Dr Mina Ramirez, President, Asian Social Institute
(ASI), Philippines & Member of the Pontifical Academy of
the Social Sciences
“Preaching Justice: Dominican Contributions to Social
Ethics in the 20th Century” is a much needed book for
study and reflection especially by Christian professionals who search for
meaning in their life in the light of Faith. The life stories of eminent
Dominican priests, and two lay people, significantly contributed to the
development of Christian social teachings by their praxis of integrating
Science and Christian Faith – the source of a vision of a socio-political,
communication and economic order which gives importance to human dignity,
common good, social justice, principle of subsidiarity and solidarity. Some
of the processes featured in this publication in resolving the social
question are still relevant for developing societies. In early and
mid-twentieth century, there was already an insight of the value of
participatory research, of self-empowerment approaches to instil a sense of
human dignity among the marginalized, whose language and culture should be
respected and of advocacy towards social legislation to enhance the
favourable conditions that would promote ‘fullness of life’ for all without
exclusion. Above all, the reader will breathe in, from a reflective reading
of the book, a worldview which puts people at the center of development
derived basically from the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. How to bring
about an economy that gives primacy to the person was a preoccupation
already then – and is still, now. Albert Nolan offers a socially engaged
spirituality from among those “being sinned against”. Reading the “signs of
the times” moves to Spirit-led action. Transforming “structures of sin”
into “structures of grace” in and through Christ is responding to the
calling towards a radical commitment to newness of God’s struggling people
and their social milieu. The twentieth century social ethics writers have
not dealt with the ecological dimension of the social question. A
foreshadowing of it appears in the social teaching of Arthur Utz (1908-2001)
grounded on categories derived from social philosophy and social ethics,
with implications for creation theology. While the ecological issue is not
yet a subject of concern among the Dominicans of the 20th
century, it nevertheless, no doubt, will be picked up by Dominican religious
priests, sisters and laity of the 21st century – a challenge in
this increasingly globalizing world. May all readers of this precious
document be inspired to participate in the circular movement of thought
(ideas), inquiry (research) and action towards Justice, Peace and Integrity
of Creation. ''
