Vote1-Social Justice

Points to Ponder this Election
When we come to vote, does social justice influence our decision? Do we ask ourselves which party’s policies will best help all Australians to flourish, beginning with the weakest and most powerless people?

The Church’s social teachings call us to consider a broad range of important issues including poverty, human rights, workers’ rights and the environment.

4 Principles of Social Justice to Consider
The Dignity of the Human Person is the belief that each human being has an inherent dignity because we have all been created in the image of God, are loved by God and have been redeemed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each person is precious and unique. As such, we are all worthy of respect, and we must consider our-selves as brothers and sisters of all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, age, nationality, physical ability, religion or economic status.

The Common Good: We cannot, by ourselves, create all of the conditions which would allow us to grow and flourish as a person. The common good is the total of all conditions necessary - economic, political, material, and cultural - which allow all people to realise their human dignity and reach their full human potential.

To test whether a policy serves the common good we ask what impact it will have on those who are poor and vulnerable. Does the policy build a society that benefits all the people in it?

Solidarity: The principle of solidarity reminds us that we are one human family, regardless of our national, racial, ethnic and ideological differences. It calls us to pursue justice throughout the world no matter how distant the issues may seem. And as such, solidarity is recognising one's responsibility for the welfare of others and planning, acting and advocating in a variety of ways to fulfil this responsibility.

Solidarity reminds us of our relationship with other members of our human family, that we all are neighbours, entitled to share in the "banquet of life to which all are equally invited by God." It enables the human family to share fully the treasure of material and spiritual goods.

Subsidiarity is the coordination of society's activities in a way that supports the internal life of the local communities. The people or groups most directly affected by a decision or policy should have a key decision making role. The needs of individuals and communities are best understood and satis-fied by those closest to them within a spirit of solidarity and service. Subsidiarity helps apply human dignity and common good by strength-ening community relationships and building communities of respect.
The prosperity of Australia must go hand in hand with the well being of all peoples, and that our common humanity must be made stronger than our divisions. We all want to live in a world in which everyone enjoys security, freedom and the opportunity to lead fulfilled lives.

Picture credit:modeen/flickr

Mission

The Tasmanian Catholic Justice and Peace Commission aims to bring about a just society and to promote peace in Tasmania in keeping with Catholic Social Teaching.