“That’s not my problem…” “I hope that no one thinks I’m with Her…”
“well, I don’t have to worry about that [issue]. That’s never hap- pened to me or anyone I know…”
These are examples of a lack of neighborly concern and are great illustrations of the opposite of Solidarity.
Catholic Social Teaching emphasizes the communal aspects of persons and our duties to love one another concretely in our actions. So, when we refuse to stand side-by-side with others who are in need, or if we ignore those who are weak and suffering, do nothing instead of something, we betray our duty to embrace others in solidarity.
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)
If the CST principle of Subsidiarity (which we learned about two weeks ago) operates in the “vertical dimension” and addresses the matter of which level of authority should take on which responsibility, think of Solidarity as being its “horizontal” counterpart. How far should neighborliness extend? The answer is simply—as far East, South, North and West as you find brothers and sisters in our human family.
As a Catholic, whose side should I be on? The answer is: everyone’s.
Cain’s answer to the Lord’s question: “Where is Abel your brother?” can be interpreted: “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9). Yes, every man is his “brother’s keeper”, because God entrusts us to one another.
-St. John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, 19
Now, does this mean that everyone must be in agreement? Of course not. Relationships with others are complicated and rarely
do we see eye to eye on every topic—even among close friends. So within the principle of solidarity, there is a degree of compromise that is presupposed.
The relational nature of each human being, as individuals in relationship to others, is the key to understanding the Catholic notion of solidarity. None of us was made in isolation for the purpose of coming to know and love God in solitude. We exist in community, and for community, in the image of God who is himself a relational Being.
We are made for sociality: we become who we are meant to be, with the help and fellowship of others.
“Human dignity can be realized only in community”
(US Bishops, Economic Justice for All, 14)
In our island community, it is up to us to live at peace with everyone. This does not mean we have to agree with everyone or ap- prove of all their actions. Our job is to show active love and kindness, empathizing with those who are suffering and experiencing deprivations, and not to turn away from those in need.
We have, on our islands, built-in traditions that honor the bonds between even distant family members. We should also reflect: is our treatment of outsiders or foreigners as welcoming?
We are not permitted to excuse ourselves by saying, “That’s not my problem” or “Tough luck for them, but that’s none of my business” when it comes to injustice, hunger, poverty or grief. Without imposing ourselves on others, we are meant to stand with each other, sharing each other’s burdens, out of reverence for the supreme dignity of each and every person.
Since justice is always the close companion of peace, the continued peace of our community depends
on our commitment to these Gospel values, as we stand up for those who are marginalized or excluded.