Hurricane Helene, Heroism and Catholic Social Teaching

Hurricane Helene, Heroism and Catholic Social Teaching

I recently viewed an incredible youtube video of a young Florida man who was asked by a friend to fly to his neighboring state of North Carolina to help people in dire need. As a private owner of a helicopter he, along with his wife as a co-pilot, understood the life-threatening situation and the needs of the community.

In the face of the failure of the federal government to respond and having the unique capacity to help, they acted. They attached a GoPro camera to their helicopter to record the rescue mission and adventure.

First, they found a babysitter for their own kids to be looked after and kept safe. Then they flew to his friend’s house, loaded up the copter with water, medicines and other supplies. The next morning they were in the air and on the way to a local airport where a volunteer community leader gave him the coordinates of several people who were in need of specific medicine or certain supplies. Not only did she know exactly where those in need were located, but she had the supplies ready to go organized in bays on the runway. They would take a load, drop it off and return for the next batch. After several trips they were directed to a home which had been cut off by the total destruction of the surrounding roads. They found a stranded young couple with a three month old. They boarded the copter and were saved - evacuated by the man and his wife. 

I don’t know if they are Christian or Catholic. I have no idea if the man and his co-pilot wife had a religious motivation to help their neighbors in an extreme time of need. I suspect they did. But in this extreme disaster situation they employed their common sense and wittingly or not they followed the Church’s principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Out of a sense of solidarity with their neighbors and countrymen they prioritized the human lives of the victims of the flooded hurricane damaged areas. They did not leave it to the snail’s pace of the federal government to eventually act. Being closer in proximity they took it upon themselves to act quickly which makes all the difference to their neighbors in need. 

This couple followed the three foundational principles of Catholic Social Teaching...

The Dignity of Human Life: The principle of the dignity of human life in Catholic Social Teaching (CST) states that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of society's moral vision. This principle is the basis for all other CST principles. Unlike the tainted political policies of the federal government, the heroic couple did not condition their respeonse to humans in need based on skin color, gender, sexuality or any other external factor. They didn't care about diversity or inclusion or equity. They just wanted to help people because human life is sacred.

Subsidiarity: This principle is based on common sense. Imagine a target with a bullseye surrounded by outer rings. Each ring represents a priority of an individual's responsibility in an emergency.

• The safety, well being and health of the individual himself is the first concern - It's the bullseye. If that is neglected it may result in the person's inability to help others.
• The next ring of concern would be his spouse or immediate family.
• The next ring to which he is responsible after those inner rings are satisfied, is his extended family and close friends.
• Then the various communities that he interacts with on a daily or weekly basis. such as his local neighborhood, local church parish and his place of employment, his co-workers and his customers.

Those people who are most affected by the natural disaster ought to be the one’s making decisions. The principle of subsidiarity is based on the idea that: Larger institutions should not interfere with smaller institutions.

Policies enacted by government should be focused on the immediate benefit of individuals, families and small communities. They should never not prioritize wars over someone else's borders in a country no one can point to on a map or jeopardize the safety of people in their own communities with unnecessary and outlandish laws and regulations. 

I Am Leah (on X, Twitter) said it best...

Things that helped me survive Helene:

A gas car
A gas stove
A gas hot water heater
A gas chainsaw
Cash

Things that are/were useless during Helene:

Electric cars
Electric appliances
Debit cards
The city bus
The government
Diversity
My tax dollars in Ukraine

Solidarity: Solidarity is based on the idea that people are interconnected and interdependent, and that what affects one person affects everyone indirectly. It calls us to prioritize the common good  to put the needs of the community before the interests of a few. It compels us to take action to address the causes of poverty, inequality, and other injustices. As Christians solidarity means being like Jesus by extending God's love to all people.

What's the takeaway? Be ready to act in an emergency by habituation of the Catholic Social Teachings in your everyday life. Get to know the people in your neighborhood. Do not wait for people far away who don't know you and your community to save you. Prioritize the health and happiness of the people closest to you then look outward to the next ring.