|
Charity vs. Justice
|
|
Charity |
Justice |
Charity = social service. Charity provides direct services like
food, clothing, shelter. |
Justice = social change. Justice promotes social change in
institutions or political structures. |
Charity responds to immediate needs. |
Justice responds to long-term needs. |
Charity is directed at the effects
of injustice, its symptoms. Charity addresses problems that already
exist. Otherwise put: LOVE MOPS UP. |
Justice is directed at the root causes
of social problems. Justice addresses the underlying structures or
causes of these problems. Otherwise put: JUSTICE TRIES TO MAKE
SURE THE MESS ISN’T MADE TO BEGIN WITH. |
Charity is private, individual acts. |
Justice is public, collective actions. |
Examples of charity: homeless shelters, food shelves, clothing
drives, emergency services. |
Examples of justice: legislative advocacy, changing policies and
practices, political action. |
(Source: Office for Social Justice, Archdiocese of St.
Paul/Minneapolis)
|