Social justice lies in the heart of the Catholic faith. It is a core value of most religious institutions affiliated with the catholic faith. Social justice pursues the goal of equal and fair treatment of people with respect to current and arising issues. Some of these issues include gang involvement, gun violence, racial discrimination, poverty, child abuse and neglect, inequitable income distribution, and chronic drug abuse. The list is extensive, especially if we consider societies in the developing world and not just US communities. Governments, multinational corporations, community-based and large non-profit organizations, as well as, individuals each have a role to play in ending social injustice. This paper will focus on Catholicism and its role in ending social injustice by drawing on the catholic based Homeboy Industries program.
Group Description: Homeboy Industries
Homeboy Industries was established in 1988 by Fr. Greg Joseph Boyle and has developed to become one of the largest rehabs and reentry programs for recently released felons in the world (Boyle, 2020) . The main goal for Homeboy Industries is to give training and support for ex-gang-bangers and ex-convicts who wish to turn their lives around and make valuable contributions to society. The founder of Homeboy Industries is a pragmatic visionary who envisaged a world without prisons based on the belief that everyone can change (Boyle, 2020). The global Homeboy Industries’ network has grown to reach over 250 like-minded organizations committed to impacting the lives of communities in countries around the world such as Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Argentina, and other countries in the Americas. Homeboy network also extends to Australia, Canada, Ireland, Great Britain, Sweden, South Africa, and New Zealand.
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Homeboy Industries provides a wide range of programs such as counseling, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, legal counsel, educational classes, employment-readiness training programs, and tattoo removals services to high-risk youth recently incarcerated or released felons and former gang-involved people for free. Most importantly, Homeboy Industries primary social responsibility is to provide formal employment to these vulnerable members of societies in Homeboy Industry-owned businesses such as Homeboy Bakery, Homeboy Merchandise, The Homeboy Diner, and other businesses in various parts of the United States, especially Los Angeles (Pelly & Zhang, 2018). Homeboy Industries provides these skills training, and opportunities in a safe and caring environment to contribute positively to their societies.
Homeboy Industries and Social Justice from a Theological Perspective
There are seven main themes of Catholic social teaching, most of which are relevant to this discussion. However, the discussion will focus primarily on the role of Homeboy Industry in preserving the life and dignity of human beings as people and acting as an option for the poor and vulnerable in society.
Homeboy Industries role in preserving life and human dignity
Catholicism proclaims the sacredness of life and the value of human dignity as moral compasses for society. The verse “Let us make mankind in our image and in our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26) shows the sacredness of life, while the ballad “You made us a little lower than you yourself, and you have crowned us with glory and honor” (Psalms 8:5) shows the dignity of human beings. Homeboy Industries provides people that once lived without dignity in prison with a dignified way to live outside communities. They rehabilitate gang members who lived in wars and conflicts with others and teach them to be responsible community members. They provide mental health counseling to addicts and ex-convicts who are at risk of losing their sacred God-given life.
Homeboy Industries as an option for the Poor and Vulnerable
God’s word teaches the value of helping the poor and the vulnerable in society. The verses: "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land" (Deuteronomy 15:1) and "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:3-4), show that God intends us to help the needy the weak and the vulnerable in society. Catholic teachings dictate that societies put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first, which will reduce the divide between the rich and the poor and help those who are facing injustice because of their vulnerable situation. Most prisoners lack jobs after they are released, and if they lack an option, they start committing crimes again (Siwach, 2018). Homeboy Industries provides them with alternative ways to make money legitimately through free employment training or actual jobs to get them started.
Conclusion
Homeboy Industries is a major inspiration because it caters to the needs of the group of people that no one cares about, that is, the ex-convicts, gang-bangers, and high-risk youth who everyone would rather see behind bars. A similar program targeting destitute neighborhoods, sex offenders, sex workers, and chronic drug users should be implemented because these are the primary risk factors for gang involvement. In conclusion, I would like to know how Homeboy Industries intends to create the envisaged ‘world without prisons’ (Boyle, 2020).
References
Boyle, G. (2020, October 1). “We imagine a world without prisons, and then we try to create that world. ” . Retrieved from homeboyindustries: https://homeboyindustries.org/
Pelly, R. D. M., & Zhang, Y. (2018). Homeboy Industries: Redefining Social Responsibility. Journal of Case Research and Inquiry , 4 , 17.
Siwach, G. (2018). Unemployment shocks for individuals on the margin: Exploring recidivism effects. Labour Economics , 52 , 231-244.
