ULS CORE VALUE: SOLIDARITY
ULS Defines Solidarity as….
“Commitment to building a community anchored on mutual
trust, confidence, teamwork, unity and respect for the dignity of
the human person and creation.”
Biblical Passages About Solidarity: Solidarity in the life and
message of Jesus Christ
“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who,
though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with
God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in
human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to
the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him
the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father. “(Philippians 2:4-11)
“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and
female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
“Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim
to be wiser than you are.” (Romans 12: 16)
“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together
with it.” (1 cor. 12:26)
Solidarity in General
“Solidarity, in general, is a matter of a group of people being united or at one with regard to
something (sympathies, interests, values, etc.), having genuine concern for each other’s welfare,
respecting others as group members, trusting one another not to intentionally undermine or free
ride on the group, taking pride in the group as a whole, being ashamed of its failures and suffering
loss or betrayal if members of the group do not live up to the requirements that the group places
on itself, and perhaps having certain other affections for one’s compatriots.” (Cureton, Adam,
“Solidarity and Social Moral Rules,” p. 696).
The Principles of Solidarity
The Basic Principles of the Catholic Church’s Social Doctrine:
1. The dignity of the human person (as the foundation of all principles)
2. The common good
3. Subsidiarity
4. Solidarity
CSDC 192: Solidarity highlights
1. The intrinsic social nature of the human person,
2. The equality of all in dignity and rights and
3. The common path of individuals and peoples towards an ever more committed unity.
* (from: Compendium Of The Social Doctrine Of The Church # 192)
Solidarity as a Social Principle
The new relationships of interdependence between individuals and peoples, which are de facto
forms of solidarity, have to be transformed into relationships tending towards genuine ethical-
social solidarity. (CSDC #193)
Solidarity as a Moral Virtue
Solidarity must be seen above all in its value as a moral virtue that determines the order of
institutions.
On the basis of this principle the “structures of sin” that dominate relationships between
individuals and peoples must be overcome. They must be purified and transformed into
structures of solidarity through the creation or appropriate modification of laws, market
regulations, and juridical systems. (CSDC #193)
Solidarity as an Authentic Moral Virtue
Solidarity is also an authentic moral virtue, 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.” (CSDC #193)
Solidarity as a Social Virtue
Solidarity rises to the rank of fundamental social virtue since it places itself in the sphere of
justice.
It is a virtue directed par excellence to the common good, and is found in “a commitment to the
good of one's neighbor with the readiness, in the Gospel sense, to ‘lose oneself' for the sake of
the other instead of exploiting him, and to ‘serve him' instead of oppressing him for one's own
advantage (cf. Mt 10:40-42, 20:25; Mk 10:42-45; Lk 22:25-27)” (CSDC #193)
Solidarity and the Common Growth of Society
The message of the Church's social doctrine regarding solidarity clearly shows that there exists
an intimate bond:
between solidarity and the common good,
between solidarity and the universal destination of goods,
between solidarity and equality among men and peoples,
between solidarity and peace in the world. (CSDC #194)
The Idea of Solidarity reminds People of their Being Debtors of Society
The principle of solidarity requires that men and women of our day cultivate a greater awareness
that they are debtors of the society of which they have become part.
They are debtors because of those conditions that make human existence liveable, and because
of the indivisible and indispensable legacy constituted by culture, scientific and technical
knowledge, material and immaterial goods and by all that the human condition has produced.
(CSDC #195)
Solidarity and Love or Charity
In order to make society more human, more worthy of the human person, love in social life —
political, economic and cultural — must be given renewed value, becoming the constant and
highest norm for all activity. “If justice is in itself suitable for ‘arbitration' between people
concerning the reciprocal distribution of objective goods in an equitable manner, love and only
love (including that kindly love we call ‘mercy') is capable of restoring man to himself. “ (CSDC
# 582)
In order to make society more human, more worthy of the human person, love in social life —
political, economic and cultural — must be given renewed value, becoming the constant and
highest norm for all activity. “If justice is in itself suitable for ‘arbitration' between people
concerning the reciprocal distribution of objective goods in an equitable manner, love and only
love (including that kindly love we call ‘mercy') is capable of restoring man to himself”. Human
relationships cannot be governed solely according to the measure of justice. “Christians know that
love is the reason for God's entering into relationship with man. And it is love which he awaits as
man's response. Consequently, love is also the loftiest and most noble form of relationship
possible between human beings. (CSDC # 582)
Solidarity presupposes Shared Ends
Solidarity presupposes shared ends.
Shared Ends
The shared ends that can unite people in solidarity are their values, ideals and aspirations.
The ends are shared
The ends are shared because there is public knowledge in the group that they are generally affirmed
and the group generally take responsibility for these ends.
*(Cureton, Adam, “Solidarity and Social Moral Rules,” p. 698).
Solidarity gets Strengthened by Cooperative Activities
Cooperative Activities
The cooperative activities undertaken in support of those ends may involve
taking steps to promote them,
manifesting and showing respect for them,
interpreting them in action,
honoring them or
participating in them.
*(Cureton, Adam, “Solidarity and Social Moral Rules,” p. 698-699).
Solidarity and Mutual Responsibility
Mutual Responsibility is at the Core of Solidarity
(called in sociology and social psychology as Symbolic
Interaction).
Mutual responsibility is the ability of ‘taking the
attitude or role of the other and to look back from this position
to one’s own position in life.’
*(Zijderveld, Anton. "The Legal and Moral Dimensions of
Solidarity", Netherlands Journal of Legal Philosophy, 3,
(2006): 306-330.)
Global Solidarity
recognizes inter-culturality and diversity (i.e., reflexive solidarity),
reflects on how own attitudes and beliefs are different from those of other cultures and
communities;
shows mutual understanding, sympathy, and empathy;
exhibits curiosity about what can be learned from diversity of communities and cultures;
finds appropriate modes of social interaction given diversity of culture.
sympathetic outlook: places oneself in the shoes of another and view the situation from their
perspectives;
possesses tolerance skills (deals with conflict rationally, productively and fairly).
Civic Solidarity
It is the patriotic allegiance that binds together citizens of a political community.
Moral Solidarity
Shows concerns about improving the condition, or alleviating the suffering, or protecting the
human rights, of people outside one’s own immediate community/society;
Becomes actively involved in groups and social networks.
Solidarity requires Gender Sensitivity
Gender Sensitivity: Means
a. Avoids stereotyping of gender roles;
b. Focuses on the individual’s capabilities instead of their gender;
c. Values the capabilities of an individual irrespective of gender.
Gender Sensitivity Implies Mutuality
“Mutuality among God’s people is possible as exemplified by the mystery of the triune God who
declared, “Let us make humankind in our image.” This mutuality exemplified by the Holy Trinity
is not beyond those created in the image of God, for we are relational human beings who grow in
our relationship with God, not apart from one another but with each other, striving to reflect and
emulate the love of God, the life of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.”
(The Rev. Merlyn Hyde Riley is president of the Jamaica Council of Churches in (2019) World
Council of Churches. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
“We are therefore invited to engage in this mutuality through relationships of reciprocity and
interdependence in which we co-exist, one with another, with our differences and similarities.
These differences do not make us unequal but, properly understood, serve to enrich our lives
together as we live in partnership”
Advocacy:
Give visibility to women’s perspectives and actions in the struggle for justice, peace, and the
integrity of creation; and encouraging churches to take action in solidarity with women