Compassionate response: Intersection of religious faith and public policy
Files
Accepted manuscript
Date
2017-08-16
Authors
Collins, Mary Elizabeth
Garlington, Sarah
Version
OA Version
Citation
ME Collins, S Garlington. 2017. "Compassionate response: Intersection of religious faith and public policy." Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, Volume 36, Issue 4, pp. 392-408. https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2017.1358127
Abstract
Much of social work practice is rooted in compassion. Addressing compassion as a virtue, this article examines the possibilities for compassion to be more explicitly and purposefully built into actions at community and policy levels. We discuss the definition of compassion, examine the religious roots of compassion, describe some ways in which religion and policy intersect, and provide contemporary examples of compassion at the interface of religion and policy. In the discussion, we conclude with further thoughts about how compassion might be elevated in our collective societal actions and address the role of social work in these efforts.