant – sent His Son2. fulfilled covenant – sent His Son3. His life and death- perfect fidelity3. His life and death- perfect fidelity4. revelations of Jesus4. revelations of Jesus

a. Great Commandments- love for God a. Great Commandments- love for God and and neighborneighbor

b. beatitudes b. beatitudes

c. respond to the least ones – c. respond to the least ones – goats goats and sheepand sheep

d. embrace everyone – Good d. embrace everyone – Good SamaritanSamaritan

1) outlawed racism, sexism,nationalism1) outlawed racism, sexism,nationalisme. be compassionate - - day laborerse. be compassionate - - day laborers

1) illogical – commutative justice1) illogical – commutative justice2) God values people not what they 2) God values people not what they

produceproduce5. Jesus exemplified God’s compassion5. Jesus exemplified God’s compassion

a. seeking out the poor, the despised, the a. seeking out the poor, the despised, the outcastsoutcasts

b. associated with sinnersb. associated with sinnersc. praised impoverished widowc. praised impoverished widowd. fed the hungry d. fed the hungry e. forgave sinnerse. forgave sinners

6. passion, death, resurrection demonstrated His love6. passion, death, resurrection demonstrated His love7. no conditions on His love7. no conditions on His love8. requires that we must serve8. requires that we must serve

a. we who have been treated well must imitate in a. we who have been treated well must imitate in our our dealings with others on all levelsdealings with others on all levels

b. with family and friendsb. with family and friendsc. with people in the groups to which we belongc. with people in the groups to which we belongd. in various communities – neighborhood, city, d. in various communities – neighborhood, city,

state, state, nationnatione. concern for people of the worlde. concern for people of the world

9. American Justice9. American Justice

a. based on naturea. based on nature

b. scales of justiceb. scales of justice

c. legal in naturec. legal in nature

10. Biblical Justice10. Biblical Justice

a. based on covenanta. based on covenant

b. God’s desire to uphold a b. God’s desire to uphold a relationship with his relationship with his peoplepeople

III. Catholic Social Teaching on JusticeIII. Catholic Social Teaching on JusticeA. HistoricalA. Historical

1. early Christians shared their goods, 1. early Christians shared their goods, condemned selfishness, encouraged sharingcondemned selfishness, encouraged sharing2. Francis of Assisi – gave up his wealth – 2. Francis of Assisi – gave up his wealth – mendicant- to minister to the poormendicant- to minister to the poor3. Vincent de Paul & Louise de Marillac – needs of 3. Vincent de Paul & Louise de Marillac – needs of the urban poorthe urban poor4. Elizabeth Ann Seton- Sisters of Charity – began 4. Elizabeth Ann Seton- Sisters of Charity – began Catholic Schools in AmericaCatholic Schools in America5. Church contributions5. Church contributions

a. established hospitalsa. established hospitalsb. homes for battered womenb. homes for battered womenc. orphanagesc. orphanagesd. schools for the poord. schools for the poore. homes for aged and dyinge. homes for aged and dyingf. Catholic Charities – largest private charitable organization f. Catholic Charities – largest private charitable organization

in the U.S.in the U.S.

B. Modern teachingB. Modern teaching

1. Pope Leo XIII1. Pope Leo XIII

a. Marxism – Karl Marxa. Marxism – Karl Marx

1) strong following among workers of the 1) strong following among workers of the worldworld

2) abuses of laissez-faire capitalism2) abuses of laissez-faire capitalism

3) industrial barons ignored workers’ 3) industrial barons ignored workers’ rightsrights

4) lack of decent wages, long working 4) lack of decent wages, long working hourshours

5) pensions, health insurance, collective 5) pensions, health insurance, collective bargainingbargaining

6) Marx – the state would see to the 6) Marx – the state would see to the equality of workersequality of workers

b. Leo XIII opposed both Marxism and unbridled b. Leo XIII opposed both Marxism and unbridled capitalismcapitalism

1) Both dangerous to dignity of workers1) Both dangerous to dignity of workers

2) Rerum Novarum2) Rerum Novarum – condemned the abuses of – condemned the abuses of bothboth

3) Many popes since have 3) Many popes since have also also had social justice had social justice themesthemes

4) 2nd Vatican Council4) 2nd Vatican Council

5) Many opposed by selfish5) Many opposed by selfish

C. Social Justice is essentialC. Social Justice is essential1. essential dimension of Christian living1. essential dimension of Christian living

2. not optional2. not optional

3. to put profits ahead is people is wrong3. to put profits ahead is people is wrong