The connection of social work to law, ethics, and religion

Abstract: Almost all social work begins with the question: due to what (external and internal) norms did the client find himself in such a situation? Why did he become homeless, addicted, why no one takes care of him? The root of the questions is in the norms that define the lives of all of us. Still, it might seem unusual in the social sphere that instead of simply discussing social work ethics, we examine the relation of three basic norm systems; law, ethics, and religion. We suppose, though, that it is insufficient to focus merely on ethics, as we cannot ignore the context of any of the norm systems. Law, ethics, and religion can make an impact on society together. This is true even though people tend to deal with them separately or, what is even worse, confuse them. It is the primary responsibility of a social worker or social manager to be aware of the three norm systems, the relevant legislation, the ethics that controls the behaviour, the religious rules, and apply them simultaneously both personally and in society.
The present study helps answer questions such as: what is the role of a code of ethics in a social institution? How to relate as a social worker to the needs and requirements of a religious client? Should legal, moral, or religious considerations be kept in mind? What is the role of national law in an international social organisation?
The study does not provide itemised answers but instead presents aspects along which we can separate the rules of law, morality, and religion.
Let us start with a few examples.
While in everyday life, in most European countries, it was a standard behavioural norm to shake hands at the beginning of a meeting, during the Covid-19 pandemic, it became the norm not to shake hands.
Engraved into the entrance wall of Freiburg cathedral, one can find the shape of a loaf of bread. The size of the contour served as a measure to test the size of the loaves of bread, sold in the bakeries of the city. If they did not fit into and fill the contour, they did not fulfil the norm. The bakers had to fulfil this norm. The clients had the right to complain if the bread they bought was not as big as prescribed. A smaller one is engraved next to this shape on the same wall. It was added later in a time of economic crisis. The norm for the loaves of bread had been adapted. The price for the bread was the same, and its size had been diminished. Now, the loaves had to fit the smaller model, the new norm.
In the German social system, every citizen has the right to a minimum payment to ensure the minimum for a dignified living, usually called "Hartz IV." A primary tool for the standard calculation of this minimum payment is what is supposed to be the standard requirement for life in one month, composed of supposed requirements for food, clothing, hygiene, household, electricity, and other needs for participation in social and cultural life.
In paediatrics, the physicians (together with the parents) usually check the development of a child's organism and capabilities expected within specific timeframes to ensure the healthy development of the child. The timeframes offer an orientation according to the statistical majority of cases for completing certain child development milestones.
In Christian faith communities, people are used to praying the so-called "Our Father"-prayer every day. In Muslim faith communities, there is a rule to pray specific prayers five times a day.
As a social worker, one finds himself almost exclusively in situations where one has to keep in mind the rules of law, morality, and often even aspects of religion at the same time. However, this is not easy at all, as to how differently does a lawyer, a student of ethics, or theology answer the simple question of what he sees when he looks out of the window?
The lawyer sees legal entities and objects. The answer to ethics is that there is another out there we meet. The theologian sees God's creatures.
So how can these aspects be reconciled? To answer, we need to see what the norms are and how they relate to each other.
People lead their lives by rules. These rules (we shall call them norms) may come from the individual's conviction or the community's regulations. In our paper, we distinguish three groups of norms, laws, ethics, and religion, each influencing the decisions of individuals. However, it would be a mistake to think that these norms cannot be clearly distinguished from each other or to believe that they have nothing to do with each other. Mixing the norms of laws, ethics, and religion may lead to fanaticism, yet to deny their connections to each other could result in total injustice (summum ius summa iniuria).
What you can get from this chapter:
Spirituality is essential, but without being able to answer the questions in a particular decision-making situation,
what we are allowed to do,
what we should do,
or why we act at all,
the true essence of spirituality can be obscured: the relationship with the other person and the Truth.
It is precisely for this reason that it is essential in the social sphere to be clear about the norms by which we make decisions that directly affect the physical and mental well-being of our fellow human beings. The purpose of this paper is to show how legal, ethical and religious norms can interrelate and lead to responsible decisions at both individual and collective levels.
For every institution, especially the church institution and its workers, it is essential to see by what basic principles they make their decisions, offer help, make sacrifices, or are paid. It is crucial that these principles be defined clearly, either by rules or even by religious symbols, both in verbal and non-verbal ways

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Recht
• Keyword: Recht ; Norm ; Ethik ; Religion ; Sozialarbeit

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2022
• Creator: Birher, Nándor

Further information

• DOI: 10.6094/UNIFR/221390
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-2213905
• Rights: Kein Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:30 AM CEST