The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode Title: Day 254: Social Justice (2025)
Date: September 11, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraphs 1928-1938

Episode Overview

This episode delves into Article 3, "Social Justice," from the Catechism. Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the Catholic Church’s vision of social justice, centered on two essentials: respect for the human person and the relationship between equality and differences among people. He emphasizes the transcendent dignity of every individual, the limitations of legislation in changing hearts, the imperative of Christian charity, and Catholic teaching on both equality and legitimate differences. Throughout, Fr. Mike grounds the discussion in Church writings and relatable, pastoral insights.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Defining Social Justice and Its Foundations

[02:11]

• Social justice is understood as society providing conditions for everyone to obtain what is due according to their nature and vocation, always linked to the common good and authority.
• Justice isn’t just about individuals, but about constructing a just society rooted in respect for each person’s dignity.
• “Social justice can be obtained only in respecting the transcendent dignity of man.” (Par. 1929)
• The Catholic concept of social justice is distinct from other cultural or ideological versions, always prioritizing the human person.

Fr. Mike: “Social justice is a thing we want not just individuals to have justice. We want our society to be just...but it's essential that that is based off of the respect for the individual, respect for the human person.”
[01:37]

2. Respect for the Human Person: Central Catholic Principle

[04:08]

• The person is the ultimate end of society; systems exist for people, not the other way around.

• Rights that flow from dignity precede society; society’s legitimacy relies on recognizing these rights.

• Quoting St. John Paul II:

  “What is at stake is the dignity of the human person whose defense and promotion have been entrusted to us by the Creator...”
  [Quote: 04:48]

• Disregard for rights undermines social legitimacy—authority without respect defaults to force or violence.

3. Limits of Legislation; The Need for Inner Conversion

[07:13]

• Laws alone cannot remove fears, prejudices, pride, or selfishness; transformation requires charity.
• True fraternity is established through seeing every person as “another self.”
• Christians are obliged to become neighbors, especially to the disadvantaged ("the least of these").

Fr. Mike: “There’s no law. There’s no law that will bring about justice. There is no law that will bring about love. You can never eradicate hatred...You can’t legislate that out of existence.”
[09:00]

4. Love of Neighbor and Enemy

[11:28]

• Christ’s teaching extends love even to enemies, requiring forgiveness and rejection of hatred.
• Freedom in the Gospel cannot coexist with hatred for persons—even enemies—though hatred for evil actions is legitimate.

Fr. Mike: “Liberation in the spirit of the Gospel is incompatible with hatred of one’s enemy as a person, but not with hatred of the evil that he does as an enemy.”
[12:13]

5. Equality and Differences Among People

[13:03]

• All are created in God’s image, redeemed by Christ, and destined for the same beatitude; thus, all have equal dignity.
• Any form of discrimination (sex, race, social condition, language, religion) is to be curbed and eradicated as contrary to God's design (Gaudium et spes).
• Legitimate differences exist: people have diverse talents, aptitudes, and roles. These are part of God’s plan.
• Differences are opportunities and obligations for generosity, kindness, and mutual enrichment.

St. Catherine of Siena (quoted):
“I do not give all virtues to each person...I have not given everything to one single person so that you may be constrained to practice charity towards one another...”
[15:50]

6. Sinful Inequalities and the Need for Fairness

[18:01]

• Sinful inequalities exist and contradict the Gospel—excessive economic and social disparities create scandal and disrupt peace.
• Christians are called to strive for more humane and equitable structures, always motivated by the dignity of each person.

7. Catholic “Both/And”: Tension, Not Heresy

[20:05]

• Catholics must hold all truths in tension, refusing to drop one for the sake of another; true Catholic teaching is coherent and holistic.
• Heresy results from emphasizing one truth at the expense of another; the Church’s account of social justice holds together the individual and the social.

Fr. Mike: “Heresy is a refusal to live in tension. Heresies refuses to live in paradox...We can't ever discard one truth for another truth.”
[20:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the dignity of the person:

  “Each individual is greater than any country. One individual is greater than any nation, any government, any corporation. Right? Why? Because every nation, every government, every corporation will cease to exist at some point, but there is no individual, there's no human being who will ever cease to exist.”
  — Fr. Mike, [05:55]

• On love transcending laws:

  “No legislation could by itself do away with fears, prejudices, and attitudes of pride and selfishness which obstruct the establishment of truly fraternal societies. Such behavior will cease only through the charity that finds in every man a neighbor or a brother.”
  — Catechism, paraphrased by Fr. Mike, [07:45]

• On loving all, even those different from us:

  “This same duty extends to those who think or act differently from us. The teaching of Christ goes so far as to require the forgiveness of offenses.”
  — Fr. Mike, [12:05]

• *On differences:

  “We are equal in dignity, but there is not a sameness...those differences belong to God’s plan.”
  — Fr. Mike, [16:34]

• On sinful inequalities:

  “There exist also sinful inequalities that affect millions...These are in open contradiction of the Gospel...excessive economic and social disparity...is a source of scandal and militates against social justice, equity, human dignity, as well as social and international peace.”
  — Paraphrased from Catechism and Gaudium et spes, [18:20]

Important Timestamps

• [01:37] — Introduction to the day’s theme: social justice, respect for the human person, and equality/differences.
• [04:08] — Definition of social justice and grounding in human dignity.
• [07:13] — Limitations of law and necessity of Christian charity.
• [11:28] — Love to enemies and forgiveness of offenses.
• [13:03] — Equality and differences; legitimate diversity of gifts.
• [16:34] — Differences as opportunities for charity.
• [18:01] — Condemnation of sinful inequalities.
• [20:05] — Catholic both/and approach; heresy as refusal of paradox.
• [21:51] — Preview of next topic: human solidarity.

Episode Tone and Style

Fr. Mike is warm, energetic, and pastoral, repeatedly encouraging listeners to hold paradoxes together (truth and charity, law and love, equality and difference), and to live out their faith in practical charity for all people—including those who differ or oppose them. He combines direct Catechism readings with accessible commentary and heartfelt personal stories.

In Summary

In Episode 254, Fr. Mike Schmitz offers a powerful unpacking of the Church's vision for social justice:

• It is grounded in the inviolable dignity of every person.
• It demands Christian charity that transcends mere legalism.
• It calls Catholics to eradicate unjust discrimination, recognize legitimate differences, and work for genuine equality and fairness.
• The path to holy society is not legislative alone but is realized through transformed hearts acting in love for all, even those most different or distant.

Fr. Mike closes by previewing the next topic, human solidarity, and inviting continued mutual prayer and growth in living as brothers and sisters.