Social Justice Group Guidelines

PURPOSES

Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish Social Justice Group is established to promote and seek the implementation of the Principles of Catholic Social Teaching by:

· Questioning the injustices in our world and seeking ways of improvement;
· Evoking within the parish community an awareness of social injustice
· Acting on issues of social injustice and inequality within local, national and global communities;
· Providing opportunities to assist in creating peace and justice for the poor and / or marginalized;
· Collaborating with others to work for change where social injustices occur;
· Attracting people to give of their time to support the group’s strategies;
· Assisting members and parishioners to appreciate Catholic Social Teaching.

FOCUS

The focus and work of the Group will reflect the Gospel of Matthew:

“Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was in prison and you visited me’…”Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me” Matthew 25:34-36, 40

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
· Dignity of the Human Person - honour and respect every person, as every person is made in the image of God. To respond to the need of fulfilling human potential especially the hungry, poor and sick who suffer from oppression and powerlessness.
· Community - people are created through and for community. The dignity of a person is recognized and protected only in the community with others.
· Interdependence - political and environmental crises highlights our global interdependence
· Multicultural Understanding - the uniqueness, values and traditions of every culture is acknowledged and appreciated.
· Global Solidarity - responsibility shared by all to promote the human rights and development of all peoples in the world.
· Environment - the duty to use the earth’s resources responsibly.
· Distribution - a just allocation of the earth’s resources so that the basic needs of all people are met.
· Human Rights - the minimum conditions necessary for the healthy growth of individuals and peoples.
· Political Participation - democratic participation in the decisions impacting on one’s life – freedom of speech, the right to vote.
· Economic Justice and the Dignity of Work - all people have a right to decent work, fair wages and private property.
· Peace The promotion of peace.

2009 Social Justice Plan

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