them his own. The foundation of the right to private initiative and ownership is to be found in this activity. By means of his work man commits himself, not only for his own sake but also for others and with others. Each person collaborates in the work of others and for their good. Man works in order to provide for the needs of his family, his community, his nation, and ultimately all humanity. Principles General The dignity and rights of the worker (#3). The right to establish professional associations of employers and workers (#3). The right to private property (#6). The right to a just wage (#8). The right to discharge freely one's religious duties/freedom of religion (#9). The kingdom of God cannot be confused with any temporal kingdom (#25). To defend and promote the dignity and rights of human persons regardless of personal convictions (#22). Solidarity Empathizing with those around you so as to make their good your good, leading to a common pursuit of the common good (#10). Man cannot be understood on the basis of economics alone nor defined by class membership, but within culture (#24). Total recognition must be given to the rights of the human conscience (#29). The law is sovereign and not the arbitrary will of individuals (#44). Subsidiarity 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, except when needed to coordinate its activity with the rest of society, always with a view to the common good (#48). Synopsis Introduction Rerum novarum is of "great importance" for the Church; the "vital energies" it unleashed continue to increase (#1). Rerum novarum can be used to help look back at fundamental principles, "look around" at new events, and look to the future (#3). An analysis of history and current events is essential to the Church's mission of evangelization (#3). Characteristics of Rerum novarum Rerum novarum attempted to respond to the conflict between capital and labor (#5). Leo XIII gave the Church a paradigm and a corpus to analyze, judge, and indicate directions for social realities (#5). To teach and spread her social doctrine is an essential part of the Church's evangelizing mission (#5). There can be no genuine solution to the "social question" apart from the Gospel (#5). Rerum novarum strongly affirms the dignity of work and the