An introduction to the Catholic social teaching principle of solidarity. We are called to show solidarity with others, to work for the common good. Being in solidarity with others is one way we can help build a more just society.

1. Catholic Social Teaching Solidarity The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart  USA Province 305 S. Lake Street, PO Box 270  Aurora, IL 60507 (630) 892-2371  info@misacor-usa.org

3. Solidarity helps us see other people and nations as our neighbors.

4. “Solidarity helps us to see the ‘other’-whether a person, people or nation-not just as some kind of instrument, with a work capacity and physical strength to be exploited at low cost and then discarded when no longer useful, but as our ‘neighbor,’…” Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, #39

5. Solidarity is determination to commit oneself to the common good...

6. …because we are all one family and we are responsible for each other.

8. religion

9. gender

10. nationality

11. ethnicity

12. economic status

13. Solidarity prevents rich nations from being indifferent to the poverty and human rights violations experienced by people living in other nations.

14. How Do We Practice Solidarity? We practice solidarity whenever we work for the common good. We practice solidarity whenever we work to overcome the barriers that prevent us from reaching out to others.

15. Examples of Solidarity.. Treating people equally, regardless of their gender, race or national origin For instance, if our employment practices discriminate unfairly against a group of people, we can practice solidarity by reforming the practices.

19. For instance, when we donate to help people we’ll never meet, whether as part of a missionary effort or in response to a natural disaster, we are affirming the truth that we are one, human family. Examples of Solidarity…

20. Examples of Solidarity… Speaking out against injustices and human rights violations For example, when we join in letter-writing campaigns to put pressure on governments who are unjustly imprisoning someone, we are showing solidarity with that person.

21. Solidarity and Politics Solidarity can affect our attitudes towards several current political issues. Example: Although well-informed people may disagree strongly about the best approach to immigration or to health care reform, solidarity helps us remember that these political issues affect real people, people who are our brothers and sisters. When we remember this, we are more likely to arrive at a truly just solution.

22. We are called to work for and promote the common good.

23. We are called to work for both local and global peace and justice.

24. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere! Learn more about Catholic Social Teaching and sign up for our social justice eNewsletter by visiting www.misacor-usa.org/jpic

26. the crowds at the ghats in Varanasi, India, watching the July 22, 2009 total solar eclipse by Bluerasberry (link)

27. Slides 4-6:

28. clipart from Microsoft Office

29. Slides 9-10:

30. clipart from Microsoft Office

31. Slide 12: (from left to right)

32. A Christian church in Greece by Poet of the Fall (link);

33. Arya Dewaker Hindu Temple in Paramaribo by Mark Ahsmann under the GNU Free Documentation License - (link);

34. Mosque in Afghanistan during the Loya Jirga, June 2002 by Paul Cruickshank (link)

35. Slides 13-14:

36. clipart from Microsoft Office

37. Slide 16:

38. Blue Fractal by Tammy Pinarbasi (link)

39. Slide 17:

40. Poole Harbour by Petr Kratochvil (link)