Heschel and Hollenbach on justice and the common good

¶ … Justice

All of us are taught the difference between right and wrong, at a very early age, by society at large. Thus, we grow up expecting a fair world and instead face an imperfect one that is riddled by a great deal of injustice. Finding no satisfactory social solutions, we turn to religion, seeking divine answers to the social ills that affect us as individuals.

It is precisely these very questions that Heschel and Hollenbach seek to answer in their respective writings on 'justice.' Both point out that individual justice can only be achieved through a collective movement of humanity towards righteousness and the common good. Hollenbach takes a highly practical approach in addressing the dangers of a society that is increasingly becoming individualistic, riddled with private enclaves, the strength of which determines their political empowerment. This, in turn, leads to weaker enclaves feeling politically and socially powerless, which could finally result in threatening the very process of democratization. Hollenbach therefore advocates individual commitment to the common good necessitated by the "recognition of the reality of human interdependence." Hollenbach suggests that the ultimate common good can only be achieved through determination to promote justice for all. It is with this view that he suggests that Catholic education can play an important role (Is Tolerance Enough?) While Hollenbach focuses on the here and now, Heschel chooses to address the human need to realize the workings of the divine. He presents the perspective that divine pathos exists as a reaction to human conduct and that achieving sympathetic accordance, much like the Prophets, would lead to the understanding that adopting righteousness is the only answer to ensuring social justice for all.