Themes of Catholic
Social Teaching
Themes of Catholic
Social Teaching
Embedded Files
Social Teaching
Life and Dignity of a Human Person
Life and Dignity of a Human Person
Life and Dignity of a Human Person is an important social justice teaching that unfortunately is not respected in regard to redlining. Respecting the life and dignity of a person is our responsibility. When systems and institutions use their power to oppress Black people in other aspects of life like homeowning, that is when our dignity is being violated. An oppressive act like redlining goes against respecting a human's dignity. It covertly hides the injustice that is being enforced and acts as a detriment to the Black community. In Luke 10:25-37, it reads “ The good Samaritan recognized the dignity in the other and cared for his life.” There is a race of people that are having their dignity violated and in social teaching, we read that you should care for another person's life as your own. We need to recognize that everyone has dignity, no matter their race, gender, identity, anything. Dignity is the basis of this social change.
Call to family Community and Participation
Call to family Community and Participation
Secondly is Call to family community and participation. We all need to recognize that we all contribute to a larger community than we realize. We all have to contribute to society in a way that is beneficial to everyone and respecting everyone. One way we can use the community to our benefit is through a communal effort of reform with equity. Equity with redlining would consist of more funding in black neighborhoods, more educational opportunities, and safer communities in general.
Solidarity
Solidarity
Solidarity is the coming together of people from all different backgrounds for the sake of justice. A feeling of unity and reconciliation is what black people need and deserve from their oppressors. With solidarity, there's a feeling of peace and harmony among all groups. However, for this to be accomplish there must be an effort to expunge redlining for good. Psalms 72: reads “Living in the right relationship with others brings peace.” We can't unify if we believe it is ok for black people to be denied the rights to live in a house that should be a given privilege. On a median, a mediocre white family in the United States is about 10 times wealthier than the average Black family, according to 2016 data, and white households are 75% more likely to own a home. This is the disparity that we have to tackle before we can experience true solidarity.
Evidentially: How Can We Reform this Injustice?
Evidentially: How Can We Reform this Injustice?
According to the U.S Census Bureau In 2015 home equity was the largest contributor to household net wealth, accounting for 34 percent of the wealth. This same study also showed that homeowners’ median net worth was eighty times larger than renters. Property taxes are used to fund schools and other neighborhood luxuries. “So when Black neighborhoods receive less investment, the average property value goes down, and local schools receive less funding which can lead to worse educational outcomes. This makes it harder for residents to get good jobs, make more money, and move to better neighborhoods.” To reform this injustice it will take a communal effort. Through that, we will forge a better and more equal way of homeownership for Black people. Romans 12:4-8 says it best “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach.” If we unite for the greater good and use the talents of whoever is offering we can with time overcome redlining.
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