Good question.
The following teachings of the Church need to be included in this discussion.
That is the Church’s teaching on “SUBSIDIARITY”. Please see “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” first printed in US in March of 2000.
Paragraphs: 1883, 1185, 1894 and 2209.
Occasionally when writing to elected government Officials, the Bishops will refer to subsidiarity, such as in the recent health care bill.
The problem is that elected Officials and their Staff for the most part have no clue what the Bishops mean by “Subsidiarity”, nor do they have the time or inclination to look it up.
Therefore it gets over-looked.
The minority who may understand subsidiarity may not know how to apply it to a complicated and lengthly bill, therefore again it gets over-looked.
Neither Jesus or the Church, is - the “government”. Religion knows no boundaries. And that is where there may be confusion with the general public.
As individuals we have an obligation to help those who are
unable to help themselves to the best of our ability. This includes: feeding the hungry; giving drink to the thirsty; clothing the naked; sheltering the homeless, which are some of the Corporal works of mercy, anywhere in the world where it is needed.
When a government takes over the job of the individual, it takes us closer to socialism, or communism.
It takes away the freedom of the individual to make his/her own decisions. This includes taking away from the individual being helped, and the individual paying the taxes.
Strings are aways attached to government actions.
Further socialism rather than uplifting the poor, brings the rest of a society down to a lower level.
All citizens - including the poor and the middle income families through greater taxes must pay for all government actions including on-going administration of programs.
The US Constitution as written, gives more power to the States than the Federal Government, and therefore allows greater control by the people.
Further, due to government over-spending over many years but most especially in the last few years, the US is no longer a weathly nation as some still assume.
Our debts to other Countries is in the hundreds of billions of dollars, which will effect all American families for many years to come.
reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64B53W20100512
The Church respects and encourages the political freedom and responsibility of the citizen. (2245)
It is the part of the Church’s mission to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it.
“The means, the only means, she may use are those which are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of all men according to the diversity of times and circumstances.”
(2246)
When asking a government to do something, all far-reaching consequences must be considered. Not just give us this or give us that - this is greed and laziness.
Jesus never taught that the government should take from one person and give it to another.
