What Is Justice

Unit One – Unit One – PPeeaaccee & & JUSTICEJUSTICE

What is justice?What is justice? – an equivocal term – an equivocal term– ““giving one his/her due”giving one his/her due”– ““assuring everyone has what they need to live with assuring everyone has what they need to live with

dignity”dignity”– Ask this question, “is it fair?”Ask this question, “is it fair?”

Four Types of JusticeFour Types of Justice::– Distributive JusticeDistributive Justice– Procedural JusticeProcedural Justice– Restorative JusticeRestorative Justice– Retributive JusticeRetributive Justice

Distributive Justice – fair Distributive Justice – fair shareshare

Also known as Also known as economic justiceeconomic justice, is about , is about fairnessfairness in what people receive, from in what people receive, from goods to attention. If people do not think goods to attention. If people do not think that they are getting their fair share of that they are getting their fair share of something, they will seek first to gain something, they will seek first to gain what they believe they deserve. what they believe they deserve.

((http://changingminds.org/explanations/trust/four_justice.htmhttp://changingminds.org/explanations/trust/four_justice.htm) )

http://changingminds.org/explanations/trust/four_justice.htm

Procedural Justice – fair playProcedural Justice – fair play

If people believe that a fair process If people believe that a fair process was used in deciding what is to be was used in deciding what is to be distributed, then they may well distributed, then they may well accept an imbalance in what they accept an imbalance in what they receive in comparison to others. receive in comparison to others.



Restorative Justice - forgiveRestorative Justice - forgive

The first thing that the betrayed person may seek from The first thing that the betrayed person may seek from the betrayer is some form of restoration for the the betrayer is some form of restoration for the betrayal.betrayal.

Restoration means putting things back as they were, so Restoration means putting things back as they were, so this justice may include some act of contrition to this justice may include some act of contrition to demonstrate one is truly sorry. This may include demonstrate one is truly sorry. This may include action and even extra payment to the offended party.action and even extra payment to the offended party.

Restorative justice is also known as Restorative justice is also known as corrective justicecorrective justice..



Retributive Justice - revengeRetributive Justice - revenge

Restoration may well not be enough for the Restoration may well not be enough for the betrayed person and they may seek betrayed person and they may seek revenge of some sort. In this way they can revenge of some sort. In this way they can feel the satisfaction of seeing the other feel the satisfaction of seeing the other person suffer in the same way that they person suffer in the same way that they have suffered.have suffered.

Revenge can be many times more severe Revenge can be many times more severe than reparation as the hurt party seeks to than reparation as the hurt party seeks to make the other person suffer in return.make the other person suffer in return.



Our course is concerned Our course is concerned withwith

• Distributive – Distributive – concern for basic needs concern for basic needs and and personal dignity personal dignity

• Procedural – Procedural – concern for social concern for social structuresstructures

• Restorative – Restorative – concern for solidarity concern for solidarity when when nothing else can nothing else can be done at be done at the moment the moment

Concern forConcern for basic needs basic needs means…means…

providing direct service to help ensure that everyone’s basic needs are met through works of mercy – charity.

What ARE basic needs?What ARE basic needs?

FoodFood Clothing Clothing Shelter Shelter

Healthcare Education Love

Concern forConcern for social structures social structures means…means…

Working to change the fundamental Working to change the fundamental social systems, behaviors/attitudes, or social systems, behaviors/attitudes, or ideas so that they distribute the goods ideas so that they distribute the goods of a community (nation) more fairly, of a community (nation) more fairly, respecting the human dignity of all.respecting the human dignity of all.

Simple actions Simple actions by individuals change the by individuals change the world by world by changing others.changing others.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RKILQPBcVTI

DONEDONE

- Catholic teaching states - Catholic teaching states that, "God destined the that, "God destined the earth and all it contains earth and all it contains for ... all people so that all for ... all people so that all created things would be created things would be shared shared fairlyfairly by all by all [humankind]" (Vatican II).[humankind]" (Vatican II).

•- all resources (food, clothing, timber) ultimately - all resources (food, clothing, timber) ultimately come from God and should be used as God desires.come from God and should be used as God desires.

- St. Ambrose, an early - St. Ambrose, an early Church leader, addressed Church leader, addressed this point to the rich church this point to the rich church members: "You are not members: "You are not making a gift to the poor making a gift to the poor man from your possessions, man from your possessions, but you are returning what is but you are returning what is his. For what is common has his. For what is common has been given for the use of all, been given for the use of all, [but] you make exclusive use [but] you make exclusive use of it. The earth belongs to of it. The earth belongs to all, not to the rich."all, not to the rich."

In the world, over 1 billion people go to bed In the world, over 1 billion people go to bed malnourished or undernourished every nightmalnourished or undernourished every night

The United States has 6% of the The United States has 6% of the

world's population yet consumes over world's population yet consumes over

22% of the world's resources 22% of the world's resources

(oil, food, timber, etc.)(oil, food, timber, etc.)

In the last decade in Oregon, the average income of the bottom fifth of familiesdropped 3 percent and theaverage income of the topfifth rose 9.2 percent

In the United States, the numberof billionaires triple in the lastdecade, yet at the same time half the families could not afford a 5% down paymentand the monthly payments for a medium-priced house in theirregion of the country.

Prisons are the fastest growing housing type in the country. Secondis mobile homes.

Oregonian, Aug. 27, 1995

How the Bible Calls for How the Bible Calls for Justice:Justice:

• 4 examples...4 examples...

A) A) The Jubilee PrincipleThe Jubilee Principle

• In Old Testament times, ___?___ In Old Testament times, ___?___ was the basic means of producing was the basic means of producing wealth in Israel. wealth in Israel.

•Answer: LandAnswer: Land

• In Leviticus 25, it says that every In Leviticus 25, it says that every 50 years, God directs that all land 50 years, God directs that all land was to be returned to its original was to be returned to its original owners (Lev. 25:10-24).owners (Lev. 25:10-24).

• In Old Testament times, ___?___ In Old Testament times, ___?___ was the basic means of producing was the basic means of producing wealth in Israel. wealth in Israel.

•Answer: LandAnswer: Land

• In Leviticus 25, it says that every In Leviticus 25, it says that every 50 years, God directs that all land 50 years, God directs that all land was to be returned to its original was to be returned to its original owners (Lev. 25:10-24).owners (Lev. 25:10-24).

Imagine a typical farm Imagine a typical farm community in Israel. A family community in Israel. A family could lose their land because could lose their land because of:of: • physical handicapsphysical handicaps

• death of a breadwinnerdeath of a breadwinner

• lack of natural abilitylack of natural ability

• drought, locust, other natural drought, locust, other natural disastersdisasters

The Jubilee Principle assured The Jubilee Principle assured that the gap between the that the gap between the rich and the poor was rich and the poor was minimal because the means minimal because the means of producing wealth (land) of producing wealth (land) was to be equalized was to be equalized regularly. "Because he regularly. "Because he disapproves of extremes of disapproves of extremes of wealth among His people, wealth among His people, God ordains equalizing God ordains equalizing mechanisms like the year of mechanisms like the year of Jubilee" (Sider, 90).Jubilee" (Sider, 90).

The theological support for The theological support for this is the fact that God this is the fact that God owns the land. owns the land. "The land "The land shall not be sold in shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you are mine; for you are strangers and sojourners strangers and sojourners with me" (Lev. 25:23).with me" (Lev. 25:23).

B. B. The Sabbatical YearThe Sabbatical Year or "Year of the Lord's Favor”or "Year of the Lord's Favor”

• the Old Testament law also provides the Old Testament law also provides for liberation of soil, slaves and for liberation of soil, slaves and debtors every debtors every sevenseven years. years.

7

77

7

• 1. Land: Every 7 years farmers are not to plant 1. Land: Every 7 years farmers are not to plant crops (Ex. 23:10-11; Lev. 25:2-7). This has both crops (Ex. 23:10-11; Lev. 25:2-7). This has both an ecological and humanitarian purpose.an ecological and humanitarian purpose.

•Ecological -Ecological -– helps preserve the fertility of the soil.helps preserve the fertility of the soil.

•Humanitarian - Humanitarian - – "For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its "For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its

yield; but the seventh year you shall yet it rest and lie yield; but the seventh year you shall yet it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat (Ex. 23:10 fallow, that the poor of your people may eat (Ex. 23:10 11). In the 7th year the poor are free to gather for 11). In the 7th year the poor are free to gather for themselves whatever grows by itself in the fields and themselves whatever grows by itself in the fields and vineyards. These are called “volunteers.”vineyards. These are called “volunteers.”

• 2. Slaves: Hebrew slaves also 2. Slaves: Hebrew slaves also receive their freedom in the receive their freedom in the sabbatical year (Deut. 15:12-18). sabbatical year (Deut. 15:12-18). Poverty sometimes forced Israelites Poverty sometimes forced Israelites to sell themselves as slaves to more to sell themselves as slaves to more prosperous neighbors (Lev. prosperous neighbors (Lev. 25:3940). But this inequality, God 25:3940). But this inequality, God decrees, is not to be permanent. decrees, is not to be permanent.

However, what would soon happen to a slave if he/she was let go after manyyears?

• In addition, masters are to share the proceeds In addition, masters are to share the proceeds of their joint labors with the departing ex-slaves.of their joint labors with the departing ex-slaves.

"And when you let him go free from you, you "And when you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty-handed; you shall shall not let him go empty-handed; you shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press, as threshing floor, and out of your wine press, as the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall the Lord your God has blessed you, you shall give to him" (Deut 15:12-14; see also Ex. 21:2-6)give to him" (Deut 15:12-14; see also Ex. 21:2-6)

3. Loans:3. Loans: Every 7 years all Every 7 years all debts are to be canceled! debts are to be canceled! (Deut. 15:1-6).(Deut. 15:1-6).

C.C. Laws of Tithing-Laws of Tithing- the law calls for one-tenth of all the law calls for one-tenth of all farm produce and/or money, farm produce and/or money, whether animal, grain or wine, whether animal, grain or wine, to be set aside as a tithe.to be set aside as a tithe.

"At the end of every three years you "At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce in the same year... and the produce in the same year... and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled: that the Lord your and eat and be filled: that the Lord your God may bless you" (Deut 14:28-29; see God may bless you" (Deut 14:28-29; see also Lav. 27:30-32; Deut 26:12-15; Num also Lav. 27:30-32; Deut 26:12-15; Num 18:21-32).18:21-32).

$70,000 per year family$70,000 per year family

• $70,000$70,000

• / 52 weeks/ 52 weeks

• / 10%/ 10%

• = $134.60 per = $134.60 per weekweek

God's law decreed that God's law decreed that farmers should leave some of farmers should leave some of the harvest, including the the harvest, including the corners of grain fields, for the corners of grain fields, for the poor. For example, grapes poor. For example, grapes that had been dropped that had been dropped accidentally were to be left.accidentally were to be left.

"You shall leave them for the poor "You shall leave them for the poor and theand thesojourners:sojourners: I am the Lord your I am the Lord your God" (Lev. 19:9-10)God" (Lev. 19:9-10)

D. Laws of Gleaning -

Jesus and JusticeJesus and Justice(Briefly)(Briefly)

• Jesus’ first public Jesus’ first public words in Luke 4 words in Luke 4 seem to rekindle seem to rekindle this economic this economic fairnessfairness

“When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

‘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 the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’”

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What Is Justice