Subsidiarity- a Catholic concept

(Also appeared at : Journey in a Broken World 26 / 08 | August / 2009)

Article by Marc Aupiais

In Europe, much is made of subsidiarity- it is a concept which keeps the Union together, just as federalism glues America into a powerful union of connected states. Subsidiarity is why so many in Africa oppose many of the intercontinental adoptions occurring. This concept is also vital in Canon law, and Catholic doctrine.

Understanding subsidiarity is understanding half the choices the Vatican makes. Subsidiarity, appears in a way in the bible, further, it is a basis on which the Vatican interacts with the faithful world.

According to this concept, the lowest, most local solution to a problem should be sought first, the lowest adequate solution should be sought, the lowest competent measure. It is why most miracles are social, and why the safest normal salvation is in sacraments.

It is as much logical as when some seek first the least direct solution, and only use a direct one if needed. In subsidiarity, the least powerful body, or tribunal first hears a problem- but more than this, the first solution should be looked into from the ground- where we look for the most local- though not always most simple solution first.

A foreign national should not adopt a child from a country- unless there is a valid reason why this child should not go to local parents. A person of one religion should not be allowed to adopt a child of another religion, unless a local solution within the child's own community is not viable.

On a larger level- the Vatican leaves much of the governance of the hierarchy to bishops, and then parish priests. Catholic doctrine looks for a local solution first: unless something is better sorted at a higher level.

This is why local bishops are those who first oppose evil politicians, and why dissident bishops are often left for the local conference to request back into order. The pope does not speak until the local authority has been given an opportunity to, or the situation warrants this.

In accordance with this- the Vatican oft respects the formal relations between politicians and its representatives in important local bishops- still it has a direct route- separate from their authority- a nuncio which represents it. One need only read the speeches of the papacy to politicians, and the letters from the Vatican- and compare them with important local authorities- to catch the catch phrases.

In the ancient Israeli Sanhedrin, the council which judged criminals and similar matters- the youngest and least experienced of the men spoke first. The most experienced spoke last. This made the least experienced consider what they said, and prevented undue influence over these by the more powerful men.

Subsidiarity is oft applied by the church in advising on politics, and many matters. This same concept is why the church advocates nationalised armies, but not nationalised healthcare nor nation run economies.

If a matter can be sorted out in civil society- it need not be legislated on, unless civil society is found- sufficiently to be lacking.

Subsidiarity is a vital concept in understanding the church. Its primary function is in making local authority useful and using power to do what its proportion can best achieve. It is why Moses in the desert, appointed judges to hear the lesser cases, while the greater came to him. Remember most- if not all: who were appointed- would surely later perish with Moses for his disobedience- and theirs, and yet were permitted to judge Israel... Were they not en masse destroyed, yet would be used to judge?

Subsidiarity serves to protect conscience- the lowest jurisdiction is the first and is protected from interference on a higher level- until there is reason to demand otherwise. This is why Romans chapter 10 in the bible is important- we must evangelise and change and save the world- it is broken deeply in its own lack and in the lack of the church- the salt which is designed for the world- to salt it into a better territory, even as the world is designed for the saints of the church.

Subsidiarity is also why we must pray first to the saints when they can help us. In it, we respect the gifts given... As God also does by Romans 10, and as He does in His use of Gabriel, Raphael, the prophets and apostles. Subsidiarity is vital to Catholic doctrine!

This is also why Saint Paul commands the early Christians, I think it was the Corinthians- as recorded in the bible- that the wives were first to discuss their problems in the household, and ask about the scriptures there. We should first speak with our own family, asking for answers before we approach a priest or theologian. Even before this- we should look ourselves: for an answer- it is us who are condemned to hades or saved from it. By subsidiarity- we have a definite responsibility- even God notes our personal responsibility by allowing choice! The God of order did not create our minds to ignore them!

This said- with the breakdown in many places- of the family church- and in many a local authority- it is often best to discover the truth for yourself from the magisterium- the source, and also by your own resources at seeking truth in grace. You are the most local authority in your own design... This means that even if the family were not oft broken, you should still seek answers in yourself. First one must ask their own intuitive conscience, and then work up within themself, the Christian must become reliably creative to survive, subsidiarity helps here. Where one is competent- one should attempt first to solve an issue, an equation- before one subjects to another's authority- this also helps make their help easier to apply, or reject.

It is wise to learn from the wise, and we should, yet we must not underestimate ourselves. Some things we cannot handle- it is why there are apologists. Some things are near impossible to cure, and require sacraments and the like administered- because we are not (except in some extreme exceptions) competent to save ourselves without assistance of another from this matter.

This is why we must educate ourselves constantly- from observing the world around, by reading what wise people say, and by creatively viewing the entire world. What we can solve, and are adequate to solve- we should first try to solve, but we should certainly make ourselves more competent, and add to our resources to do so!

This is why most of what I write on theology is to apply to your internal being- your personal responsibility. First focus on your own salvation... It will better prepare you to save others. First focus on your own means, they are oft adequate. First pray, prayer and intuition save a lot of thought and work.

It is not unwise to attempt tasks in a wise, even minimalist manner- what effort is saved is used elsewhere- as long as the effort was adequate!

The reality of the substance of knowledge, which is truth, or a means

(Journey in a Broken World)

Article by Marc Aupiais

I look at the reflection in the water- light looks like electric shocks, or invisible scales, as it dynamically moves about the surface. The sky is reflected softly, even with aquatic transparency. I now shall speak of something as vital to man as our desire towards, of and for life-giving water, something as necessary, and daily needed:

Knowledge, such a word of note:

What it means is infinite, and undefinable- in effect, not definition!

Like a fountain of water, blue, mixed with turquoise, cyan and green, and white- sprouting water into a pool in one of those ancient looking cities- flowing knowledge, is beautiful knowledge.

We want to know, and others also do- we understand, and then we inform, or else secretly guard information- and politely use it to gain advances in our own dignity- our own means of survival.

So, love of knowledge- we name this practical, pragmatic. We flirt with danger to gain it- in the not entirely vanity driven fear of losing out, and we desire to gain from it.

Natural love of knowledge- is actually but something beautiful- something we must be proud of. When we learn, we feel happy- we need knowledge- in fact, our constant methods of doing things from knowledge- is how we conquer the planet. We may say it is communication, but this is a form of knowledge- and itself does nothing but relay knowledge to others- whether true or false.

The purpose of knowledge, is propagating our own survival, and making good our own intricate need to breathe, and be alive longer.

How then do we say some knowledge is bad- except that it is false knowledge, or improportionate- unhealthy, dangerous without context, or true perspective.

When we say faith saves- in fact, we say good knowledge saves- we say that understanding, and belief in good, solid true facts which are necessary to survival brings to man but freedom from insanity, from what we call sin, and into God's grace- and promises.

When we speak of improportion around knowledge- we understand the hunger and need for and of knowledge, that our fellow man has. To inform of false knowledge- is to give our fellow tools which do not help him survive- this is evil- because false knowledge damages people. Simply withholding knowledge- is not always evil, not either evil in itself is allowing one to continue in one false knowledge- if of another it means that if he had true knowledge- he would cause damage with it- and it would not save him in the long run, but condemn his soul, the channel of life into him.

In fact, false knowledge is dangerous- as our souls feed and live on truth- falsehood, if believed- damages our souls- the reservoirs, on which we are animated into being.

And so...

Faith saves, and faith destroys- it all lies on who, what and when and where we believe- belief is what gets us through, but also what destroys us and others- if false, or evilly disproportionate...

By belief, we control others, as though levitating the rainbow prism of their substance around us, like pink, blue, green, magenta, cyan, and purple ribbons floating and swirling in the air, like fire spreading, or a volcano erupting in endless passion.

By belief, we also are controlled, leveraged- and made into means of achievement by other beings- and this itself is not evil. It is only evil- when their use of us as means destroys the channel between our soul, or theirs- our winter store, and reservoir of life- and its source- Yahweh- Life, existence- Reality- the mediator in which we exist- "God", if we must say his common name. It is right to use people for good- but wrong to ignore their dignity, or use them in the wrong manner, or time, or as but tools- without choice or soul- for truly, man always has both! 'til death in the least we do!

What we believe determines who we are and who we have become. Our worldview determines how we act, our mannerisms, our culture, our core beliefs, values and causes. Who we are is the merging of two tsunami storms, the combining of two avalanches, the melting together of two flows of water currents, two oceans- two resonances- two sloping and twisting wall-like Icy snow sloaps.

These two- they are our evolutionary formation, and our events, choices, and observances!

09:00 - 09:16AM
15 November 2008
Marc Aupiais' Journal
Edited and altered for publication

Journey in a Broken World-The Valley of Happiness, and the way we just try to find joy!

(Journey in a Broken World)

Article by Marc Aupiais

It is surrounded by high cliffs, almost like a canyon- it is invisible to most, yet the air within it- it is thicker than water, and breathing is like drinking. The temperature is warm, with a light cool breeze, which lifts off small splashes of water from the stream, where fish skim the clear, clean water from a nearby waterfall, and flowers dot the greenery, and beautiful rocks, and old ancient trees shadow the riverside next to the small cottage where people are allowed to live.

Is this happiness, to live here? Surely- all one's needs are fulfilled, perhaps we add the ripeness of bountiful juicy fruits, and a small loving family. Is this our ultimate ideal in life. I certainly wouldn't mind such a place, as long as I can have a few loving pets to wonder around, and dangerous animals excluded.

God says that every person seeks happiness, but that ultimately it is only found in him, we may find substitutions, but really they were designed to compliment, not replace lasting joy. Now, what I have described makes you happy, does it not- it is private and perfect, it makes one happy because it fulfills all our survival needs and basic psychological needs. What if I could just offer pure happiness, apart from needs fulfilled?

This is when those who automatically opted yes for my previous ideas- may reconsider. What if instead of this place, we have a cold, rocky, barren valley- with a trickle of water, and barely enough food to eat, but where there was a gas in the air which makes one happy all the time? Or even let us place much food and supplies into our valley, make it the previous place, and add the gas to make you happy?

You would not sow, nor harvest, you would not love, nor care- why do so without the threat of pain? Or perhaps would you?

Heaven is perfect happiness, but those who have too much happiness without deserving it lose their minds, those who do not train themselves into perfect mental sanity, and self control- to these perfect happiness is deadly.

Every emotion of our body is natural, and God given, if treated in proportion, and as what it truly is, and not what we think it to be. Emotions are good, if controlled by intuitive reason.

Now, God wants his children to be self controlled, and perfectly sane. Faith refers to acceptance of a world-view does it not? And by our world-view, our actions are determined. We are either the most foolish or wisest of all people, in fact sanity must be the perfection of the moral life- perfect sanity- world-view and connection with truth that is.

To survive in heaven, our souls must be perfectly sane, or the insanity would be destroying us. Pain keeps us sober- and perhaps our other option is God's mercy- for sanity is our most treasured trait after life itself. Let us aspire always for the divine sanity.