Justice

Another core value of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is justice. Justice is so important and it is certainly subject to different interpretations and meanings. To me, every issue we encounter deals with ethics and comes under the notion of justice. Justice is a set of principles which guide others in determining what is right and what is wrong no matter what culture we live in. It is to elevate the dignity of each and every human person.

At the Foundation, we work with the underserved population. Many are homeless, most have no health insurance, thousands are in need of food and an unimaginable number attend dilapidated schools that are inadequate for learning. We find ourselves living in a world where there is a huge disparity between those who have life’s necessities to live and succeed and those who do not. The core question around justice is, “Do I have a responsibility to others who have less than me and cannot take care of themselves or their families?” My answer is, “Yes.”

Social justice provides the very foundation for a healthy community. It grows out of a sense that each individual person in our society has value. Only as we realize the value and dignity of each individual person can we build a healthy community. This can be a slow process of learning and growing. To help the process along we develop attitudes of respect for one another regardless of where they rest on the socio-economic scale.

Isn’t justice about helping every person realize their full human potential? Shouldn’t we reward people in our society for being loving and caring, ethical, kind and generous? We have systems in place that are suppose to address justice issues but frankly, they just “scratch the surface” towards solving problems around justice and fairness.

Each one of us can make a difference, even if it is in a small way. I believe that social justice imposes on each individual a personal responsibility to help one another. In the end, we are not going to be judged by how many houses, cars and clothes we own or how much money is in our bank accounts. Our individual legacy will be measured by what we have done to make a difference in the lives of others and, in particular, those who cannot make it on their own.

When I think about justice as a core value, I believe it is one of the most difficult to affect and it is one of the most important values. Look around; make yourself aware of the injustices that occur in our society everyday. Then ask yourself, “What can I do to help?” Isn’t that really what matters in the long run?

Tom Keith is is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina