Helping the Poor
Saint Pope John Paul II
Because of our "love of preference for the poor," we "cannot but embrace the immense multitudes of the hungry, the needy, the homeless, those without medical care and, above all, those without hope of a better future. It is impossible not to take account of the existence of these realities. To ignore them would mean becoming like the 'rich man' who pretended not to know the beggar Lazarus lying at his gate (Luke 16:19-31)."
"Unfortunately, instead of becoming fewer the poor are becoming more numerous, not only in less developed countries but—and this seems no less scandalous—in the more developed ones too. It is necessary to state once more the characteristic principle of Christian social doctrine: The goods of this world are originally meant for all. The right to private property is valid and necessary, but it does not nullify the value of this principle." Encyclical on Social Concerns (1988) "The Church's love for the poor, which is essential for her and part of her constant tradition. impels her to give attention to a world in which poverty is threatening to assume massive proportions in spite of technological and economic progress. In the countries of the West, different forms of poverty are being experienced by groups which live on the margins of society, by the elderly and the sick, by the victims of consumerism, and even more immediately by so many refugees and migrants." "Love for others, and in the first place love for the poor, in whom the Church sees Christ himself, is made concrete in the promotion of justice."Centesimus Annus (1991) |
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Helping the Poor?
The Bible instructs us to help the poor and needy (Proverbs 14:31; Romans 15:26; James 1:27). How do we balance that with not giving to those among the poor who will use what we give them wrongly, i.e. drug or alcohol use? Is it our responsibility to find truly worthy causes, or do we just give and trust God to use it as He sees fit?