truth, the two are inseparable. Authentic love for God brother Abel, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is simply, should lead us to care for the wellbeing of all His children. “Yes, to some extent you are your brother’s keeper, and And authentic love for our neighbors must be rooted in your neighbor’s keeper, at least in the sense of helping God’s revealed truth. ensure that they have access to the basic goods needed Over the last century, the Catholic Church has repeat- for human survival and the pursuit of happiness, such edly called upon her members to address — through as adequate food, clothing, shelter, and medical care — prayer and action — the social and economic injustices and, of course, access to the truth of the Gospel.” that define the crumbling civilization in which we live. In As Catholic citizens, we need to ask how the policies other words, we mustn’t become mere “bunker Catholics,” pursued by our leaders will impact the most vulnerable so convinced that the world is irreversibly going to hell members of our society. that all we focus on is going to Mass, saying our Rosaries, 2. Subsidiarity — This principle basically states that and looking after our own families. Indeed, we have an our authorities, especially central governmental authori- obligation to contribute to the common good. ties, are only our brother’s keeper of last resort. The main Human dignity work of practicing solidarity is to be accomplished by The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic individuals, families, churches, voluntary organizations, Church (sections 105-117) teaches that the first and private charities, and even local levels of government. most fundamental social principle is the God-given dig- Of course, the interplay of these two principles and their nity and worth of every human person. As there are no application in the complex realities of the day is what “throwaway” people, so there are no throwaway kinds or leads to legitimate debate among Catholics; while we may classes of people. embrace the same principles, we can come to very differ- This Church teaching should not sound strange to ent conclusions as to how and when to apply them. the ears of Americans. Our Declaration of Independence Thinking ‘out of the box’ established that all human beings are “endowed by their To me, one of the exciting and challenging things Creator” with certain “unalienable rights.” Chief among about Catholic social teaching is that it often directs us these are the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of to think unconventionally about matters of politics. Ever happiness” — in that order. Without a secure right to since the 19th century, the western world has been polar- “life,” all other human rights are in jeopardy. ized between two equally unpalatable options. In our own time, the Church has repeatedly spoken out First, there is socialism in its various forms, which against threats to the dignity of the human person, threats gives vast powers to a centralized government. No doubt that include poverty and political tyranny. However, a government, at various levels, does have a legitimately more subtle and insidious threat to human dignity is the significant role to play in matters such as funding and pervasive stripping away of the fundamental right to life of ensuring a dignified “safety net” for the sick, elderly, and the unborn and the terminally ill through the legalization unemployed; the protection of workers from gross exploi- and social acceptance of abortion and euthanasia. Out of tation; the prevention of concentrated economic power; His infinite love for every human being, our Lord is still and the protection of the environment from reckless calling out to us today through His Body, the Church, to exploitation and pollution. become faithful and fervent defenders of the gift of life. As Nevertheless, the Church has repeatedly condemned Jesus said, it extends especially “to the least of my breth- socialism, communism, and even democratic socialism, ren” (Mt 25:40). as systematic violations of the principle of subsidiarity. Solidarity and subsidiarity At the opposite extreme is free-market capitalism and Now, when we Catholics start to address social issues libertarianism, which basically hold that “government is and public policy, there are two principles we need to best that governs least,” and that the unfettered produc- have at our disposal. Both principles contribute to a bet- tion and exchange of goods and services will lead to lib- ter understanding of the second great commandment, to erty and prosperity for all, or mostly all. love our neighbors as ourselves, and how this command- No doubt, the market is indeed an extraordinarily ment should be applied. efficient mechanism for the overall production of wealth, but as our most recent popes have been careful to point 1. Solidarity — This involves a firm and persever- out, free-market capitalism also leaves many people ing determination to commit oneself to the common behind (such as those lacking good educational and job good. The answer to Cain’s question after he killed his opportunities, as well as the elderly and the chronically

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