Subsidiarity is one of those words that is extremely important, but not widely understood — even though it should be, especially today. The principle of subsidiarity holds that political and social issues should be handled at the most local level consistent with the issues’ resolution. Subsidiarity is an important principle of European Union law. Similarly, the 10th Amendment of our Constitution states “the powers not delegated to the” federal government “are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” This is why we have federal laws, state laws and local ordinances/rules.
Subsidiarity is an important concept within Catholic Church governance and this is why popes do not step in and get involved in local issues that arise — but do so only when needed. Subsidiarity does not mean there is to be no central authority at all, but rather, centralized authority is to be relied upon only as needed, while keeping authority in general as close as possible to the most local, most human level.
