Social policy considers individuals in different societies, and the structures of those societies that enable humanity to come to its fullness. In the context of the Christian Faith, Scripture, writings of theologians, Church Documents and the witness of just persons and communities, social policy is given a deeper meaning and a compelling reason for its purpose.
The purpose of social policy in the context of our Faith is three-fold:

• Personal - to guide individual consciences in making just decisions - e.g., the treatment of women and children, a fair wage, respect for the environment.
   
• Ecclesial - to shape the response of the church to social issues - e.g., racial attitudes, political involvement, care for the poor and vulnerable, and respect for the collective practice of people’s faith.
   
• Governmental - to influence the activities of the public sector - e.g., economic policies, international relations, peace and war strategies.
   
• These purposes - personal, ecclesial and governmental - are the reason why social policy is so important in the world today, and is an integral part of evangelisation.
   
• Social Justice and the common good are built up and torn down in the countless decisions and choices we make. We therefore have a responsibility both to our neighbour and to our fellow human beings across the world.

So how best can we carry the values of our faith into family life, the workplace and the public arena? How best can we be responsible in what we do in our daily lives?

First we need to understand how social policy allows God to reveal the truth to us. As we think about our Christian beliefs and social policies, we gain a deeper insight into what God is like, which in turn feeds our spirituality.

In other words, God can use social policy to reveal himself to us and to others. The more we know of God, the stronger our relationship with him becomes and the more we become aware of the needs of others.