For Secondary

Social justice is not some kind of optional extra for Catholics. We are all called to a loving relationship with God, which as Jesus taught is demonstrated by care for the most vulnerable in society.

The following resources are provided to help in your important work – teaching social justice to today’s teens.

 


Scripture

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To let the oppressed go free,
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.
 (Luke 4: 18 – 19)

Further Scripture Passages highlighting social justice:

Topic Scripture The Catholic Youth Bible Page Reference
God demands justice for the poor Psalm 82: 2-4 Page 669
Righteous Ruler Psalm 72: 1-2, 12-14 Pages 660-661
God’s concern for the poor Psalm 146: 4-9 Page 706
God’s concern for justice on the earth Isaiah 42: 1, 6-7 Pages 875-876
God’s concern for the poor and distressed Isaiah 1: 11, 16-17 Pages 835-836
The Holiness code in the book of Leviticus insists ‘love they neighbour as yourself’ Leviticus 19: 18b Page 146
Duty of care for the poor Ecclesiasticus 34: 23-26 Page 813
Jesus and Social Justice Matthew 7:21 Page 1135
Jesus and Social Justice Matthew 25: 31-46 Page 1163
Jesus and Social Justice Luke 16: 19-24 Pages 1236 – 1237

 


Prayer

God of Truth and Justice, you call us to live in right relationship with you, with one another, and with all of creation.

Made in your image, we thirst for justice.

Distracted by false images, we seek material goods and artificial status.

We do not use your creation fairly or well.

Open the minds of this adult generation to see the destruction caused by greed.

Let us not hold back from seeing the hardship of others caused by the unfair distribution of earth’s resources.

May we acknowledge our part in this misery, and take whatever steps we can to change it.

Open the hearts of young people to also see a true picture of the world we live in.

May they have courageous and honest teachers to assist them to see what is happening in their world, locally, nationally and globally.

May they learn to make sound judgements and, together with others animated by Jesus, the Just One,

Take action to bring the world to the peace and justice you desire for it.

© Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

 


Fast Facts

Defining social justice and it’s importance
http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/content/socialteaching.html

Key Catholic Social Justice Principles
http://www.osjspm.org/document.doc?id=13
http://catholicsocialservices.org.au/Catholic_Social_Teaching

Pope Benedict’s XV1 Blessed are the Peacemaker Speech Jan 1st 2013
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121208_xlvi-world-day-peace_en.html

Reflections on Blessed are the Peacemaker Speech
http://ncronline.org/blogs/making-difference/reflections-pope-benedicts-2013-world-day-peace-message

What is the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council?
http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/

Indigineous relations:
http://www.catholic.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=17&Itemid=183

 


Further Reading

SOCIAL JUSTICE: Fuller Life in a Fairer World

Author: Fr Bruce Duncan 

Offers a succinct overview of how Catholic social thinking developed and why it is so important today. The book is written especially with teachers, students and social justice groups in mind. It explores how faith adds meaning and motivation to our efforts to transform our societies and the earth into a true home for everyone.

Using the featured text as a guide, a series of classroom activities and discussion questions have been written to assist other teachers.  The questions and suggested activities have been written by a practising RE secondary school teacher.

Classroom Activities & Discussion

The Language of the Unheard

Author – John Falzon

“Being locked up follows hot on the heels of being locked out,” so says John Falzon, CEO St Vincent de Paul National Australia Council. He deftly urges us all to acknowledge the disempowerment and exclusion of those of difference and reminds us that those groups pushed from the mainstream to the edges of society – the ‘unheard’ will not stay silent forever. They can’t and they won’t.

Using the featured text as a guide, a series of classroom activities and discussion questions have been wrriten to assist other teachers.  The questions and suggested activities have been written by a practising RE secondary school teacher.

Classroom Activities & Discussion  

Additional Readings on Social Justice. Suitable for secondary school students and/or teachers.

Jesus and the Natural World, Denis Edwards, Garratt Publishing

Hungering and Thirsting for Justice: Real-life Stories by Young Adult Catholics, Lacey Louwagie, ACTA Publications

Primary Source Readings in Catholic Social Justice, Jerry Windley-Daoust, St Mary’s Press

Living Justice and Peace Catholic Social Teaching in Practice Teaching Manual Second Edition, Kevin Lanave, St Mary’s Press

Living Justice and Peace Catholic Social Teaching in Practice Student Text 2nd Edition, Kevin Lanave, St Mary’s Press

Living in Christ Catholic Social Teaching Christian Life in Society Teacher Guide, Anne Herrick, St Mary’s Press

Living in Christ Catholic Social Teaching Christian Life in Society Student Text, Brian Singer-Towns, St Mary’s Press

9781921946295 (1)

 

9781921946356 (1)

 

9781599823393


 

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