October 12, 2012 – Catechism 1877 – 1885

1833 Talks about subsidiarity.  This is a great term and should be fully understood by all Catholics (everyone else for that matter as well).  The whole idea of subsidiarity is a principle of social doctrine that all social bodies exist for the sake of the individual so that what individuals are able to do, society should not take over, and what small societies can do, larger societies should not take over.  Basically, if you can do it for yourself, you should.  If you need help, look to your family and if they can do it, then they should.  If the family cannot handle it, look to the community (church/organizations/neighbors) and if they can handle it, they should.  If the community cannot handle it, look to the larger city organization, then the state, then on a national level, and a possible last resort is a world organization.  That is how it should work.   

 

Here is a video that tries to explain it.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZFRXp7vKZI

Here is a more detailed explanation.  http://youtu.be/jE5S411ktG0