Peter Russo & Ciaron O'Reilly

Social justice is a term often heard in modern times, however there is ambiguity about its meaning. In Catholic social teaching - social justice concerns the relationships between different groups in society. It focuses on whether all groups receive what is fair or not.

In a just society the needs and interests of some groups are not privileged while those of others are neglected.

Work for social justice is about respecting human dignity and promoting the common good. We are not just isolated individuals. We live in a network of relationships - with ourselves, others, creation and God.

We have a responsibility to care for each other and so we should work towards a society which ensures that every person and every group is able to meet their needs and to realise their potential.

The Christian Brothers support a range of social justice programs and initiatives. Since charting a new course outside their traditional foothold in schools, the Brothers and their supporters through the Edmund Rice Network, have focused more heavily on ministries in the areas of social justice and advocacy efforts.

This can be seen in the work of our justice centres such as the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice & Community Education in Sydney; the Edmund Rice Institute for Social Justice in Fremantle,Western Australia and Edmund Rice justice and advocacy programs in Amberley in Melbourne and in New Zealand.