Caring for the poor

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Sixes …
Better yet, why not run? Often town governments have vacant seats they beg to be filled, usually on the ward level. Unless you are in a major metro area chances are you could be easily elected and actually be making the laws in your immediate area.
 
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There is an accepted Catholic moral principle summarized as “choosing the lesser of two evils”. If there is a decision where the only two possible outcomes are both evil, then you need to choose the lesser of the two.

All you do by not voting is to allow people who favor the greater evil to win.
 
Well I’m probably not the perfect Catholic but I refuse to vote for evil. If I need to stand before God one day and explain it, I will. I’m betting that He will be kind.
 
Thanks but that wouldn’t work for me. I don’t believe in telling people what is best for them. I’m just not a control freak.
 
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Thanks but that wouldn’t work for me. I don’t believe in telling people what is best for them. I’m just not a control freak.
Again…why not run on the micro-local level? Church council, library council, selectman, ward chairman? Are you aware at any level how government and governmental systems actually work? This isn’t like a father berating his child for peeing outside the toilet bowl or a bossy older sister demanding all the tinker toys.

This is saying “well the library has a $500 grant. Do we invite the magician, update the carpeting in the children’s room or host a teen program?” You’re not bossing people around. 7 times out of 10 you’re deciding how to allocate funds, 2 out of 10 times you’re settling disputes between 2 parties who both think they know what’s best and the remainder of the time you decided whether or not a rule applies to a party requesting to waive it.

God is merciful, but He does have a few words about the “take my ball and go home” lukewarm type. Just because you’re passionately lukewarm doesn’t make it better.
 
Oh I’m anything but lukewarm. Anyone who knows me knows that. I’m passionate about not voting for evil.
 
The Holy Gospel According to Luke 16:19-31

"19 "There was a rich man* who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. 20 And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. 22 When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and from the netherworld,* where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ 25 Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.j 26 Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ 27 He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ 30 * He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”
 
Oh I’m anything but lukewarm. Anyone who knows me knows that. I’m passionate about not voting for evil.
I think that’s what you keep telling yourself. But you won’t do a single thing to change it. It’s like psychological masturbation. It makes you feel good but has no physical consequences and yields no results. Simply begrudgingly paying your taxes and donating to the Church and raising your own children do not answer to the Catholic Church’s call to ensure all people are cared for, and yes, that involves some sort of governmental system. Heck, you stated you give money to the Church and charities. Why aren’t you on their govermning boards?

Or are you simply saying that you could not present yourself as a candidate because you, yourself are evil and would further the cause of evil behavior?
 
Just send a letter to the IRS requesting that none of the tax monies you pay be used to help the poor. Suggest other uses for it like building free public roller coasters, free helicopter rides and government owned casinos. There’s no reason paying taxes should not be fun. 😎
 
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I’ve been around for over 61 years and I know the vote makes no difference. Not voting is a stronger statement than voting for evil. My children are grown and doing very well for themselves, I like to think because I raised them with proper values.
 
I’ve been around for over 61 years and I know the vote makes no difference. Not voting is a stronger statement than voting for evil. My children are grown and doing very well for themselves, I like to think because I raised them with proper values.
Even at a Church council? Even on the micro-governmental level? You’re telling me that every person from library board chairmen to the man or woman who is in charge of your ward is evil? And again, many of these positions are up for the taking because people don’t realize just how powerful a strong local government is.

Your contribution to the world has nothing to do with how well you raised your children. If you need to focus time and energy on them and cannot be a part of the microlocal government then so be it. Your children are grown. You are simply living off the government that others are providing–and yes, that begins at the precinct councilmen/selectman level.

You have no legitimate reason that you don’t involve yourself in making the world better. That you aren’t on the board of the Church or Library. It seems you feel that you did your bit, now you want to be left alone and drop a check in the slot and forget about everyone else.
 
These are just the sort of ideas we need to keep the tax dollars flowing and the economy growing.
 
Oh I disagree. My children also don’t vote for evil or suck the teats of big government. Government is not their mommy. That’s a big contribution in my opinion.
 
Oh I disagree. My children also don’t vote for evil or suck the teats of big government. Government is not their mommy. That’s a big contribution in my opinion.
You are not raising them.

You raised them

It’s past tense.

Right now, you are doing nothing. Well except freeloading off of their choices in your moral ecosphere.

I vote and the governrment isn’t my mommy. It’s strange that you equate the two.
 
Where in the scriptures…
This works for Protestants, but not for Catholics. Your question should have probably been in another forum if you wanted it limited to a Protestant response. It does say anywhere in Scripture that we must have laws for the poor because we did not exist for another 2000 years. One can find a lot of social justice in the Mosaic code though, if you want to limit God to the Bible and your interpretation. This can still be done. But for Jesus, remember that neither he nor his apostles where involved in politics, which at that time, was Imperial.
 
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Right now, you are doing nothing.
No I’m still raising my children. In a sense. And I am doing something. On Monday I’m taking a vacation day at work and contributing it to a needy family in terms of time, money and labor. A group of us will be doing significant improvements to a house for a family who can’t afford it. My wife and three of our kids will be there. It will be a long hard day. All without the help of mommy government. You can say that’s nothing if you choose. It doesn’t hurt my feelings. But I think it’s better than voting. To me there’s a big difference between praying for the poor and actually digging into your pocket and giving to the poor. A vote is a prayer. Service is where the rubber hits the road.
 
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