Catholic Social Teaching

• Life and Dignity of the Human Person.
• Call to Family, Community, and Participation.
• Rights and Responsibilities.
• Preferential Option for the Poor.
• The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers.
• Solidarity.
• Care for God’s Creation.

Ten Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

• The Principle of Respect for Human Dignity.
• The Principle of Respect for Human Life.
• The Principle of Association.
• The Principle of Participation.
• The Principle of Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable.
• The Principle of Solidarity.
• The Principle of Stewardship.

The foundations of modern Catholic social teaching are widely considered to have been laid by Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical letter Rerum Novarum.

The very heart of Catholic Social Teaching is the belief that human life is sacred and that the dignity of each person is the foundation of a just and equitable society. This principle is grounded in the idea that each person is made in the image of God and as such is the clearest reflection of the Divine among us.

The common good is reached when we work together to improve the wellbeing of people in our society and the wider world. The rights of the individual to personal possessions and community resources must be balanced with the needs of the disadvantaged and dispossessed.

In yesterday’s post about Catholic teaching on political activity, I noted that the bishops cite four principles of Catholic social teaching in their document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. These include the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity.

The three ethical principles of the Catholic Church that relate to social action are ‘Preferential protection for the poor and vulnerable’, ‘Universal destination of goods’, and ‘Participation’.

In ordinary political discourse, the “common good” refers to those facilities—whether material, cultural or institutional—that the members of a community provide to all members in order to fulfill a relational obligation they all have to care for certain interests that they have in common.

Subsidiarity is a principle of social organization that holds that social and political issues should be dealt with at the most immediate (or local) level that is consistent with their resolution.

(səbsɪdiærɪti ) uncountable noun. Subsidiarity is the principle of allowing the individual members of a large organization to make decisions on issues that affect them, rather than leaving those decisions to be made by the whole group.

A classic example of the application of the principle of subsidiarity is the position of the Roman Catholic Church that parents should have the maximum reasonable amount of authority over, and responsibility for, the raising of their children.

communities and organisations to directly help refugees to settle into the community. The principle of Subsidiarity means ensuring that decision-making happens at the most appropriate level, so all those affected can contribute. Local groups have important insights into what is best for their communities.

The principle of subsidiarity states that assigning to a higher institution or level of the society what a lower form of social organization can do is unjust. In other words, a higher institution should give over or delegate to the community what the community can accomplish through its own activity.

The general aim of the principle of subsidiarity is to guarantee a degree of independence for a lower authority in relation to a higher body or for a local authority in relation to central government.

The state is an instrument to promote human dignity, protect human rights, and develop the common good. Subsidiarity holds that such functions of government should be performed at the lowest level possible, as long as they can be performed adequately. When they cannot, higher levels of government must intervene.

principle of subsidiarity, in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence, the Union is to act only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, either at central level or at regional and local level, but can rather, by reason of the scale …

The Commission

“Solidarity refers to the virtue enabling the human family to share fully the treasure of material and spiritual goods” “Subsidiarity is the coordination of society’s activities in a way that supports the internal life of the local communities”

An example of solidarity is a protest with a clear goal. (countable) A bond of unity or agreement between individuals, united around a common goal or against a common enemy, such as the unifying principle that defines the labor movement; mutual support within a group.

The Catholic social teaching principle of solidarity is about recognising others as our brothers and sisters and actively working for their good. In our connected humanity, we are invited to build relationships – whakawhanaungatanga – to understand what life is like for others who are different from us.

It translates into the willingness to give oneself for the good of one’s neighbour, beyond any individual or particular interest[422]. 195. The principle of solidarity requires that men and women of our day cultivate a greater awareness that they are debtors of the society of which they have become part.

Abstract: The purpose of solidarity is to build our movement, and to embody our mutual care and concern for justice. Solidarity works best when we respect each other’s differing needs and life circumstances, understand that there are many ways of being in solidarity, and co-ordinate our responses.

Solidarity is a tool for reducing inequality and social injustice in the world. Solidarity leads to the sustainable development of peoples. For this reason, it is essential that it be used for the benefits it can offer to a particular cause. Solidarity can be cultivated through education, as children or adults.

This article outlines practical ways you can show solidarity with your Black colleagues.

1. Acknowledge what has happened even if you’re uncomfortable. White supremacy and police brutality aren’t easy topics to talk about.
2. Educate yourself and others.
3. Use your voice.
4. Avoid making isolating remarks.
5. Get involved.

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1. EDUCATE YOURSELF. Learn to actively listen. Observe dynamics of power and privilege.
2. PRACTICE. ACCOUNTABILITY. Practice saying “I don’t know.” Focus on your impact, not your intent.
3. EDUCATE YOUR. COMMUNITIES.
4. EMPOWER OTHER. COMMUNITIES.
5. TAKE ACTION. Make the pledge to practice accountable allyship during NYU Ally Week.

Examples of functional solidarity are gifts of money, but also very practical things such as buying groceries, preparing meals, allowing family members to move in with you, or looking after their care needs. Older family members can be both beneficiaries and sources of functional solidarity.

Solidarity in the classroom has an important connotation: students tend to align with their partners regarding specific issues such as interests, topics, agreements, and activities. When there is solidarity, learners establish more equity among themselves and this permits them to achieve working relationships.

Solidarity brings others into our personal learning project and puts the social into education. Education; organised learning, is an expression of solidarity, respect, hope and love for others – past, present and future. Active two-way solidarity requires respect and understanding of the other.

Seven ways to build the solidarity economy

1. Increase self-provisioning and community production.
2. Move your money.
3. Invest in or gift to new economic institutions.
4. Prioritise housing for use not speculation.
5. Be your own boss—look for a job in a worker co-op or start your own.

Solidarity that underpins welfare arrangements is based on a perception of mutual obligation towards an anonymous dependent other and is enforced by the government. Solidarity in families is directed towards a concrete other and is based on free choice, albeit often accompanied by a strong sense of personal duty.