Outside of many courthouses you will see a statue of Lady Justice. She holds a set of scales in one hand and is, curiously, blindfolded. The scales represent her desire to address the imbalances and inequities of society. But what is meant by the blindfold? The blindfold shows that true justice treats everyone equally and impartially under the law. The notion of justice is enshrined in our Declaration of Independence: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain undeniable rights.” Each of us is made in the image and likeness of God, regardless of our gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. “Justice” means that all of us have access to the common good, including enforcement of laws, protection of rights and property, and the provision of basic services necessary to live wholesome lives. Likewise, all of us are held to the same level of accountability, whether we are a poor custodian or a wealthy former president. The U.S. Department of Justice has made “hate crimes” a more serious offense because in these cases a crime was committed against someone not because of what they did but because of who they are. Such a crime is also a grave mortal sin. Justice does not mean everyone will share wealth equally. The scales are always slightly unbalanced because, as Jesus said, “the poor you will always have with you” (Mk 14:7). The pursuit of the common good means that those who are rich (in money or influence) must use their status for the benefit of the whole rather than to increase their riches even further. Pope St. John Paul II spoke of this as “solidarity”, the result of cooperation and sharing of resources. Carved into stone above the entrance to the U.S. Supreme Court building is “Equal justice under law.” Amen! – – – Fr. Jim