The Tension Between Solidarity and Subsidiarity

Summary

This video explores the apparent contradiction between the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity in Catholic social teaching. Solidarity emphasizes our duty to care for others' material well-being, while subsidiarity respects the role of individuals and local groups in addressing their needs. The tension between these principles is resolved through the promotion of human dignity, ensuring that assistance is provided without undermining the autonomy and contribution of those in need. The video, by Andrew Abela, Dean of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, encourages viewers to consider these principles in their own lives when faced with societal problems.

Takeaways

• 🤝 Solidarity in Catholic social teaching emphasizes the duty to care for the material well-being of others and to ensure they have a just wage and necessities for a dignified life.
• 🏡 Subsidiarity respects the role of individuals and local groups in meeting their own needs in unique ways, avoiding one-size-fits-all solutions from higher powers.
• 🔄 The tension between solidarity and subsidiarity arises from the risk of overstepping with external help (solidarity) or neglecting to assist those in need (subsidiarity).
• 👥 The key to balancing both principles is the promotion of human dignity, recognizing the inherent worth of each person and their ability to contribute to society.
• 🕊️ Solidarity is rooted in the teachings of Christ, who set a high standard for caring for those in need, treating them as if they were Christ himself.
• 🌟 Subsidiarity promotes human dignity by acknowledging the role of every individual, including the needy, in contributing to the common good.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Pope Francis highlights that true solidarity requires social participation and the involvement of intermediary bodies like families and small businesses.
• 👴 Pope Benedict XVI warns that without subsidiarity, solidarity can lead to paternalistic social assistance that undermines the dignity of those in need.
• 🛡️ Subsidiarity acts as an antidote to an all-encompassing welfare state by recognizing personal dignity and the capacity of individuals to give to others.
• 🔑 The principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, when applied together with a focus on human dignity, provide the best framework for addressing societal problems.
• 🎓 Andrew Abela, Dean of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, discusses these concepts in the context of Catholic social teaching.

Q & A

What is the apparent tension between the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity in Catholic social teaching?

The tension arises from the seeming contradiction between the duty to care for others' material well-being (solidarity) and the respect for individual and local autonomy in addressing their own needs (subsidiarity).

How does the principle of solidarity promote human dignity in Catholic social teaching?

Solidarity promotes human dignity by emphasizing the dignity of those in need and the duty of others to meet their essential needs, reflecting Christ's love for humanity as demonstrated through his death and resurrection.

What does the principle of subsidiarity mean in the context of Catholic social teaching?

Subsidiarity means respecting the role of individuals and local groups in meeting their own needs in unique ways, avoiding interventions from higher centers of power and avoiding one-size-fits-all solutions.

How can the principle of subsidiarity be seen as promoting human dignity?

Subsidiarity promotes human dignity by recognizing the role of every individual, including the most needy, in ensuring the common good and by valuing their social participation and contribution to society.

What is the risk with the principle of solidarity if not properly applied?

The risk with solidarity is the tendency to swoop in from the outside with assumed superior solutions, potentially undermining the autonomy and dignity of the individuals and communities it aims to help.

What is the risk associated with the principle of subsidiarity if it is misinterpreted?

The risk with subsidiarity is the potential to see others' problems as solely their own to solve, which could be used as an excuse to avoid helping those in need altogether.

How can the promotion of human dignity be the key to unlocking both solidarity and subsidiarity?

The promotion of human dignity serves as the key by ensuring that both principles are applied with the respect for the inherent worth of every individual and the recognition of their role in society, preventing either principle from being applied to the neglect of the other.

What does Pope Francis say about the relationship between solidarity and social participation?

Pope Francis emphasizes that there is no true solidarity without social participation and the contribution of intermediary bodies such as families, associations, and small businesses.

According to Pope Benedict XVI, how can the principle of solidarity be misused without the guidance of subsidiarity?

Pope Benedict XVI warns that without subsidiarity to guide it, the principle of solidarity can lead to paternalistic social assistance that is demeaning to those in need, by not recognizing their capacity to contribute to society.

What is the role of reciprocity in understanding the human dignity according to the principle of subsidiarity?

Reciprocity is at the heart of human dignity in the context of subsidiarity, as it acknowledges the person as a subject capable of giving to others and considers the mutual exchange as central to human nature.

How does Andrew Abela, Dean of the Busch School of Business, view the relationship between solidarity and subsidiarity in addressing societal problems?

Andrew Abela suggests that when applied together with an eye to the human dignity of all involved, solidarity and subsidiarity provide the best framework for addressing societal problems, avoiding the pitfalls of either principle when applied in isolation.

Outlines

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🤝 Principles of Solidarity and Subsidiarity

The script discusses the apparent contradiction in Catholic social teaching between the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity. Solidarity emphasizes the duty to care for the material well-being of others, advocating for a just wage and necessities to maintain human dignity. Subsidiarity, in contrast, promotes respect for individual and local autonomy in addressing needs without higher power interventions. The script uses the example of a fire in an apartment complex to illustrate these principles in action, highlighting the balance between community support (solidarity) and respecting local leadership (subsidiarity) in crisis response.

🔑 The Key to Balancing Solidarity and Subsidiarity

The script explores the tension between the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, noting the risks of overstepping with external solutions (solidarity) or neglecting to assist those in need under the guise of self-reliance (subsidiarity). It identifies the promotion of human dignity as the key to harmonizing these principles. Solidarity is rooted in the Christian doctrine of caring for the least among us, as taught by Christ and the saints, while subsidiarity ensures that even the most needy have a role in contributing to the common good, avoiding paternalistic social assistance that could undermine personal dignity.

Keywords

💡Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching refers to the doctrines and principles the Catholic Church applies to social, economic, and political issues. It is the foundation of the video's discussion, emphasizing the balance between solidarity and subsidiarity. The script uses this concept to explore how to address societal problems while respecting human dignity.

💡Solidarity

Solidarity, in the context of Catholic social teaching, is the principle that individuals have a moral obligation to care for the well-being of others. It is exemplified in the script by the expectation that neighbors should support those affected by a fire, highlighting the collective responsibility to ensure justice and dignity for all.

💡Subsidiarity

Subsidiarity is the principle that emphasizes the importance of smaller, local decision-making bodies over larger, centralized ones. The script illustrates this by suggesting that aid should respect local leadership, such as through the involvement of nearby businesses and community organizations, to effectively and respectfully address needs.

💡Human Dignity

Human dignity is a central theme in the video, defined as the inherent worth of every person, which should be respected and upheld. The script connects this concept to both solidarity and subsidiarity, arguing that true assistance must recognize and affirm the dignity of those in need, avoiding paternalism.

💡Paternalistic Social Assistance

Paternalistic social assistance is a term used in the script to describe a type of welfare that is condescending and undermines the autonomy and dignity of the recipients. It is contrasted with subsidiarity, which promotes participation and contribution from all members of society, including the needy.

💡Reciprocity

Reciprocity, as mentioned in the script, is the mutual exchange of privileges or courtesies, a key aspect of human interaction that respects personal dignity. It is integral to the concept of subsidiarity, suggesting that even those in need can contribute to society, fostering a sense of community and mutual respect.

💡Welfare State

The welfare state is a concept where the government plays a key role in the well-being of its citizens, providing a safety net for those in need. The script warns against an all-encompassing welfare state, suggesting that it can be detrimental to personal dignity and autonomy if not balanced with subsidiarity.

💡Intermediary Bodies

Intermediary bodies, such as families, associations, and cooperatives, are highlighted in the script as essential components of a socially participative structure. They are the entities through which solidarity and subsidiarity can be effectively implemented, ensuring that aid is both widespread and respectful of local contexts.

💡Social Participation

Social participation is the active involvement of individuals and groups in societal affairs. The script emphasizes its importance for true solidarity, suggesting that a lack of participation can lead to a demeaning form of assistance that overlooks the contributions and needs of the community.

💡Andrew Abela

Andrew Abela is the Dean of the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America. He is the speaker in the script, providing insights into the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, and their application in promoting human dignity within the framework of Catholic social teaching.

💡Edify

Edify is the presumed educational platform or series that the video script is part of. It is mentioned in the script as a source of further learning, with an invitation to watch another video on 'woke capitalism,' indicating a broader scope of educational content related to social and economic issues.

Highlights

Catholic social teaching is sometimes seen as contradictory due to the apparent tension between the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity.

Solidarity in Catholic social teaching implies a duty to care for the material well-being of others and not to deprive them of a just wage or necessities.

Subsidiarity respects the role of individuals and local groups in meeting their own needs in unique ways, avoiding one-size-fits-all solutions from higher power centers.

An example of applying solidarity is neighbors mobilizing resources to help families affected by a fire.

Subsidiarity ensures that interventions respect local leadership, such as making resources available through local businesses, hospitals, and churches.

The risk with solidarity is external intervention assuming better ways to address needs than those directly involved.

Subsidiarity's risk is the potential for neglecting to help others by viewing their problems as solely their own to solve.

The tension between solidarity and subsidiarity has real implications for personal actions when faced with others' material needs.

The promotion of human dignity is the key to unlocking both solidarity and subsidiarity simultaneously.

Solidarity promotes human dignity by emphasizing the dignity of those in need and the duty to meet their needs.

Subsidiarity promotes human dignity by recognizing the role of every individual, including the needy, in ensuring the common good.

Pope Francis emphasizes that true solidarity requires social participation and the contribution of intermediary bodies.

Pope Benedict XVI warns that without subsidiarity, solidarity can lead to paternalistic social assistance that is demeaning to those in need.

Subsidiarity respects personal dignity by recognizing the capacity of individuals to contribute to others and reciprocity as central to humanity.

Subsidiarity is an effective antidote against an all-encompassing welfare state that overlooks personal contribution and dignity.

Applying solidarity and subsidiarity together, with attention to human dignity, provides the best framework for addressing societal problems.

Andrew Abela, Dean of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America, discusses the balance between solidarity and subsidiarity in Catholic social teaching.

Transcripts

[Music]

catholic social teaching is

contradictory

i hear that sometimes from my new

students and on the face of it you might

think they have a point because what

they're usually picking up is on the

apparent tension between two main

principles of catholic social teaching

the principles of solidarity and

subsidiarity

so what are solidarity and subsidiarity

in catholic social teaching solidarity

means that we each have a duty to care

for the material well-being of others

solidarity says we shouldn't deprive on

others of a just wage or of the material

necessities which allow them to live in

a way fitting their dignity as children

of god

subsidiarity on the other hand means

that we should respect the role of

individuals and local groups in meeting

their own needs in unique ways this

means avoiding interventions from higher

centers of power or applying

one-size-fits-all approaches across many

communities for example imagine a large

apartment complex in a nearby town had a

devastating fire

the principle of solidarity says that

neighbors in the region should mobilize

financial and human resources to help

all the families affected the principle

of subsidiarity says we have to make

sure their intervention respects the

leadership of the most local actors they

can find perhaps by making resources

available through contacts at the

closest businesses hospitals and

churches

the risk with solidarity is that we try

to help by swooping in from the outside

assuming we have better ways to address

their material needs then the

individuals involved are those that live

closest to them the risk with

subsidiarity is that we can choose to

see others problems too much as just

their own to solve and we even use it as

an excuse to not help them at all

the tension between the two principles

isn't just an academic question it

should have real implications for you

and me in our own lives

after all we want to be good people

and what is a good person to do when you

become aware of individuals or groups in

other cities states or even countries

with significant material needs it seems

like a conundrum should you help them

directly which is solidarity or should

you leave them alone to help themselves

which is subsidiarity

where there's actually a key for

unlocking both solidarity and subsidiary

at the same time and the key is this the

promotion of human dignity

it's clear how the principle of

solidarity promotes human dignity saints

throughout all of church history have

preached solidarity always by

emphasizing the dignity of those in need

and the urgent duty of others to meet

their needs and it's always worth

revisiting the reason why it's a

profound insight after all and it could

only come from a church founded by

christ pope pius xii said that

solidarity comes from jesus christ's

decision to redeem every single one of

us by his death and resurrection

in other words abandoning people in need

by denying them essential goods is an

offense against jesus christ who loved

them so much he was willing to die for

them he even insisted that his followers

treat the least among us as if they were

our lord himself

so jesus established a clear and very

high standard for solidarity but what's

often less clear to new students of

catholic social teaching is the critical

way in which subsidiarity promotes human

dignity it insists that every one of us

including the most needy among us has a

role to play in ensuring the common good

including the good of their own families

and neighbors pope francis said this

about subsidiarity

he said there is no true solidarity

without social participation without the

contribution of intermediary bodies

families associations cooperatives small

businesses and other expressions of

society

pope benedict xvi also made this point

when he said that without the principle

of subsidiarity to guide it the

principle of solidarity can give way to

paternalist social assistant that is

demeaning to those in need

but how could helping those in need be

demeaning to them pope benedict explains

subsidiarity respects personal dignity

by recognizing in the person a subject

who is always capable of giving

something to others

by considering reciprocity as the heart

of what it is to be a human being

subsidiarity is the most effective

antidote against any form of

all-encompassing welfare state

so to return to the new students i

mentioned are solidarity and

subsidiarity really intention

well only if we try to apply one to the

neglect of the other but when we apply

them together always with an eye to the

human dignity of all involved solidarity

and subsidiarity become the best

framework for addressing society's

problems

i'm andrew abella dean of the bush

school of business at the catholic

university of america for edify

thank you for watching this video i

invite you to watch my edify video

entitled woke capitalism

[Music]

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