Many people in the world today do not have access to the advantages and privileges as I do. The 'See, Judge, Act' method was introduced by Father Cardijn in the early 20th century, to address the disadvantages or injustices endured by countless people across the globe. This is called 'social justice'- our ability to realise the potential we hold in making a difference in the lives of people who are not as fortunate as others. For more information on the See, Judge, Act method and how you can use it, see below.
A social justice issue which is sadly very common today is child marriage. According to UNFPA 2012, more than 1,000,000 girls born between 2005 and 2010 will be married or in union before they turn 18. My focus is on Niger, on the map below, a country where the rate of child marriage is the highest in the world. Child marriage in Niger is an everyday thing, although it is a fundamental violation of human rights. UNICEF states that between 2002 and 2012, 36.1% of children were married by the age of fifteen, often to a husband or wife many years older than they are.
A social justice issue which is sadly very common today is child marriage. According to UNFPA 2012, more than 1,000,000 girls born between 2005 and 2010 will be married or in union before they turn 18. My focus is on Niger, on the map below, a country where the rate of child marriage is the highest in the world. Child marriage in Niger is an everyday thing, although it is a fundamental violation of human rights. UNICEF states that between 2002 and 2012, 36.1% of children were married by the age of fifteen, often to a husband or wife many years older than they are.
About the See, Judge, Act Method
The See, Judge, Act Method is a three-step guide to making the right decisions, developed by a Belgian priest named Father Joseph Cardijn (1882-1967) in the early 20th century. Since then, this method has greatly inspired the Catholic theory and practice of social justice, with even Pope John XXIII using it by 1963. Fr. Cardijn encouraged his friends to SEE the world around them, JUDGE what they noticed in accordance with the church and Gospel values, and then to ACT to make the world a better, more loving and equal place.
Here's how you can do it too, using these three steps:
1. SEE- Explore or investigate the experience or situation to reveal all of its positive and negative meanings.
2. JUDGE- Make an informed judgement of what you have seen, in the light of your personal values, and your faith's values.
3. ACT- Your action can take any form. It can be a personal or group action. As long as you are making a difference in the world, you can be as creative as you want!
Here's how you can do it too, using these three steps:
1. SEE- Explore or investigate the experience or situation to reveal all of its positive and negative meanings.
2. JUDGE- Make an informed judgement of what you have seen, in the light of your personal values, and your faith's values.
3. ACT- Your action can take any form. It can be a personal or group action. As long as you are making a difference in the world, you can be as creative as you want!