Can I get a response.. for this poster?

[Cyclophile]

yfrog.com/h8wvhzdj

I’ve argued that Catholic charities are most generous, etc… and I am arguing with secularists here… latest question is “why does that chair even exist?”

I’m trying to be charitable… some of the folks in this little debate are friends.

 

[Speedypizza]

Many things like that were not made by the Church but were given as gifts by loyal followers. I also am not sure of the age of the chair, but I am betting it could be a priceless piece of history. However, let us say that the chair was in fact paid for by the Church, what should the pope sit on, a plastic folding chair or maybe a pumpkin?

The real point that I would bring up is that if you keep in mind that the pope is the spiritual leader for 1.2 billion people and that he is also the leader of country, you start to see how poor he really is. Many ministers of mega-churches here live in homes far larger and more gaudy then the small 10 rooms the pope lives in. Even next to the president of most counties he is very poor. The pope does not even own a private jet, something that most large companies as well as many rock stars and actors own. The only thing that makes him look rich are his clothing and his chair. Well he is the leader of an entire religion and like the president or the queen of England, he needs to look the part.

Pax

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

Governments have many valuables stored away; for instance the US has the Smithsonian. Why aren’t they calling for the selling of everything there? Because they want to point a finger, in an accusatory manner, at the Catholic Church, or Catholicism in general.

The Pope doesn’t own anything in the Church.

To deny Catholic charities, generation after generation, is to close one’s eyes to reality.

 

[Church_Militant]

Catholic Charities funnels something like $ .96 of every dollar donated directly where needed. I don’t know of any other organization that does as well.

Tell him we’ll get right on that as soon as he does the same.

And when the U.S. Government does the same, and the U.N. and all the oil companies, and all the rich around the world. Oh, and don’t forget all those mega churches out there with their youth centers and workout centers and pools and such.

It’s easy to talk smack when you’re not willing to get your hands dirty yourself.

 

[Legal_Eagle]

yfrog.com/h8wvhzdj

I’ve argued that Catholic charities are most generous, etc… and I am arguing with secularists here… latest question is “why does that chair even exist?”

I’m trying to be charitable… some of the folks in this little debate are friends.

I’m something of a bleeding heart. Just look at my sig line. It’s a fair comment that we should all live modestly. However, I agree with the other posters above. First of all, I absolutely guarantee you that somewhere within a mile of those pitiful children was a Catholic relief worker funded by the same people who paid for that chair. Where was the “secularist” then? Secondly, the chair was most likely donated to the Holy Father centuries ago. Thirdly, who would buy it? Finally, that chair does not belong to the Pope. It belongs to the whole of the Church. You, me, Lino Rulli…all of us. It’s not Benedict’s to sell.

Furthermore, that chair didn’t just build itself. Somebody sold the gold. Somebody sold the wood. Somebody sold the fabric. Somebody designed the thing. Somebody assembled the parts into a beautiful object that the whole world can now enjoy. Didn’t those people deserve to be compensated? Didn’t those people use the money they made to feed their families? Isn’t employing people in commerce preferable to giving them charity? Should every artist in the world just give away their work for free? Should they stop producing art because its expensive and tell everybody to give their money to charity?

Most of all though, I just cant tolerate a hypocrite. Why are you trying to be charitable with these people. They are clearly trying to embarrass you, and me, and the Holy Father, and every Catholic in the world.

What you should do is give it right back to them. Ask your friend what kind of car he/she drives and where he/she lives, and what kind of watch he/she wears. Then suggest that they sell that car and that house and that watch, and buy a car and a house that are half as expensive and give the proceeds to the poor. If you ever see him/her wearing clothing not from the Salvation Army please do not hesitate to remind them that they are stealing from the poor.

Then they can carp about the Papal throne.

BTW…if a person bought the Papal throne, wouldn’t that person be obligated to sell it and give the money to the poor, and then wouldn’t that person be obligated to sell it and give the money to the poor…etc, etc?

 

[hawkeye]

The same question was asked by the disciples about a woman wasting precious ointment on Jesus which could have been sold to feed the poor.

 

[Cyclophile]

The same question was asked by the disciples about a woman wasting precious ointment on Jesus which could have been sold to feed the poor.

True that…

I did turn this around, on the “why does the chair even exist, all the little doodads and such”

My response was (and my friend is an artist):

Because… an artist, like yourself, created it and all those other knick-knacks for the church, for the glory of God. Lets get secular… why are government buildings so ornate? couldn’t all that marble, those statues be sold off to feed the hungry? Hell… what is the point of art? all that wasted effort that could go towards helping the needy rather than entertaining the “rich”?

 

[kiyoaki]

in addition to the previous, great, answers, i suspect that a big chuck of the tourism and museum gift shop sales dollars raised by that chair and its surrounding objets d’arts feeds, clothes, and educates quite a number of people. you don’t raise money by selling off your capital.