Doing Justice and Loving Mercy: Compassion Ministries, Mentor's Guide, MG16

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D O I N G J U S T I C E A N D L O V I N G M E R C Y : C O M P A S S I O N M I N I S T R I E S

C. Poverty (an issue of justice ) and oppression (an issue of freedom )

1. All three causes of poverty may be interwoven and simultaneous.

2. Oppression may occur as a result of systems and structures which ensure that certain populations will remain unemployed or underemployed.

3. A significant issue: liberal and conservative ideologies do not explain the complexity and seriousness of the causes and operations of poverty .

a. Liberal ideologies tend to suggest that all poverty is the result of oppression by the wealthy upon the poor.

b. Conservative ideologies tend to suggest that all poverty is the result of personal laziness and lack of motivation.

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D. Affirming individual value: standing for basic human rights: living out the implications of the imago Dei

1. The right to live (touches issues such as abortion, euthanasia, health care, protection from violence and abuse , etc.)

2. The right to be safe in one’s environment (freedom from torture, intimidation, abuse )

3. The right to freedom from forced labor and slavery