His Holiness Pope Shenouda’s Address on Social Justice in the Christian Concept at the Egyptian Association for Economics and Legislation

Pope Shenouda III discusses the subject of social justice, explaining that perfect justice may not be achieved on earth, and therefore people seek the possible justice according to their limited abilities. He sees that the problem is not a lack of the earth’s resources, because God has provided in it enough resources for humanity, but rather the unequal distribution of these resources and opportunities. He also emphasizes that social justice is a universal human issue that goes beyond the borders of Egypt, and therefore injustice and racism should be rejected wherever they exist.

Spiritual Message

The Pope explains that Christianity is not a political or economic system, but rather a spirit and a light for the way, and its first aim is to build the human being from within. Christianity works in the heart, thought, and faith, and seeks to make a person pure and loving toward goodness, so that he can act properly in economics, politics, and society. He emphasizes that a clergyman does not interfere in political affairs, but he bears witness to the truth and condemns injustice when he sees it, because his duty is to bear witness to the truth.

Educational Lesson

The Pope distinguishes between external law and the inner restraint of conscience; the law intervenes when a person fails to control himself, while Christianity works to form the conscience from within. He considers love of goodness higher than merely fearing wrongdoing or punishment, because a person who loves goodness does not need constant supervision in order to refrain from evil. He also explains that the early Church lived a voluntary life of sharing, as the believers shared their possessions according to each person’s need, with love and faith as the foundation of this common life.

Practical Application

The practical application presented by the Pope begins with the individual, by developing purity of heart, love of goodness, and a living conscience. When a person changes from within, he can become a positive element in society and contribute to achieving greater justice and balance. He also calls people to gather around what they share in common, including faith in God, love of goodness, their homeland, and social concerns, rather than continually focusing on points of disagreement. In this way, social justice becomes a fruit of a pure spirit, love, and responsibility, together with the effort to correct the mistakes of society and achieve justice in the distribution of wealth and opportunities.

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