In the sixth of a series of voters’ guides for conscience-informed Catholics, Matthew Marquardt notes that even an issue as seemingly overwhelming as globalization can be understood through the lens of Church teaching.
Tariffs. Carbon levels and carbon taxes. Election interference, the internet, misinformation. Wars in Ukraine and Gaza, military posturing in the Pacific. Globalism, nationalism, populism. Migration and deportation. International finance and electronic currencies. Defence of borders and Canada’s place in the world.
The upcoming federal election raises deep, concerning questions of national rights, individual freedoms, and international obligations. How can we properly understand these issues, or distill our understandings into a single vote each? Thankfully, our faith offers both prayer and doctrine to guide us.
The Catholic social principles of subsidiarity and solidarity help us determine who should best bear responsibility for different aspects of governance. They teach us that each of us must do what we can to care for ourselves, so that we don’t become burdens to others (1 Thes. 14:9-12) while at the same time calling us to ensure that everyone else has the same opportunities we have, and fair access to resources they need to act on them. (Matthew 22:37-40)
Subsidiarity, from the Latin for support or assistance, means that each element of society, from the most powerful government to the least powerful citizen, should fulfill its own proper civic role while helping those in other social positions attend properly to theirs. Properly observed, subsidiarity helps us avoid encroaching on others’ rights to act or decide things for themselves.
One consequence of this is that each individual, and each smaller group of people, should be allowed to make for themselves all the decisions they can responsibly handle, and be given the support needed to put their decisions into action. This order is preferred over assigning the task to larger groups or greater authorities, even for convenience or efficiency. With this approach, each individual or “lower order” element of society retains the freedom to chart its own course to salvation. (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, p.185/186)
Solidarity is the glue that binds us all together: acceptance of the profound human truth that everyone else is as important as we are, and that the good of one is the good of all. (CSDC, 193). We’ve all heard the adage, “Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime”. It well illustrates the interplay between subsidiarity (teach people to feed themselves, as they are capable of this work) and solidarity (at least make sure those around us aren’t hungry). Properly applied, these principles ensure that people are properly fed without being made dependent on others.
A theme touching on many election issues is globalization: the development of broad international mechanisms for economic and administrative efficiency in seeking the common good. In some senses, globalization is not only a good idea, but necessary – especially the need to curb abuses associated with global finance, armament, and our shared environment. (CSDC, 467-468; Evangelii Gaudium (“EG”), 234-237; 368-371).
Like it or not, globalization is happening, fuelled by the desire for power and profit. The extent to which it should be allowed to develop is another question, and is at least partly in our control. We should all do what we can to see that globalization happens in ways that are good for everyone. (cf. Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 37; Caritas in Veritate, 21, 37; EG, 55-58.) This includes prayerfully voting with our Catholic principles in mind.
As the election approaches, we must keep up with the parties and the candidates, assessing carefully what they say. What do their records tell us about their willingness and ability to deliver on promises? What would be the effects of those promises if kept?
A changing world calls us constantly to seek new social and personal balances as we all search for God in our own ways. (cf. 1 Cor. 12) In discerning our vote for this election, let us ask: Should Canada strive for greater self-sufficiency, per the subsidiarity principle? While no nation ever is truly self-sufficient, Canada perhaps could come closer than most, with its abundance of arable land, water, energy, and building materials. Greater self-sufficiency might create many good jobs and significant wealth, particularly in the deepest sense of “wealth” (well-being) – both factors relevant to solidarity.
As the election approaches, we should pray for ourselves and for everyone of good conscience, even those who draw conclusions different from ours. God has everything under control. We just need to do our part. Queen of all Nations, pray with us.
(Matthew Marquardt is the director of Catholic Conscience.)
