Social Justice and the Churches : Challenges and Responsibilities

Social justice is not just a matter of applying well-known first principles shared by all Christian traditions. As these papers by representatives of seven Australian Churches show, Christian approaches to social justice are startlingly distinctive, both in their starting points and in the positions arrived at on urgent matters of human rights, sexual ethics and economic justice. Led off by the well-known Jesuit human rights advocate, Professor Frank Brennan, the book includes contributions by: Father Max Vodola (Roman Catholic), Reverend Gerard Rose (Churches of Christ), Reverend Geoff Pound (Baptist), Reverend Raymond Cleary (Anglican), Mark Zirnsak (Uniting Church), Major Jenny Begent (Salvation Army) and Father Shenouda Boutros (Coptic Orthodox Church), with concluding reflections by Margaret Coffey (ABC Radio National). This book is the work of the Yarra Institute for Religion and Social Policy, an independent ecumenical organisation promoting scholarship and research on Christian social traditions as they bear on current concerns. Launched in 2009 by Professor Brian Howe, the Yarra Institute is committed to engag- ing with our broader culture collaboratively to promote human well-being. The authors of these chapters come from seven of the Christian traditions which have theological Colleges comprising the University of Divinity in Melbourne.