CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: Global Solidarity

“[Solidarity] then is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.”

—St. John Paul II, Sollicitudo rei Socialis, #38 (On Social Concerns)

When we think about those who struggle with poverty, we must include ourselves. We each have our hidden challenges, our secret battles, our blind spots and our insecurities. They may be financial, emotional or interpersonal. Any of these challenges can make us—or our neighbors—poor. How do we reconcile our own inner poverty with our desire to help our brothers and sisters in material poverty? We start by recognizing that human beings are not all that different from each other, and that we all have gifts to contribute.

How easy it is to label another person as poor, or different from us, or part of a group—“those people.” How easy it is to assume that I—with all my knowledge and experience and training—have all the answers, the sought-after solution that will save the needy. How easy it is to impose my own ideas, my own plans, my own will onto the problems of others. But am I able to listen? Am I able to be supportive and allow those around me the opportunity to succeed?

Global solidarity never stifles voices: the voices of our brothers and sisters, the voice within ourselves, the voice of God.