A Seminar on Justice – Lions Club at the Hilton Cairo Hotel
Pope Shenouda III discusses the subject of truth and rights, explaining that the word “truth” has several interconnected meanings: it refers first to God, as well as to honesty, to what a person deserves, and to justice. He emphasizes that a person who is far from truth is a person who is far from God, and that dealing with truth does not mean speaking partially or hiding some facts, but rather telling the whole truth without distortion or concealment. He also explains that a person’s concern for his own rights should not come at the expense of the rights of others; rather, a spiritual person should care about the rights of others and be careful not to violate them.
Spiritual Message
Pope Shenouda emphasizes that a person has rights toward God, including keeping His commandments, treating the name of God with reverence, and giving what belongs to God from his money, while also caring for the rights of the poor and those in need. He explains that giving, mercy, and helping those in need are not secondary matters in spiritual life, but are among the rights of others that we must fulfill. He also connects spiritual life with love and respect, emphasizing that respecting the elderly is a duty, while respecting the young is also noble, and that respecting everyone helps win hearts and build good relationships.
Educational Lesson
Pope Shenouda explains that every right has a corresponding duty, and therefore a person should not demand his rights while neglecting his responsibilities. This also applies to the nation: just as a citizen has the right to expect the state to fulfill its duties toward him, he also has duties toward his country, such as defending it, preserving its reputation and cleanliness, and not stealing from it or attempting to evade taxes and customs. He also emphasizes that human rights include the right to life and to a dignified life, as well as food, medicine, and education, and that both society and the state share responsibility for helping people obtain these rights.
Practical Application
The teaching calls us to care for the rights of others positively through giving, and negatively by avoiding harming them or violating their rights and freedoms. Examples include caring for the sick, offering condolences to the family of the deceased, respecting the rights of neighbors, and avoiding excessive noise, littering, or obstructing roads. Pope Shenouda emphasizes that the state alone cannot solve all the problems of society, and therefore everyone should cooperate in making others happy and helping those in need, because when a person makes someone else happy, he also experiences happiness himself. He concludes his discussion of rights by speaking about giving up one’s right, explaining that surrendering a right is not a duty, but it can be an expression of nobility, forgiveness, humility, and love when a person chooses it freely, without coercion or humiliation.
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