Examine some of the ways in which Marxists explain crime Essay

One way in which Marxists examine crime is the idea that they feel crime is inevitable in capitalism because capitalism in itself is criminogenic. Due to capitalism being based on exploiting the working class by using them as a means of making profit, this is therefore damaging to the working class and arguably explains why crime is committed. Due to the exploitation of the working class, which may lead to poverty and in some cases the only way to survive poverty, is by using crime in order to feed and clothe families. Crime may also be the only way the working class can compete in this world of consumer goods, encouraged by capitalist advertising, resulting in theft and robbery. Lastly the lack of control the working class have on their lives due to being controlled by their capitalist bosses and government can lead to frustration in the working class which in some situations can only be vented through violent crimes and vandalism. However this theory is floored as not all crime is committed by the working class and this theory does not take into account white collared crime such as tax fraud, therefore Gordon argues that crime is a rational response to the capitalist system and is therefore found in all social classes, even if the statistics say otherwise. Another Marxist idea that helps explain crime is Selective Enforcement. This is the idea that some Marxist do except that crime is widespread over all classes but the way in which the criminal justice system is applied, is unfair against those in working class and ethnic minorities. Whereas crime committed by the elite is ignored and treated with less severity. This is shown in Reiman’s book â€Å"The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison† the book shows that there is a disproportionally high rate of prosecutions against crime associated with the working class such a burglary and assault whereas crime typically committed by the rich such as tax evasion is treated with a more forgiving view in the justice system. This is could be argued to be due to the fact that people whom are more likely to commit tax fraud are affluent and therefore may have links in the justice system and can afford top lawyers. Neo Marxists are sociologist whom have been influenced by many ideas of traditional Marxists. Taylor agrees with agrees with the following Marxists theories on crime such as, the idea that capitalism exploits the working class, that the state enforces laws to benefit the higher classes and that capitalism should be replaced with a classless state in order for crime rates to decrease. However Taylor feels that that traditional Marxists are deterministic , for example traditional Marxists feel that workers commit crimes out of economic necessity. Whereas neo Marxists such as Taylor are anti-determinism and therefore feel that the reason why many of the working class commit crime is due to external factors such as anomie, subcultures and labelling. Due to this voluntarism view of the causes of crime, Taylor feels the working class aren’t just crime committing puppets and takes a micro approach to causes and looks at individual cases and argues whether external factors such as abu se at young age have taken on effect as to why crime is committed.

Relaxing on the Beach

Relaxing On the Beach Everyone goes through stress at some point in his or her lifetime. Coming from Basic Military Training was no deferent. Consistently getting yelled at, even for doing the right thing, being in top notch physical shape by running five miles a day or paying attention to detail by removing one tiny microscopic string from one's uniform stress will eventually add up. While we all go through stress, we all need to deal with stress and relax in our own ways.The white sandy beach right off base is so calming and peaceful I can sit and relax with friends while letting my mind wonder and simply leaving the â€Å"real world† behind for the day. After being pummel by spit for eight and a half weeks In San Antonio, Texas. All I want to do is be on the white sandy beach of Billow, Mississippi, relaxing in the hot sun. Grabbing my six string. Few buddies, and other beach essentials I headed out the door in a flash.Walking outside to the beach I couldn't help but notice the white ND puffy cuneiform clouds in the sky telling me this was going to be a good day. We could hear kids laughing, sea gulls chirping, and waves crashing in the distant but Just couldn't tell how much further our trek had to go. Feeling like a camel walking across the Sarah Desert, we finally saw it, the big blue ocean only to be seen in travel magazines. A sea breeze hit our face making us feel and smell the freedom In the air.Immediately arriving on the white soft sandy beach, our sandals came off and we let our feet feel the sand between our toes. Walking down the beachfront we saw a rainbow of tent tops and with little kids laughing and giggling made music to my ears. Finally arriving at an empty spot we opened up the cooler and had our thirst quenched by ice-cold lemonade. We began laughing and telling jokes trying to soak up the sun's radiation to give us a golden bronze tan. Soon after being in the hot son we began lathering on suntan lotion, which gave off the aroma of summer, was finally here.After a while we all decided to take a nap and let our minds wander where they ay. Lying on the hot summer sand and listening to the sounds of summer, all of the stress has been slowly lifted off my shoulders, almost feeling weightless. We had no shoes, no shirts, and no problems. Eventually, the perfect day had to come to an end. Sitting down watching the waves slowly crash against the shore we listened to the six string guitar play a little melody that made one remind of the peaceful times of life and made the day nice and relaxing.Sitting there listening to the melody we watched the bright sun set running into an orange masterpiece for our eyes to fixate on. Nothing more could be done In this day to make it any more peaceful and relaxing. In conclusion, the beach can be a way to relax for the day and be a calming place for someone trying to get away from stress. Everyone goes through stress In life and 1 OFF and friends or watching the sunset while liste ning to a melody the beach can be a beneficial way to relive stress in one's life and leave the stress at the door of the â€Å"real world†.

Canterbury Tales Analysis

Physically the two characters appear extremely different. The knight is dressed in a fustian tunic, â€Å"Stained and dark with smudges where his armour had left mark† (Chaucer 5). Although he is a distinguished man, he dresses humbly and does not give the appearance of arrogance. It is also apparent that he carries a sword, which would match his profession as a knight because he is able to fight. The Sea Captain’s attire matches his occupation. He wears a â€Å"Woollen gown that [reaches] his knee† (Chaucer 15); he is tan and has a large beard. He carries a dagger, implying that he knows how to fight and defend himself like the Knight. Considering their occupations, one can find many similarities. They are both very proficient at their jobs. The Sea Captain is described as having no competition: â€Å"None from Hull to Carthage was his match† (Chaucer 16). He is experienced and knows the seas better than any captain. He is known for his skill at commanding his ship, the Maudelayne. He frequently travels the sea. Similarly, the knight is a traveler, except on land. He is an experienced fighter, as he has been in many battles. He was present at the battle where Alexandria was taken in 1365 by the King of Cyprus. In fifteen mortal battles he had been† (Chaucer 5). According to the examples of battles given in the text, the knight rarely loses a battle. He owns fine horses and is skilled at riding horseback. However, behavior is what really sets these two characters apart. The knight is a chivalrous man. He believes in truth, honor, and generosity. People look up to him; he is â€Å"Ever honoured for his noble graces† (Chaucer 4). A Christian and a virtuous man, he is even more humbled by his position as a knight. His many victories did not permit him to lose his modesty; instead, they led him to be wise and honorable. The Sea Captain, in contrast, is a fearsome character. When dealing with prisoners, â€Å"The nicer rules of conscience he ignored† (Chaucer 16); they walked the plank. Not a virtuous man by any means, he has a reputation of stealing goods from traders while they sleep. Those who fight him fear him. He does not have a high position in society, but his brutality and prudence make him successful in battle. He is revered for his skill and success, but people do not look up to him. In summary, the use of foil by Chaucer enables the reader to notice differences and similarities between the Knight and the Sea Captain. They have similar occupations, but different roles in society as well as nearly opposite personalities. The foil emphasizes their characteristics to make them even more prominent to the reader. For example, the knight’s Christian values make the Sea Captain seem extremely harsh and lowly in comparison. The reader will be able to gain more out of the story these characters tell because of how detailed their character sketches are. Specifically, the characters are given more depth by their similarities and differences to other characters in the tale.

Summary of TWA Flight 800 Accident Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summary of TWA Flight 800 Accident - Essay Example The plane exploded approximately 10 minutes after takeoff , and all 230 were killed, with the plane considered to be ‘destroyed’, breaking up into pieces and crashing into the Atlantic Ocean. The ‘why’ of the accident is harder to determine, as many conspiracy theories have come to life in the almost 15 years since the accident. The official cause listed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was one of â€Å"fuel tank failure†, stating that the center wing fuel tank exploded. Though no concrete cause was determined for the explosion, most speculate that it was a short circuit of the wiring outside the fuel tank, which then led to a chain reaction and breaking up of the airplane when the fuel ignited. After the TWA Flight 800 accident, measures were taken to prevent another accident from occurring like this one. The post-accident report of the NTSB focused on safety issues, stating that a contributing factor was the fact that there was a h eat source beneath the fuel tank with no way to cool that source, as well as no way to prevent the vapors that were given off by the fuel tank from igniting. In 1997, extensive tests were done to measure fuel output in conditions similar to Flight 800, as well as measure the temperature of the fuel and determine if it was flammable at those temperatures.

Middle east and west Asia Reading Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Middle east and west Asia Reading - Assignment Example Modernization and industrialization was accompanied by loss of independence. At the beginning of the 17th century, Japan used to exclude itself from all contact with any other nation (Annika & Bo 63). The warriors, samurai army and damaiyo used to offer protection to the peasants. During 1867, the Meiji ruling realized the ways of encountering the influence of the west, which was through modernization. It is this duration that the Japanese decided to select what was best from the Western civilization and practiced in the state. The Middle East also suffered from forced modernization where the nation had to learn the smooth acceptance of modernization and industrialization (Ashok & Sisodia 50). The modernization programs complemented the political and economic considerations under different cultural and social grounds. A major approach was to shut off illiteracy in the Middle East during forced modernization. The arrival of the west impacted on the Islamic world where it reduced to Europe-dependent bloc. The Muslims rejected the European paradigm and the felt humiliated because the Palestine lost to Zionism (Annika & Bo 63). The religious, economic, political and social structures forced the Muslims to make irreversible progress such as industrial production, ideals of democracy & progress, social modernization, investment capital and technology. Rabo, Annika, and Bo Utas. The Role of the State in West Asia: Papers Read at a Conference Held at the Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul, 14-16 November 2002. Stockholm: Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul, 2005.

Market in econmoy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Market in econmoy - Essay Example In oligopoly the whole market is controlled by small group of firms. Here at least two firms control the market. This market has small competition with high price. Monopolistic competition is an imperfect competition where many producers sell different types products. There are large numbers of customers and sellers. In monopoly market there is a single supplier and large number of buyer. The seller produces a particular commodity. This four types of market rules the economy. The characteristics of perfect competitive market are the buyers and sellers cannot affect the price of the market. Here the firms always try to maximize the profit by increasing the output levels. A huge amount of competition exists in the market. Entry and exit from this market is very easy for the firms. Barriers in entering the market are less. Many small firms are present in a large number (Dwivedi, 2002). Almost identical products are sold by the companies. There is a perfect knowledge of price and technology is present in the market. All the firms in perfect competition maintain almost the same price and faces horizontal demand. In monopolistic competition there are different types of product with many firms. The products of the companies are almost same. The firms produce close substitute products. This market is characterized with various products and many firms. In the long run of monopolistic competition there is no exit and entry cost in the long run. The buyers and sellers are the independent in making decision (Dwivedi, 2009). They don’t have perfect information about the market. The companies in this market incur a huge expenditure on its advertisements for attracting customers. The firms charge the price which is higher than marginal cost. A firm operating in a monopoly market is the only seller of products or services without any such close substitutes. Monopoly market represents a specific economic structure. Monopolies are usually characterized by competition

Final Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 4

Final Exam - Assignment Example P3 initiates RNAIII that codes 6-hemolysin. P2 operon is 3Kb in length. It is unique when compared to P3 since it has up to four open reading frames, agrA, agrB, agrC, and agrD. The agrA controls the sensory transduction while agrB is responsible for the production of histidine phosphokinase in bacteria. Due to mutations, defects may occur in any one of four open reading frames, the resulting strains don’t have P2 and P3 transcripts, beside they become arg-. These strains cannot initiate transcription from the P2 and P3. Insertion at C1Ai site in the RNARIII region in P3 results in inactivation of arg functions. 2. a) ÃŽ ²-lactamase has higher activity as compared to the normal P2 and P3 promoters, and thus ÃŽ ²-lactamase can make other existing non-useful plasmids like p1524 unstable. Using P2 and P3 instead of ÃŽ ²-lactamase allows expression of the p15424, and this interferes with the results. b) RN6390B, arg+ produces stronger signals for alpha and beta hemolysins than does RN69 11, a null-arg strain, whose signal is extremely weak. If the researcher used arg+ instead, he would not obtain the same results due to interference by other unnecessary signals. c) When a B lymphocyte secretes antibodies that are directed towards a specific epitope on an antigen, we call the antibodies monoclonal. However, when a significant number of antibodies are secreted that have different affinities and specificities towards different epitopes, we call them polyclonal antibodies. B- hemolysin antibody is a polyclonal antibody, has a wide range of affinities and specificities and thus it can detect any antigen present in its environment. d) In anti-b blot, protein A produces a stronger signal for arg-a42 and no signal in arg-a40. The signal for B-hemolysin is present only in arg-a40 and not arg-a42. These results mean that different regions of P3 codes for different chemicals. 3. The author used RN7220 because it can increase the hla

Nov -30 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nov -30 - Essay Example Of course our daddies were out â€Å"hunting with the boys†; which really amounted to making and selling bootleg liquor, or exchanging news about Klan activities. Our sainted mothers, on the other hand, had a social position to keep that was essential to survival because it guaranteed employment, a safe place to live, and social acceptance. We all went to segregated schools and churches, and shopped on â€Å"this† not â€Å"that† side of the railroad tracks; that’s just the way it was, fear of change mandated it. When I look at Okaloosa County, Florida today, I see not much has changed. Only sixteen percent of the residents are identified as â€Å"non-white†, with nine percent of that group comprising African-Americans. The good ole boys: white, republican, church going, terrified of change in any form, backwoods men ensure that their little haven is safe from change. The women know their places, and none of them make enough money to be a threat of any kind to the man’s world there. This is the same kind of thinking that gave birth to the terrorism we are experiencing today at the hands of Al Qaeda. Fear of change, fear of progress, fear of diversity; the greatest enemy of mankind is fear. Where there is fear, there is no room for love or progress of any

Hydrocodone (Vicodin) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hydrocodone (Vicodin) - Essay Example This medicine should not be taken with the Alcohol or CNS depressant as it very dangerous from health point of view. Hydrocodone may be habit forming. Patients should stop using as soon as the prescribed period got over. The generally reported adverse reactions are faintness, wooziness, sedation, queasiness and vomiting. These effects seem to be more prominent in those who are working while in people who stays idle may experience severe reactions. Other adverse reaction might include different reactions on the central nervous system (mood swings, fear, lethargy etc), Gastrointestinal System (constipation), Respiratory System (respiratory depression), Special Senses (hearing can be damaged) and Dermatological (allergic reactions like rashes etc) As for the contraindications, this medicine should never be used by those patients who have a record of exhibition to hypersensitivity to hydrocodone or acetaminophen. As patients who are known to be hypersensitive to any opioids, may exhibit cross-sensitivity to hydrocodone. Reaction of Vicodin is related to how Hydrocodone and acetaminophen works in the body.

Keeping the Canon Dim and Dull Essay Example for Free

Keeping the Canon Dim and Dull Essay American novelist Nicholas Sparks ranks among the #1 best sellers of today with 14 novels in 13 years; four of them adapted in film and put his authorship in a bigger mainstream. With Kevin Costner as Garrett Blake in Message in a Bottle (1999), Mandy Moore as Jamie Sullivan in A Walk to Remember (2002), and Richard Gere as Dr. Paul Flanner in Nights to Rodanthe (2008), it became far easier for the name to leave a commercial mark and drop some familiarity among young and old alike. But can commercial success lift a writer’s distinction in the literary world? What exactly makes a canon? To put it simply, is Nicholas Sparks a canon writer? The word canon itself becomes trite these days with the plethora of websites from Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter that treat just any bit of hype to be a canon. Both created history in bestseller and box office but none of the two is â€Å"universally† considered as a literary canon although LotR is considered to father the modern fantasy stories. According to Stevens, literary canons are not just worthy of serious academic attention; they have also become â€Å"celebrated names† holding some measure of universal acclaim. They are too many in history, Shakespeare and his magnum opera would be the most obvious to mention. Of course, who does not know the Dickensonian Ebenezer Scrooge, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield or even Fagin? In the romantic genre, Jane Austen could captivate you body and soul with Pride and Prejudice and Emma. So where exactly does Nicholas Sparks fall? Before anything else, it is important to note that there is no written policy on the establishment of a literary canon. A work is canonized only when it is included in the literary works that are studied and respected by literary or academic critics. Since literature is evolving and is perceived differently at the context of time and the critic’s subjective experience, the canonization then is generally subjective in nature and thus transcends time. For example, Jane Austen who is much celebrated for her comedy of manners and intellectual repartees remained close to anonymous until given a posthumous academic recognition in the 20th century. It might be a blunder to compare Sparks to Austen but a comparison is necessary to establish the argument – does Sparks belong to the canon poll? Since there is not a precise appraisal to making the canon mark, let us then examine his works at the context of its impact on literature and culture, while studying its literary style and end. Nicholas Sparks writes love stories, most often contain tragic endings and set the tragedy-in-fate archetype he is infamous for. He considers it a completely different genre and forbids to be labelled a romance writer. â€Å"I dont write romance novels, any more than Tom Clancy writes legal thrillers†, he said in an interview covered by bookreporter. com. The Romance Writers of America explains it this way: â€Å"Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending. † (Simpson) Given this description, Sparks could either be doing one of the two; benchmarking a love story genre or falling into the romance novel trap half foot. Unlike the majority of writers who fashion their characters first and create the conflict that suit the characters just second, Sparks admit to be doing the otherwise. Though his characters are inspired by real people (Jamie Sullivan was inspired by the death of her sister Danielle), he made them more compelling by making their conflicts larger than life. The flop in such a technique is apparent to any sophisticated reader or writer wannabe – instead of the characters giving the plot the edge and leading it to a compelling climax, the characters become mere pawns to the writer’s intent. There will be little to no relevant character development. The reader will struggle to identify a character to remember, the plot will overshadow it all, especially when it is so tragic, it leaves you wishing for a different twist. This is contradictory to most tragic love stories, classical in literature. In Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily (short story), though the end is foretold in the beginning, what draws you is the narrative that so ardently expressed the issues, both internal and external, in vivid detail. In the end, the reader will come to understand that the death of one character does not necessarily define the tragedy in the story – but how the character evolved so as to reach that cheerless conclusion. Message in a Bottle (1998), A Walk to Remember (1999) and Nights at Rodanthe (2002) all exemplify this flat disaster. The Notebook (1996) has some good moments particularly with its compelling narrative in the beginning, but still, the characterization failed to maintain the force given the very predictable outcome. For always, Sparks brings us to a TIME when people were not troubled by major social conflicts or to a simple, smaller PLACE where his characters live detached from conflicts and distractions of modern day. Sparks however, stands on his novels being realistic. It can be observed that most of his women – Allie Nelson (The Notebook), Theresa Osborne (Message in a Bottle), Denise Holton (The Rescue) and Elizabeth Green (The Lucky One) to name a few, were divorcees or single mothers trying to have a hold on life and finding their self in love once again. The situation per se is indeed realistic especially in this time. What made them stranger than fiction though is how they confronted these realistic struggles in a way, only a pen could smudge. For instance in The Notebook, Allie’s love for Noah was rekindled with not much plot support. The mother confessed of her ploy to separate them and the key to the reunion was easily established. In Message in a Bottle, Theresa embarked on a detective search for Garrett out of mere curiosity. Given that Theresa is a journalist, has a child and just finds herself caught in an unexpected divorce, it would be very uncharacteristic for her to feel real sappy and romantic over somebody she clearly did not know, and who matter-of-fact declared his love for someone else. Clearly, all these characters and sub-plots turned out not because they evolved like how humans are supposed to, but because that is how exactly the writer intended it to be. Taking into the iceberg principle of 10/90, 10% was real while the submerged 90% was a loosely based romance archetype. In fact, the plots of the 13 novels were prototyped from The Notebook, his first. That is why, only hardcore romance suckers would get whatever thrill there is while the more sophisticated readers who are looking for more sense and substance find the subsequent readings redundant and predictable. Although The Notebook and A Walk to Remember books were set in 1932 and 1958 respectively, it did not contain any historical account or social issues relevant to the setting specified. Unlike with Gabriel Marquez of One Hundred Years of Solitude, whose diversity of structure and literary plot showed the postmodernism for which he belongs, Sparks seems lost in principle and time. He is not a realist, not an impressionist, not a neo-classicist and does not claim to be a romantic. His works lack social and historical relevance and thus have no place in a serious academic discussion. For one, there is no need for a brow-knitting analytical criticism. In fact, your brows would knit effortlessly for lack of needed smarts than for over thinking. To get the sparks going, a reader only needs to have his / her tear glands all set, with the tissue or hanky at hand and the ride is on. Things can get pretty predictable so in order to avoid any failed expectation; do not expect anything at all. With Nicholas Sparks, the best thing you could get out of your seven bucks is a good cry and a great kiss. So what made Nicholas Sparks one of the most bankable writers at the moment? Personally, I see his first three works to be the primary determinant. The Notebook was a good spank for an undying love. Message in a Bottle was a curious case after the first hit. A Walk to Remember captivated a whole new, much younger audience. But all the rest that followed bored us to tears or to death. With each novel written and published just mere months after the other, it is clear that more than creating works of literary art, Nicholas Sparks is better hauled for the money. I am not saying it is a bad choice but it is not a direction for creating literary mark like Hemingway or Faulkner long achieved. Or maybe, we can blame Hollywood for taking a toll on the evolution or decline of American literature. With most of the writers choosing the more marketable screenplay career and with people going visual, it is indeed easier to go with the current and deliver the visual imagery the audience is looking for. Or maybe, just like the many writers that their time rejected, the future might hold a place for Nicholas Sparks and prove this personal deduction to be false. Only time could tell. For now, much credit is given to the stars that made Sparks’ masterpieces more compelling than the lines they convey and continue to burn Nicholas’ name in Amazon, or in the bookshops near you. References Simpson, Donna Lea. â€Å"What Defines the Romance Novel†. suite101. com. 12 November 2007. http://romancefiction. suite101. com/article. cfm/what_defines_a_romance_novel, accessed 25 April 2009 Stevens, Charlotte. The Literary Canon. The Literary Encyclopedia. 10 January 2007. [http://www. litencyc. com/php/stopics. php? rec=trueUID=158, accessed 25 April 2009. ] Bookreporter. com. â€Å"Nicholas Sparks†. 1996-2009. http://www. bookreporter. com/authors/au-sparks-nicholas. asp, accessed 25 April 2009.

Catholic Views on Social Issues

Catholic Views on Social Issues â€Å"Religion is the set beliefs, feelings, dogmas and practices that define the relations between human being and sacred or divinity† (Green, 1962, pg. 1). Religion is a way for people to have a strong confidence in something greater than themselves. Religion also brings unity to communities by creating stability and order. On the other hand, some critics may argue that religion creates more conflict than resolution, due to corruption and contradiction. Religion can be defined in three characteristics: Believes and religious practices, the religious feeling (such as faith), and unity in a community of those who share the same faith (such as the Church)† (Green, 1962, pg. 1). Thus, this essay will discuss the changing nature and views of Catholicism on social justice issues such as reproduction, crime and punishment, and same-sex marriage. This essay will argue that Catholicism has now taken a more flexible approach to social justice issues in comparison to how Catholic ism was practiced earlier. Many social theorists of the past have seen the diminishment of religion as imminent and desirable (Mainwaring, 1986). For instance, in 1830, Ludwig Feuerbach dismissed religion as a projection, and deemed that it would not last long. At the same time, Marx agreed with this assessment and believed that religion was an ideological mystification that created a divide between the bourgeoisie and the rest of the classes (Mainwaring, 1986). In a study conducted by Cook (1993) and associates, a state exit poll was conducted in 1990 to determine whether Roman Catholicism affects abortion attitudes. The individual-level effects in which the Church socializes individual members was compared alongside contextual effects, in which the Church affects abortion attitudes by altering the terms of the debate outside the Church’s membership (Cook et al., 1993, p. 223). Both effects were found to be statistically significant (the effects were reliable), although the contextual effects of Catholicism were negative (Cook et al., 1993, p. 223). This part of the study suggested that the Catholic Church is affective in teaching anti-abortion attitudes to its members, but that a strong Catholic presence in a state influences citizens in a counter mobilization way, on the part of non-Catholics (Cook et al., 1993, p. 223). Oliver (2008) makes an excellent point in understanding the relationship between the Catholic Church and social justice. For instance, Oliver (2008) states that in order to have a deeper understanding of the Catholic perspective of crime and criminal justice, one must have an understanding of the central concept that lies at the heart of the criminal justice system (p. 3). For instance, there is a human desire for justice. In Catholicism, there are those who are religious that seek justice in the world so that God’s will is done on earth. There are also a set group of people who profess no religion that seek justice through the court system based on the rule of law.[1] Oliver (2008, p. 223) also points out that in the mid-1800’s, the Catholic Church had prodded the medical community to prevent midwives and rogue doctors from performing abortions. Further, the Catholic Church drew upon the fact that abortion was immoral, and thus both the Catholic Church and many physicians argued that the health of the woman was put at risk (Oliver, 2008, p. 223). However, as awareness regarding abortions grew and as time went on, there were changing attitudes towards abortion. For instance, doctors claimed that they should be the only ones to carry out abortions (although they were the same doctors that felt it was morally wrong), and the American Medical Association began to hold the reigns of the issues of abortion more so than the Catholic Church. Thus, since the topic of abortion is a social justice issue in which Catholic views on the issues have been changing as opposed to stagnant, this supports the thesis that Catholic standpoints are becoming less stringent than they were previously. The other issue related to the social justice topic of abortion is the topic of justice in and of itself. Justice in the Catholic faith brings in another perspective. From the Catholic standpoint, justice is based on the word of God, the teaching of Jesus Christ, and the Traditions of the Roman Catholic Church (Oliver, 2008, p. 4). Moreover, in American penal organizations, Post-revolutionary Catholicism favoured a democratic model of authority, local autonomy, and the separation of the Church and the state (Stotnicki, 2013, p. 83). In other words, a congregational pattern of church polity was regarded as the most acceptable model of the prison system (Stotnick, 2013, p. 83). Thus, this points to a symbiotic relationship between Catholicism and the criminal justice system in which Catholicism worked hand-in-hand with social justice, and in some cases, removing signs of religion from within the system to maintain the justice system’s autonomy. However, in 1973 an event in New Y ork changed the landscape in which Catholic teachings would be allowed in the penal system. For instance, in 1973, the United States Catholic Conference (USCC) published a Reform paper on Correctional Institutions in the 70s and claimed that certain practices they were proponents of, decreased recidivism rates, while results showed the opposite-that recidivism rates increased with such practices (Stotnicki, 2013, p. 84). The other issues with the paper were that the paper called for rehabilitation without defining what it meant by the term and what goals would be accomplished (Ibid., p. 84). Lastly, the paper called for alternatives to prison, without giving examples of such alternatives (Ibid., p. 84). Furthermore, Stotnicki (2013) argues that the concept of deterrence does not fit in with the Catholic religion. Thus, this could point to delineation where the Catholic tradition had less of an impact on the penal system than it did in previous decades. A principle component of Catholicism and the criminal justice system is that incapacitation should be used to reshape the beneficent values of a market economy on a case-by-case basis (Stotnicki, 2013). What is interesting about trends in social justice and Catholicism is that in a Gallup poll conducted in 2004, 71% of Protestants and 66% of Catholics support the use of capital punishment (Stotnicki, 2012). Although this poll was taken over 10 years ago, what is interesting is that capital punishment is not in line with the New Testament although arguably, it is an Old Testament principle; this is fodder against the argument that Catholicism has not taken a flexible approach in comparison to earlier years if the Gallup poll is anything to go by. On the other hand, opinions (particularly with people that identify as Catholic) might be changing in as fast as 10 years. The last issue that warrants mention on the topic of Catholicism and social justice is the topic of same-sex marriages. The topic of same-sex marriage is a social justice issue because it is an issue which affects a large segment of the population and it is a contentious issue which has sparked debate over the last few decades in Western society. For instance, Dempsey (2008) demonstrates that the Catholic Church holds the view that circumstances may increase the culpability of a person to engage in homosexual acts (p. 77). Furthermore, Dempsey (2008) points out that Catholics believe that respect for the basic human dignity of the homosexual entails respect for his ability to cooperate freely with God’s grace in turning from evil ways and embracing a chaste life in Christian love (Ibid., p. 77). The Catholic Church affirms the natural law and Christian vision of marriage as the loving and life-giving union of a man and a woman (Dempsey, 2008, p.77). Furthermore, the Catholic C ongregation beliefs that â€Å"a person engaging in homosexual behaviour therefore acts immorally.† (Ibid., p. 77). The Catholic teaching then tries to take a scientific spin on the union of marriage by arguing that homosexual activity is not a complimentary union, able to transmit life, and so it halts the call to life and thus of self-giving, in which the Gospel claims is the essence of Christian living. Thus, the Catholic Church tries to use morality and science to argue against the notion of same-sex marriages. On one hand, the Catholic Church respects homosexuals as people, yet on the other hand, part of the statement calls such acts â€Å"evil† and invites the â€Å"evil-doer† to embrace a chaste life in Christian love. Thus, in this regard, the Catholic Church still has a long ways to go before it deals wholly with the issues of same-sex marriage and homosexuality. Having said that, in an interview with Pope Francis in the summer of 2013, the Pope stated that while homosexual acts were sinful, homosexual orientation was not.[2] This shift in attitude although still stringent but making some leeway towards homosexuality, demonstrates that there has been a change to views on homosexuality as the world becomes more global and accepting of same-sex marriages. The other reason why the topic of same-sex marriage is a social justice issue is because it has been an issue that has seen the inside of courtrooms throughout historical debate. For instance, Olson and associates (2006) argue that public opinion has had a major impact on same-sex marriage discourse. Furthermore, Canadian cases like M. v. H. [1999] has provided awareness to the cause of same sex-marriages. In the case of M.v.H, the Supreme Court of Canada ordered Ontario to amend its definition of family to include cohabitation of partners (whether male or female). Thus, in this case, lesbian and gay couples were given the same rights and responsibilities that married, opposite-sex couples traditionally have. Further to Olson and associates’ (2006, p. 342) study, while Americans have become less willing to restrict the civil rights of gays and lesbians, religion has been seen as a sometimes ambiguous influence on the opinions on homosexuality. Once again, these findings indicate that there have been small steps in Catholic opinions on homosexuality and same sex marriage. Conclusion Skotnicki (2013) argues that the Catholic Church plays a limited role in determining American correctional policy due to a failure at variance with significant developments in its own history (p.1). Skotnicki’s (2013) statement points to either a reform in Catholic policies in order to co-exist in the changing times, or more flexibility in its outlook on criminal justice practices. In critiquing the effect that Catholicism has had in the criminal justice system, Stotnicki (2013) further argues that while the prison system needs a clear system of why it has the right to punish- not in terms of vengeance of self-interest, but in terms of human life and human community, the Catholic Church has failed to provide significant help in addressing the crisis of punishment and reoffending. What is clear is that the Catholic Church’s landscape is changing. For instance, Curran (2010) states that the understanding of the Church (ecclesiology) is changing, the sociological relations hip of the Catholic Church to U.S. Society is changing, and the circumstances affecting social justice, along with Catholicism, are changing in the United States. With these changes, the social mission of the Church is also changing, thus allowing for more flexible practices in social justice and social tolerance. References Cook, A.E., Jelen, G.T., Wilcox, C. (1993). Catholicism and Abortion: Attitudes in the American  States: A Contextual Analysis. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 32(3), 223-230. Curran, E. C. (2010). The Social Mission of the U.S. Catholic Church: A Theological  Perspective. (Washington: Georgetown University Press). Dempsey, J, R. (2008). The Catholic Church’s teaching about Same-Sex Marriage. The Linacre  Quarterly, Volume 75. Graham, G. (1962). The Power and the Glory. (UK: Penguin Books).   M.v.H. [1999] 2. S.C.R. 3. Mainwaring, S. (1986). The Catholic Church and Politics in Brazil, 1910-1985. (CA: Stanford  University Press). Oliver, M. W. (2008 ). Catholic Perspectives on Crime and Criminal Justice. (MD: Lexington  Books). Olson, L, R., Cadge, W., Harrison, T. J. (2006). Religion and Public Opinion about same-sex  Marriage. Social Science Quarterly 87(2). Pope Francis: Who am I to judge gay people? BBC News. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 26 March  2015 from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-23489702 Skotnicki, A. (2012). The Last Judgment: Christian Ethics in a Legal Culture. (Vermont:  Ashgate Publishing Company). Skotnicki, A. (2013). The U.S. Catholic Church and Criminal Justice. New Theology Review. [1] It is arguable that the doctrine of the Rule of Law has religious underpinnings. [2] Statement taken from an interview conducted with Pope Francis. Interview Retrieved from BBC News on March 26th 2015 from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-23489702