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Paul Ryan Gets It Wrong Invoking Catholic 'Subsidiarity' Principle

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Quoting James Baresel on distributism is a questionable choice. His description is over-weighted in the area of government power, and under-weighted in the area of government constraint. In particular, distributism takes great pains to constrain higher levels of government in favor of lower levels, and lower levels in favor of the family. Baresal's words echoed those of Mussolini, in places.
Perhaps he did this because he was drawing a contrast with Libertarians, but it's still very distorted.

mr. lynch of CA 3:24PM September 25, 2012

I think you meant to say, "public and private interests," rather than "private and private interests"...

Brad Warthen of SC 6:18PM August 13, 2012

I just came across this article and am really surprised that the author misses the entire point of subsidiarity. And likewise, those who have cherry-picked bits and pieces in order to criticize Ryan, very pathetically without full understanding of the scope of this principle. But I am most disturbed by Steven YDE of IL who has referenced Rerum Novarum and Quadragesimo Anno. Please note the eras when they were written: 1891 and 1831. Steven YDE should have kept reading. Centesimus Annus (JPII in 1991) quotes from Rerum Novarum thusly: "To remedy these wrongs (the unjust distribution of wealth and the poverty of the workers), the Socialists encourage the poor man's envy of the rich and strive to do away with private property, contending that individual possessions should become the common property of all...; but their contentions are so clearly powerless to end the controversy that, were they carried into effect, the working man himself would be among the first to suffer. They are moreover emphatically unjust, for they would rob the lawful possessor, distort the functions of the State, and create utter confusion in the community" As a life-long, practicing Roman Catholic who has been teaching American history for 33 years, I assure you that federalism and subsidiarity are not that far apart. This is obvious to those who have studied entire texts, not just random quotes. I strongly recommend Centesimus Annus for those who still have questions.

Geneva Ayte of LA 5:08AM August 02, 2012

The congressman conclusively demonstrates ignorance of long-accepted Catholic teaching about "subsidiarity". What else didn't he learn in college?

Paul Lang of MA 11:00AM April 26, 2012

PAUL RYAN – RESTORING CONSTITUTIONAL RULE OF LAW
The purpose of the elected Federal Government, as specified by the Constitution, is to protect the "Inalienable God given Rights/Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness/Property". Notoriously, the president and legislators and judges have been increasing violating these Inalienable Rights. Child sacrifice by abortion and illegal foreign wars are denying the Right to Life, suppression of Christian culture in the government and schools are denying the Right to Liberty, and the creation of laws enriching bank and corporation owners and impoverishing workers and tax payers are denying the Right to Property.

Hark of AL 3:52PM April 16, 2012

Frank and Steven, along with Paul Ryan, did not receive a Holy Card this week for studying their Catechism.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church upon which Mr. Ryan erroneously pulls Subsidiarity, it says:(PART THREE, LIFE IN CHRIST, SECTION ONE
MAN'S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT;CHAPTER TWO, THE HUMAN COMMUNITY; ARTICLE 1
THE PERSON AND SOCIETY; I. THE COMMUNAL CHARACTER OF THE HUMAN VOCATION (#1883) The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which "a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co- ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good."(CA 48 § 4; cf. Pius XI, Quadragesimo anno I,184-186.)
There is the understanding of cooperation between the levels of institutions, and always the aim for the COMMON GOOD. Role of the higher is to support and aid, but not interfere in disrupting the organization. Federal Dollars distributed through the State and Local Governments and through grants to private charities and public organizations is the practice of Subsidiarity, though unfunded mandates may not be.
It is not a generous Federal Budget that is afoul of Subsidiarity. But tax policy favoring the rich, the 1%, or the "job creators" may be. Subsidiarity is not market driven, but recognition of the natural communal gathering of peoples.
#1885 The principle of subsidiarity sets limits for state intervention. It aims at harmonizing the relationships between individuals and societies. It tends toward the establishment of true international order.
#1894 In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, neither the state nor any larger society should substitute itself for the initiative and responsibility of individuals and intermediary bodies.
Subsidiarity does not ban the Federal Government from action or intervention, but speaks to both efficiency and proportionality. It also keeps mindful the individual in society, both the suffers, and the willing and creative others who seeks to mend and heal (Charity and Justice)

Rich Ketter of NE 11:06AM April 16, 2012

Since you "don't subscribe to all or even most of its precepts" I don't believe you really understand the principles of subsidiarity. Of course, we can't forget the principle of Solidarity which should go hand in hand with Subsidiarity.
Subsidiarity may not be exactly like Federalism, but it's close enough in this case.

rtsimms1952 of GA 2:06PM April 14, 2012

You missed whole point of Ryan's basic notion of Subsidiarity....The smallest of organizational levels that can fix a problem, must. It has the most direct relation with the problem and is the closest to the solution. Distance from a problem adds confusion, costs, detachment and distraction by other smaller subunits problems...which now must compete for attention with a distant all powerful oversized, impersonal organization that at that point no longer has any true emotional or community attachment to the problem to be solved.

Frank of CA 1:00PM April 14, 2012

Sorry Scott you do not understand Distributivism and taking opinions on one persons idea of distributivism proves nothing. Go back to GK Chesterton and Hillary Belloc, or watch EWTN Sunday nights at 8 and get some education. Distributivism is based on Pope Leo's encyclical which was echoed by Pope Pius's encyclical which I quote, "It is an injustice and at the same time a great evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do. For every social activity ought of its very nature to furnish help to the members of the body social and never destroy and absorb them." Our economic structure starts with the Family - not the individual. It also can be explained by 10 acres and a cow. Get it - widespread distribution of PRIVATE Property. Please learn before spouting.

Steven Yde of IL 10:26PM April 13, 2012