JUSTICE in the

JUSTItia
WORLDin Mundo
SYNOD OF BISHOPS 1971
 Overview
The 1971 Synod of Bishops, in their
reflection on “the mission of the
People of God to further justice in
the world,” affirms the rights to a
culturally-sensitive, personalized
development.
The Bishops teach that Gospel
principles mandate justice for the
liberation of all humanity as an
essential expression of Christian love.
The Church must witness for justice
through its own lifestyle, educational
activities, and international action.
 JUSTICE
AND
THE WORLD
SOCIETY
The Church has received from Christ
the mission of preaching the Gospel
message… #36

Her mission involves defending and

promoting the dignity and
fundamental rights of the human
person. #37
continuing practical

education makes people decidedly more human, it will

help them to be no longer the object of
manipulation by communications media or political
forces. It will instead enable them to take in hand
their own destinies and bring about communities
which are truly human. #52
Education for justice is imparted
first in the family. #54
 CONTEXT
The 1971 Synod of
Bishops
statement Justicia in
Mundo is also known  Bishops from all over
as Justice in the World. the world gathered in
It is not a social a meeting known as a
encyclical, or a Papal Synod in 1971. They
document, but it is still gathered to read the
regarded as one of the signs of the times and
major international discern how the
Catholic Social Church should
Teaching documents. respond.
IntroductIon

Structural injustices oppress humanity and stifle freedom

to operate in the world (#3)
The dynamism of the Gospel and the hopes of the
people of today are together (#5)
“Action on behalf of justice and participation in the
transformation of the world fully appear to us as a
constitutive dimension of the preaching of the Gospel, or
in other words, of the Church’s mission for the
redemption of the human race and its liberation from
every oppressive situation (#6)
 SUMMARY
Justicia in Mundo is justice and the
world society.
Affirms the right to development as
basic human right.
Personalization and a culturally
sensitive modernization.
Many who suffer injustice are those
who are voiceless.
Injustices: Refugees, religious
persecution, human rights violations,
torture, political prisoners, anti-life, war,
and anti-family activity.
Participation of all especially youth is
needed to correct.
Relation to Themes of Catholic Social
Teaching
 Life and Dignity of the Human Person:
“Every person, from the moment of conception to natural
death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent
with that dignity.” CCC - 1700

Relation
This states how humans
should be treated with
respect and valued in
every way.
 Option for the Poor and Vulnerable:
Jesus taught in the parable of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-
46) that the needs of the poor and vulnerable must come
first. The poor and vulnerable, as brother or sister, is Christ in
disguise; all people deserve respect, the protection of their
rights, and all the ability to participate and to share in
God’s good creation.

Relation
This states that the poor
should not be looked
down upon as much as
they are.
Relation to current social
justice issue
 The Church condemns any and all direct
abortions.

Church mission teaches us that one Around 46 million of women in

innocent life can’t be taken even if the world kill an unborn child.
it would save hundreds, thousands
or millions of life.
The Church is against
abortion because an
unborn child can not
defend from themselves
from others
 The
Challenge
Justitia in Mundo as the first
major example of the collegial exercise
of teaching authority in the Post
Vatican II period, states categorically
that Christianity cannot be purely
other-worldly but requires social
engagement. It also spelt out that
Christian social morality cannot
proceed in isolation from the Gospel,
grace and redemption.
 Justicia in Mundo as
the first Catholic Social
Teaching document, acknowledged
that the Church must witness to
justice in its own life in order
to be credible when calling for
justice in the
world.
 Thank you for listening.

To GOD be all the

Glory!