Skip to Main Content
ORIGIN AND MEANING
- 185.
- “Subsidiarity is among the most constant and characteristic directives of the Church’s social doctrine.”
- Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter Rerum Novarum: Acta Leonis XIII, 11 (1892), 101-102, 123.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1882.
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 15: AAS 80 (1988), 529.
- Pius XI, Encyclical Letter Quadragesimo Anno: AAS 23 (1931), 203.
- John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Mater et Magistra: AAS 53 (1961), 439.
- Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 65: AAS 58 (1966), 1086-1087.
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction Libertatis Conscientia, 73, 85-86: AAS 79 (1987), 586, 592-593.
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 48: AAS 83 (1991), 852-854.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1883-1885.
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 49: AAS 83 (1991), 854-856.
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 15: AAS 80 (1988), 528-530.
- 186.
- “The necessity of defending and promoting the original expressions of social life is emphasized by the Church in the Encyclical Quadragesimo Anno, in which the principle of subsidiarity is indicated as a most important principle of ‘social philosophy.’”
- “On the basis of this principle, all societies of a superior order must adopt attitudes of help –– therefore of support, promotion, development –– with respect to lower-order societies.”
CONCRETE INDICATIONS
- 187.
- “The principle of subsidiarity protects people from abuses by higher-level social authority and calls on these same authorities to help individuals and intermediate groups to fulfil their duties. This principle is imperative because every person, family and intermediate group has something original to offer to the community.”
- 188.
- “Various circumstances may make it advisable that the State step in to supply certain functions.”
