Justice
Religious Studies A: AQA GCSE Religions, topic 3.3.9
Catholic Teaching on Justice, Peace and Reconciliation
Catholic teaching places great emphasis on the need to work for justice, peace and reconciliation (the restoration of relationships).
Jesus' teaching on justice, peace and reconciliation
- Jesus’ teaching, such as when he told a disciple (who is identified in John’s Gospel as Peter) not to defend him with violence emphasises the need to work for justice, peace and reconciliation:
- “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:50-52).
A kingdom of 'justice, love and peace'
- One of the prayers for the Catholic feast of Christ the King calls the Kingdom of God a kingdom of ‘justice, love and peace’.
- Catholics, therefore, believe it is important to work for peace in their own relationships and to promote peace around the world.
Quotes about justice, love and peace
- ‘If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.’ [Matthew 18:15 NIV]
- ‘The world will never be the dwelling place of peace until peace has found a home in the heart of each and every man.’ [Pacem in Terris, Pope John XXIII, 1963]
- ‘Respect for the development of human life requires peace (which) cannot be attained on earth without… respect for the dignity of persons and peoples’. [CCC 2304]
The Work For Justice and Peace
It is part of Catholic teaching that conflict is often the result of injustice, and therefore the work for peace and justice are often combined. This work is carried out at several different scales within the Catholic community:
Individual Catholics
- Many individual Catholics support the work for justice and peace throughout the world.
Local Justice and Peace societies
- Local Justice and Peace societies are often supported by parishes and Catholic university students.
Pax Christi
- Pax Christi (which means the peace of Christ) is a Catholic international peace movement that lists among their aims: human rights, disarmament and demilitarisation, as well as a just world order.
Test yourself on Justice
What is the Kingdom of God called in one of the prayers for the Catholic feast of Christ the King?
What is Pax Christi?
What does Pax Christi mean?
Which of the following is NOT an aim of Pax Christi?