Original scientific paper

Subsidiarity - Expanding a Place for Freedom in Society

Gordan Črpić ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Damir Mravunac ; Centre for Promotion of the Social Teaching of the Church, Zagreb, Croatia
Željko Tanjić ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

This article analyses one of the basic notions of the social teachings of the Church -the notion of subsidiarity. It notes a genesis of the idea of subsidiarity and determines the notion within and outside the context of the social teachings of the Church. The materialisation of subsidiarity is observed in two perspectives - two possibilities, as opening the space to freedom and, alternatively, as a distribution of power. The choice of implementation strategy and the implementation of subsidiarity itself depend on the anthropological and eschatological presumptions that explicitly or implicitly lie in the background. The relationship between subsidiarity and freedom in the contemporary world is apostrophised in particular, especially in the European Union which has integrated this notion in its legislation. Finally, the article considers the presence of subsidiarity in Croatian society, offering a model to materialise subsidiarity as well as the model of education for subsidiarity in the Church and society. The article herein leans on the institution of the family, school (teacher) and the liturgical community as a referential community of the faithful that gathers around the Eucharistic table and are able to establish personal communication, an indispensable element for the development of these values.

Keywords

subsidiarity; freedom; power; European Union; family; school; liturgical community

Hrčak ID:

35258

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/35258

Publication date:

18.3.2009.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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