What is Public Justice?

Public justice recognizes that much of what contributes to human flourishing is not government’s task.  This limits the scope of government’s work to promoting policies and practices that uphold the ability of other institutions and associations to make their full contributions to human flourishing.  

The principle of public justice also recognizes that much of what contributes to human flourishing is government’s task. Government is authorized by God to promote what is good for human flourishing.  This is often referred to as securing the common good –promoting the well-being of an entire society in right relationship with the larger world that God made.  As part of this, government is also the institution authorized to restrain sin through law and provide lawful retribution for injustice.

Center for Public Justice

Shared Justice is an initiative of the Center for Public Justice. 

The Center for Public Justice is an independent, nonpartisan organization devoted to policy research and civic education. Working outside the familiar categories of right and left, conservative and liberal, we seek to help citizens and public officeholders respond to God's call to do justice.

Our mission is to equip citizens, develop leaders, and shape policy in pursuit of our purpose to serve God, advance justice, and transform public life. The Center bases its research, publications, training, and advocacy work on a comprehensive, Christian political foundation. It was established in 1977 by a group of citizens interested in developing and communicating an integrated biblical view of political service and responsible government. Then, as now, the Center recognized the need to build and uphold a just republic and to promote just relations among the nations.