III. Human Solidarity
1939
The principle of solidarity, also articulated in terms of
"friendship" or "social charity," is a direct demand of
human and Christian brotherhood.45
An error, "today
abundantly widespread, is disregard for the law of human solidarity and
charity, dictated and imposed both by our common origin and by the equality in
rational nature of all men, whatever nation they belong to. This law is sealed
by the sacrifice of redemption offered by Jesus Christ on the altar of the
Cross to his heavenly Father, on behalf of sinful humanity."46
1940
Solidarity is manifested in the first place by the distribution of goods and
remuneration for work. It also presupposes the effort for a more just social
order where tensions are better able to be reduced and conflicts more readily
settled by negotiation.
1941
Socio-economic problems can be resolved only with the help of all the forms of
solidarity: solidarity of the poor among themselves, between rich and poor, of
workers among themselves, between employers and employees in a business,
solidarity among nations and peoples. International solidarity is a requirement
of the moral order; world peace depends in part upon this.
1942
The virtue of solidarity goes beyond material goods. In spreading the spiritual
goods of the faith, the Church has promoted, and often opened new paths for,
the development of temporal goods as well. and so throughout the centuries has
the Lord's saying been verified: "Seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well":47
For two thousand years this
sentiment has lived and endured in the soul of the Church, impelling souls then
and now to the heroic charity of monastic farmers, liberators of slaves,
healers of the sick, and messengers of faith, civilization, and science to all
generations and all peoples for the sake of creating the social conditions
capable of offering to everyone possible a life worthy of man and of a
Christian.48
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