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The Practice of Solidarity

The Practice of Solidarity. M. Therese Lysaught, Ph.D. Institute of Pastoral Studies Neiswanger Institute of Bioethics Loyola University Chicago. The Good Samaritan. Artist Unknown. Objectives. Connections to the last few episodes… Definition and History: Solidarity

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The Practice of Solidarity

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  1. The Practice of Solidarity M. Therese Lysaught, Ph.D. Institute of Pastoral Studies Neiswanger Institute of Bioethics Loyola University Chicago

  2. The Good Samaritan Artist Unknown

  3. Objectives • Connections to the last few episodes… • Definition and History: Solidarity • Scripture and Tradition • Other Religious Traditions • Catholic Social Teaching • Practicing Solidarity and Transformation

  4. Reprise

  5. Affirm… • Presentations build upon one another • Catholic Social PRACTICES • Practices   Spirituality • Shape our vision: • How we see • What we see • CSPs are dynamic and evolving

  6. Benedict XVI

  7. Definition and History

  8. Definition • French solidaire: ‘solid’ • 1800s: political contexts, labor • Exhorts to unified action on behalf of the common good • B/c we are interconnected and interdependent

  9. Historical Development • John XIII’s Mater et Magistra(1961) • “Solidarność”—1980 • Lech Walesa, Polish shipyard workers • John Paul II championed “Solidarność” • Non-violent, civil disobedience—key to fall of Soviet bloc

  10. Secular Treatment • Unity amongst oppressed persons • Can be partisan • Rooted in: • Special interests • Dignity of all persons, individualistically-construed • Generally committed to non-violence • Sees liberation of oppressed as good for all persons (common good)

  11. Scripture and Tradition

  12. Scripture • No one biblical word • “Accompaniment,” walking with (halak) • Genesis • 2-3 • Exodus • Psalms (e.g., 23)

  13. Scripture Corporate identity and connectedness central to Hebrew scriptures Cain and Abel Disparate tribes = God’s people

  14. Incarnation--The ultimate act of solidarity!Incarnation—The ultimate act of solidarity! Self-emptying: “who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found in human appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:14-15).

  15. Early Church • Baptized Christians are “in Christ” • “One body,” made up of many parts (1 Cor 12) • Overcomes the social divisions of “Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or free” (Gal 3:28). • Christians are, therefore, to “be of one mind” (Phil 2:2) • Grounded in the radical interconnectedness of the Trinity • Revelation: God dwells with us

  16. Tradition • Trinity • Sacramental theology • Baptism • Eucharist • “Members of one another” • “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer…” (1 Cor 12:26)

  17. Other Religious Traditions

  18. Judaism • Strong sense of solidarity among Jewish people • ‘Welcoming the stranger’– HachnasatOrchim • Abraham and three messengers of God (Gen. 18) • “So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.” (Deut 10:19).

  19. Islam • Solidarity among Muslims • Zakat and Al-Waqf • Avoid creating dependence • Attends to roots of problems to put an end to poverty and other social ills

  20. Eastern Traditions • All life is interconnected • Root of suffering – craving and desire – isolate us. • Meditation cultivates awareness of reality and connectedness • Let go of desires • Reach out in compassion toward others • Solution to social ills

  21. Catholic Social Teaching

  22. RerumNovarum (1891) • “Friendship” and “brotherly love” between owners and workers • All persons children of God • All persons have the same end • All persons redeemed in Christ

  23. QuadragesimoAnno (1931) • “Social charity” • Rooted in: • the “soul of the social order” • the organic unity of the human family

  24. Mater et Magistra(1961) • First use of term in papal encyclical • Shifting perspective from Europe to global issues • Headings: • “Human Solidarity and Christian Brotherhood” • “Solidarity and Cooperation” • Workers and owners united rather than being opposed in “unrestricted competition … and class warfare” (MM, 23) due to common humanity and Christianity • Rural farm workers should practice solidarity via cooperatives • Wealthy nations should be in solidarity with poorer nations

  25. SollicitudoReiSocialis(1987) • Paul VI, PopulorumProgressio • John Paul II, SollicitudoReiSocialis(On Social Concern) • Solidarity in Poland • Dignity of human persons • Members of human family • Action not a feeling • “we are all really responsible for all.” • Self-emptying • Benedict XVI “Solidarity 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. This determination is based on the solid conviction that what is hindering full development is that desire for profit and that thirst for power … These attitudes and “structures of sin” are only conquered—presupposing the help of divine grace—by a diametrically opposed attitude: 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)” (SRS, 38).

  26. Liberation Theology • Three levels of “walking with” or “accompaniment”: • Occasional actions • Longer-term commitments, E.g. study of issues • Living permanently with the people • KEY: Personal interactions and accompaniment • Necessary to cross over invisible barriers • Generate real knowledge • Make others visible • Build relationships

  27. Relationship to Other Principles • Dignity of the human person • Common origin in God • God’s love for all persons • Shared image • Common good • The only way to achieve the common good • Gratuitousness • An expression of love, charity • Because we have first been loved by God • Preferential option for the poor • Participation and association

  28. Practicing Solidarity

  29. Catholic Health Care:Grounded in the Practice of Solidarity

  30. Person-Centered Care

  31. Palliative Care “No One Alone” volunteer program Significant cost reductions Significant improvement in patient status Patients live longer

  32. Community Health Workers Partners in Health PACT (Prevention and Access to Care and Treatment) program Significant improvements in health outcomes (HIV, diabetes) 16% savings in total medical expenditures 35% reduction in hospital stays http://www.pih.org/country/usa/about

  33. Magnet Status Nursing Shared governance Crossing barriers of traditional hierarchies

  34. Solidarity in practice What are some of the obstacles to practicing solidarity in your context? What ‘barriers’ do we need to cross over to be in solidarity with patients? Families? Co-workers? Communities? Name some examples of solidarity in your context.

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