March 2023--

Theme #6: Solidarity

Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation
3. Rights and Responsibilities
4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
5. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
6. Solidarity
7. Care for God’s Creation

Solidarity

In the traditional list of Catholic virtues, solidarity is not listed. We need to turn to the Catholic Social Teachings to find it as a required Catholic behavior showing high moral standards. We don't see this word often. Solidarity is defined as unity among individuals or mutual support within a group. That is, we are one human family, despite individual differences. 

This concept is not easy for us as Americans who have a history of "rugged individualism". We are challenged by the idea of a group mentality. We are more prone to examine our individual consciences than our community conscience. We often fail to see that we are our brothers and sisters keepers. If we flourish as individuals, we flourish as a society. "If one member suffers, all suffer. If one member is honored, all rejoice." (1Cor 12:23, 26)

Much is written today about just systems. It is very difficult for individuals to be just when the system they are expected to live in is unjust. What if we had systems --social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental-- that oriented us to truly live in harmony, peace, community, and unity? Then the virtue of solidarity, caring about the welfare of each individual in the world, would fall into place. Developing just systems to promote this is, Biblically speaking, our God-given mandate.

In this age of so much division, our call is to cultivate a shared passion for commitment to the common good, a commitment to a community of belonging and solidarity "worthy of our time, energy and resources." It is a call that is both simple and extremely challenging.