Religion assessment

• Catholic Social Teaching (CST)


  A body of thought that provides guidance on social justice issues
• See, Judge, Act methodology


  A practical application of CST that has been used to address various issues, including homelessness
• This report examines the effectiveness of the See, Judge, Act methodology in addressing homelessness in Australia
• See (first step)


  • Review the concrete situation
• According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were an estimated 116,000 people experiencing homelessness in Australia on any given night in 2016
• This is a significant increase from the estimated 102,000 people in 2011
• Causes of homelessness


  • Poverty
  • Lack of affordable housing
  • Domestic violence
  • Mental health issues
• Pope John XXIII: 'The Church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society'
• CST principles


  • Promote human dignity
  • Promote the common good
  • Preferential option for the poor
• Judge (second step)


  • Form a judgment on the situation in light of CST principles
• Housing is a basic human right and is essential for the human flourishing of individuals, families, and communities
• Adequate and affordable housing is a vital foundation for many aspects of life, including health, education, work, and social participation
• Act (third step)


  • Decide what can and should be done to implement CST principles
• Actions that can be taken


  • Governments invest in social housing
  • Increase funding for homelessness services
  • Provide affordable rental options
  • Policy responses address immediate needs and systemic causes
• Role of civil society


  • Catholic charities and other community organizations provide emergency accommodation
  • Support services
  • Advocacy for policy change
• The Catholic Church in Australia has a long and proud history of working to address homelessness and housing issues
• There is a need for collaboration between governments, civil society, and the private sector to address homelessness in Australia effectively
• The See, Judge, Act methodology has been effective in addressing social justice issues, including homelessness in Australia