The Heart of Evangelization is Justice
Justice as the Heart of Evangelization: A Deep Reflection on Justice in the World (1971)
Introduction
When the Synod of Bishops gathered in 1971 to address the most urgent concerns of a rapidly changing world, they issued one of the most powerful social documents in modern Catholic history: Justice in the World (Justicia in Mundo). Emerging only a few years after the Second Vatican Council, the document expressed a profound conviction: justice is not merely an optional moral concern but an essential dimension of the Gospel itself.
For readers who want to deepen their understanding of Church teaching, a helpful companion is the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (Amazon), which offers a well-organized overview of Catholic social principles, including justice, solidarity, and human dignity.
The Synod Fathers stressed that the Church’s mission of evangelization cannot be credible unless it is grounded in justice—both in society and within the Church’s own life. This is particularly developed in paragraphs 39–45, which emphasize responsibility, transparency, simplicity of life, and solidarity with the poor.
“The Church has the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel. Thus, it must be able to speak with credibility by embodying justice within its own life.” (Justice in the World, no. 40)
This expanded commentary explores the theological depth, pastoral challenges, and contemporary relevance of Justice in the World—illuminating how it continues to shape Catholic social teaching more than fifty years after its publication.
Justice Within the Church: The Foundation of Evangelization
A central teaching of Justice in the World is the assertion that the Church must be a model of justice. The bishops boldly write that the Church cannot credibly preach justice unless it first practices justice internally (no. 40). This principle echoes the ecclesiology of Vatican II, particularly Lumen Gentium, which affirms that every member of the Church shares responsibility in her mission.1
Those exploring internal Church reform might benefit from reading Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel (Amazon), a powerful pastoral document where Pope Francis confronts clericalism and calls for accountability and participation.
This internal justice includes:
- Fair labor practices in Catholic schools, parishes, and institutions
- Just wages and benefits for employees
- Participatory decision-making processes
- Respect for the rights of the laity and women
- Transparent and accountable administration
“The rights of all the faithful, especially women and the laity, must be respected in participation and decision-making.” (JW, no. 40)
The Synod Fathers were prophetic in stating that justice begins at home. A Church that seeks justice in society must first cultivate it within its own structures. Pope Francis reinforces this in Evangelii Gaudium (2013), where he warns against clericalism and calls for a participatory Church open to the contributions of all.2
The Image of the Church in the World
Paragraph 44 raises a critical and timeless challenge: the Church must evaluate how her possessions, institutions, and lifestyle appear to the world. A Church that appears wealthy, distant, or aligned with political power loses credibility among the poor. Pope Paul VI had already stressed this years earlier in Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975), declaring:
“The world listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers.” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, no. 41)
This raises essential questions that remain urgent today:
- Do Church institutions operate with the simplicity of the Gospel?
- Do clergy and Church leaders model a lifestyle consistent with solidarity, or do they resemble elites?
- Do the Church’s financial investments prioritize the poor and creation?
- Does the Church accompany the marginalized in practical ways?
To sustain a lifestyle of simplicity and intentionality, even at home, some readers may find tools such as a Minimalist Budget Planner (Amazon) useful for daily decisions aligned with Gospel values.
The Synod warns that when the Church becomes too comfortable with wealth, privilege, or political influence, it risks undermining the very Gospel it proclaims.
A Lifestyle That Makes the Gospel Credible
Paragraph 45 calls for both the Church and individual Christians to embrace lifestyles that reflect Christ’s own simplicity. This is not merely asceticism—it is missional. A simple lifestyle strengthens the credibility of the Church’s proclamation to the poor. Pope Francis echoes this call repeatedly, famously urging pastors to be “shepherds with the smell of the sheep.”3
“The lifestyle of the Church and its members must not hinder the proclamation of the Gospel to the poor.” (JW, no. 45)
This teaching has three core implications:
- Simplicity: avoiding extravagance or signs of privilege
- Solidarity: standing with the poor in their struggles
- Witness: showing that faith transforms everyday choices
Some Christians turn to the Laudato Si’ Study Guide (Amazon) to understand how simplicity and ecological justice deepen one’s witness to the Gospel.
Case Study 1: Just Wages in Catholic Schools
Consider a diocese where Catholic school teachers earn significantly below the national average. Many teachers work a second job just to meet basic needs. Inspired by Justice in the World, the diocesan leadership initiates a multi-year plan to raise salaries, improve benefits, and establish teacher representation in decision-making.
The result is not only improved morale but also stronger alignment between the Church’s teaching and its institutional practices. This becomes a living witness to JW’s insistence that “laborers in Church institutions must enjoy the rights they proclaim for others” (JW, no. 40).
Case Study 2: Parish Wealth and Social Mission
A wealthy urban parish plans to build a grand new parish center costing millions. Parish leaders, after studying JW 44–45, shift their approach: they reduce construction costs, reallocate part of the budget to support a nearby informal settlement, and open their facilities to NGOs serving migrant families.
The local community begins viewing the parish not as “rich and distant,” but as a partner and servant. This shift mirrors JW’s teaching that the Church’s outward image must reflect its preferential love for the poor.
Case Study 3: Women in Leadership
In response to JW’s call to respect “the rights of all the faithful,” a diocese establishes a policy guaranteeing women’s presence in finance councils, diocesan boards, and pastoral planning committees. This initiative enhances transparency, broadens perspectives, and strengthens the diocese’s credibility in advocating for gender justice in society.
Contemporary Applications: Why JW Still Matters Today
Despite being written more than fifty years ago, Justice in the World remains prophetic for the 21st-century Church. Its insights apply to issues such as:
- Clericalism and abuse crises – Justice requires transparency, accountability, and participation.
- Migrants and refugees – Solidarity demands more than charity; it requires advocacy and structural change.
- Ecological justice – Anticipating Laudato Si’, JW calls for addressing global inequality and protecting creation.
- Synodality – JW’s emphasis on participation foreshadowed today’s global synodal process.
At its core, the Synod’s teaching insists that faith and justice are inseparable. Evangelization must be rooted in the transformation of unjust structures—beginning inside the Church and extending outward to the world.
Conclusion: Justice as a Way of Life
Justice in the World continues to challenge every Christian community. It demands more than statements and pastoral letters. It calls for:
- just structures
- fair labor practices
- transparent leadership
- simple and credible lifestyles
- solidarity with the poor
- a willingness to be transformed
The Church becomes credible when its life and institutions reflect the justice of the Gospel. To proclaim Christ is to work for justice; to work for justice is to reveal Christ.
Call to Action: How do you see justice—or the lack of it—within your own parish, school, or diocese? Share your stories or insights in the comments. Your reflection may inspire change.
Related Posts
- Recommended Reads
- Depth, Universality, and the Learned Ministry
- Human Commitment as Religious Commitment
- Case Studies: Social Sin and Injustice
- Structural Injustice in the World
- Reflection on Real Development of the Poor
Disclosure
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Recommended Resources
- Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
- Evangelii Gaudium (Pope Francis)
- Minimalist Budget Planner
- Laudato Si’ Study Guide
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