Effective approaches to social justice must include spiritual and civic elements that go well beyond the material needs of less-fortunate people, and these essentials are best served through grassroots campaigns rather than top-down government programs. This truth becomes clearer when we contrast the writings of thinkers such as Catholic conservative Michael Novak and liberation theologist Gustavo Gutiérrez.

John A. Moore is professor in the Department of Finance and Economics at Walsh College.
Economic InequalityEconomic PolicyEconomy
Other Independent Review articles by John A. Moore
Spring 2024 Equality of Opportunity: A Century of Debate
Fall 2022 The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren G. Harding
Spring 2014 The Original Supply Siders: Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge