3 - 1997

Solidarity with the world's poor

The churches' way to global domestic politics

by Manfred Kulessa

For Manfred Kulessa the churches' joint statement is a historic document, which he hopes will have a beneficial impact on the discussion in Germany. Solidarity and subsidiarity are not just national topics but have a global dimension. Manfred Kulessa is the Protestant director of the "Joint (Protestant_Catholic) Church and Development Conference".

Under the heading "For a Future Founded on Solidarity and Justice", the Council of the Evangelical Church and the German Bishops' Conference published a joint statement (a church "letter") on the economic and social situation in Germany on 22 February. "If we delay or neglect necessary reforms, we will endanger our future survival" (1). Regrettably, Germany's two main churches have rarely addressed the public with joint messages so far. They are credible, as long as they do not engage in politics themselves but want to "make politics possible" (4).

Above all, this includes their endorsement of standards of social responsibility and justice based on the Christian ideal of humanity, which every policy should take its cue from in their opinion. In the churches' opinion, these standards can neither be substituted by conflicting interests nor by the free operation of markets. The quoted principles were preferential treatment of the poor, weak and underprivileged (105), solidarity orientated on the common good, and subsidiarity focused on self_responsibility (115).

Globalisation is discussed under the keywords survival and sustainability (1). The globalisation process has to be shaped by politics, the churches demand. The "global common good" could not be entrusted to the G7 alone; even "less highly developed countries that only have little impact on shaping world politics" need to have a share of overall responsibility. Accordingly, the joint paper also embraces political coherence: "Taking responsibility for the one world, means that all national decisions have to be made from the viewpoint of this one world. (242). Opening markets for products from developing countries would require readjustments. "You can't clamour for economic development opportunities for the poorer countries only to back down as soon as you're asked to pay up" (33). The statement demands that organisations focused on church development co_operation should not only operate "competently" but also raise "awareness of development and economic policies".

It would have been interesting to read more in the joint statement about how churches define their role as employers, landowners and operators of social institutions, as well as players in the economic and social arena. (245). Fortunately, the authors make their commitment against xenophobia and for a humane and just treatment of asylum_seekers and to "round tables of social awareness" (252) very clear.

Reprinted from E+Z, vol. 38, no. 5/6 1997, slightly abridged and translated for publication in this magazine.