Abbreviated Version of the Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 2024-2025

SJS Poster. Photo: Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

The Statement examines the signs of our times and questions if peace is possible. It believes in the possibility of peace by looking back on Pope John XXXIII's Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) and Pope Francis's Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti. The previous century was the most violent in human history, with two world wars and the dropping of nuclear weapons on two large cities. The present century already has 55 state-based conflicts and 82 non-state conflicts, with two billion people living in countries wracked by such conflict. Fascism and Communism were based upon falsehood, and both Fascism and Communism were atheistic. 

The venom never dies but takes new forms, with death-dealing ideologies and totalitarianism spawning terror. To change this, we must decide to do something about it. Reason has taken a back seat, and feeling is what matters. Power is conceded to those with wealth and charisma; the show is what matters. The virtual replaces the real. 

Disinformation and misinformation have become more widespread, with post-truth, populism, and polarisation converging to create violence and political instability. Nations wage war under the guise of peace, with economic sanctions, cyber wars, fake news, and outright lies the order of the day. This is not war as we have known it but it is nonetheless lethal. 

The grammar underlying this Statement is that truth creates trust, and trust creates peace. To make peace, we say: speak truth to build trust and build confidence to make peace. The first step to peace is speaking the truth. 

Pope Francis has suggested that the funds spent on weapons and military equipment could be diverted to a global fund to tackle poverty and world hunger. The arms industry has a life and a privileged place in the global economy, but it is also an undoubted factor in fomenting global conflict. 

The architecture of peace is the call to stop lying and to speak the truth. To renounce war is to commit to speaking truth and to renounce lying. Genuine dialogue seeks the truth despite differences and requires respect and openness to the table. By listening to others and understanding their thoughts and why, we can break down misunderstandings and build trust. A renewed commitment to a culture of dialogue based on encounter in social relationships and international relations would not only break down misunderstandings and build trust but also lead us to discover more deeply the truth that the other is not my enemy but is my sister, brother, or even friend. 

The true God, the source of all truth, is a God of encounter and dialogue. We are created in God's image not for war but for encounter and dialogue. Jesus, who is both the logos (word, thought, reason, principle) and the dialogues (dialogue, conversation, exchange, interaction), is seen as the embodiment of this concept. In John 8:39-45, Jesus confronts those who will send him to the Cross, those who will choose lethal violence. He explains that where there is no truth, there is no trust, and where there is no peace, there will be death. However, when Jesus rises from the dead, God's trust in us and our trust in God is vindicated, and peace is on offer forever. 

Teaching and education are essential for promoting integral human development and defending peace. Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of teaching the way of truth, trust, and peace in schools. As the world grows more violent, educational leaders must consider how to make schools more focused and creative in teaching the way of truth, trust, and peace. 

Peace is everyone's work, and we can all do something to be peacemakers. The Gospel imposes a duty on us to make peace on both macro and micro levels. We need to act small but think big, locally but globally. The truth is not just spoken; it is also done. St. Paul speaks of the need to "do the truth in love" (Eph 4:15). 

Some suggestions for making a real difference in peace-making include starting with oneself, praying before bedtime, praying for peace, taking action on issues that match passion and skills, making views and concerns known to local Members of Parliament, giving priority to encounters, contacting local reconciliation groups, supporting ethnic community organizations, focusing on listening more and talking less in conversations, learning about the culture and history of the people you accompany and support, serving them by helping them do what they decide is a priority, asking friends to share their experiences, seeking advice on their advocacy with governments, coming together regularly with others working in the same area, approaching local schools to learn how they educate students to be peace-makers, and joining an ecumenical or interfaith group that seeks to foster dialogue and peace-making. 

Personal Comment 

I read and re-read the full version of the statement a couple of times as I reduced it to a “quick read”. If the reader happens to get something out of this reduced version I urge you to access it here.