- Dom Helder Camara, archbishop of Recife
On March 2, 2010 radio host and Fox commentator Glenn Beck suggested that Christians should leave their churches if they found them using the terms "social justice or "economic justice". His reasoning was that those phrases are associated with Nazism and Communism.
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
- Micah 6:8
Rev. James Martin wrote on the Huffington Post:“It is not enough simply to help the poor, one must address the structures that keep them that way. Standing up for the rights of the poor is not being a Nazi, it’s being Christian".
As Christians and Franciscans who try to live out the Gospel each day, it is up to us to pray for those who would have people believe that helping the poor through "social or economic justice" is not what Jesus preached. It is up to those of us that believe this to live our lives demonstratively and show that Mr. Beck is wrong. Christians who believe in the Gospel, who believe in an active ministry to the poor and oppressed, are neither Nazi's or Communists but followers of Jesus.
Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse them.
- Romans 12:14