Donating to non-Catholic cause

[River_Glorious]

My college age nephew has asked for a donation for a mission trip he will be taking in the spring. He isn’t Catholic and has liberal religious views. The trip is associated with the Methodist church. I think it’s terrific that he is going as many kids his age are spending their spring break on a beach, but I’m conflicted about whether I should financially support someone whose beliefs are contrary to mine.

 

[Catholic1954]

My college age nephew has asked for a donation for a mission trip he will be taking in the spring. He isn’t Catholic and has liberal religious views. The trip is associated with the Methodist church. I think it’s terrific that he is going as many kids his age are spending their spring break on a beach, but I’m conflicted about whether I should financially support someone whose beliefs are contrary to mine.

I would not donate to any activity that has the purpose of taking Catholics out of the Catholic Church.

 

[Neofight]

My college age nephew has asked for a donation for a mission trip he will be taking in the spring. He isn’t Catholic and has liberal religious views. The trip is associated with the Methodist church. I think it’s terrific that he is going as many kids his age are spending their spring break on a beach, but I’m conflicted about whether I should financially support someone whose beliefs are contrary to mine.

There’s a large divide between someone with “contrary” beliefs and beliefs that simply are not “in line” with Catholicism. You need to consider the objective of the mission he will embark on. Are the actions he and his group will be taking contribute directly to the possible damnation of souls by imposing not just different but abjectly evil theology, or will it simply be doing humanitarian good?

For what its worth, in my giving of alms, I never consider the theology (or lack of theology) of the group, but their mission, the good they do, and the financial reports on how the money is actually spent.

Peace and all good!

 

[TxGodfollower]

My college age nephew has asked for a donation for a mission trip he will be taking in the spring. He isn’t Catholic and has liberal religious views. The trip is associated with the Methodist church. I think it’s terrific that he is going as many kids his age are spending their spring break on a beach, but I’m conflicted about whether I should financially support someone whose beliefs are contrary to mine.

I think you need to consider two things to help you decide whether to support him or not. This is the same thing I use when deciding whether to support a Catholic ministry, or another Protestant mission:

1. What is the action? If they are rebuilding houses after a hurricane or feeding the poor at a soup kitchen, I don’t think the (for lack of a better phrase) details of the faith matter. A house built by Protestants, or a house built by Catholics, I’d take it if it meant getting my family out of the cold and rain. I wouldn’t ask what their view point on communion was before thanking them profusely and being grateful for what they had done.
2. What is the audience? Are they reaching out to some group that is mostly non-Christian, or are they likely to be facing a different branch of Christianity there? Like, are they going to be focused on reaching atheists for Jesus, or trying to “enlighten” Catholics to Protestantism? I’m far more generous with the first than the later.

What you could always do is do a small donation and say that you have already used all of your charity budget for the year, but because of your relationship with him, you cut back on other things to help him. (or maybe offer to drive him to the airport, or pet sit, or help some other non-financial way so that it is more of a “family” thing and less of an “endorsement” of his beliefs.)