Catholic social teaching is collected in a Compendium which is available on-line at the Vatican Web Site. See Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church." That social doctrine may be described as a core set of principles and values which operate as an integral unity, with the principles and values supporting each other synergistically.

Solidarity is the natural unity of groups of individuals amidst the challenges of a wider society. It can be, and has been, boosted by grace. It takes many forms and calls upon a variety of human resources according to its purposes. In this essay, I take a look at how solidarity is manifested and how it serves these distinct human needs.

In the first article on solidarity, I focused on what it is and how it connects to the Old and New Testaments. By way of introduction, I noted that it figures importantly in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, a number of papal encyclicals and one conciliar document. In this essay, I delve into these connections...

Solidarity is not just a common generic noun, such as we find in a dictionary. It's a fundamental principle of Catholic social teaching and figures prominently in some important Papal documents. It appears in the Catechism in several places, and can easily be traced to Old Testament injunctions. The greatest example of solidarity is Jesus' solidarity with humanity. It's why he submitted to death on the cross - a death designed for criminals - though he himself was sinless.

In my prior post on the principle of subsidiarity, I discussed the history of its use in the Church, identified characteristics that contrasted it from its opposite, supersidiarity, and discussed the protocol necessary for its viable implementation. To delve further into its nature and operation, it will be helpful to define its application more fully.

Subsidiarity is a fancy term for a fundamental principle of governance. It is a principle that derives from Jesus' teaching about servant leadership. It is a principle that optimizes the balance between individual responsibility and individual freedom and initiative. It recognizes that man is a social animal and that social groups combine naturally to support a common purpose. It is ultimately derived from Christ's teachings.