Faithless people doing good works equivalent to those “God works through Christians”?

[Steven_Merten]

itsjustdave1988:

Steven,

I’ve done a search of Pope St. Peter’s writings, and I don’t find where St. Peter repeated Jesus stern warnings of eternal damnation for those who do not care for the poor, do you? What does this say of Peter?

What I find sad is your attempt to judge our popes for what they didn’t say.

Hello Dave,

Pope St. Peter did not condemn Caesar for not doing the Church’s work.

Let me tell you a little story about a hypocrite worried more about his worldly religious leader image than he is about Christ’s call to Christians to feed and care for the poor out of love for Jesus.

I volunteered at St. Vincent De Paul in Seattles downtown area. We responded to calls for help from the poor. At each inteview with the caller the lead volunteer started passing out government pamphlets. She said here is the phone number and form to fill out to get on State welfare. Here is the form to fill out to get your electric bill payed for by the State. Here is the form to fill out to get State food stamps. Here is the form to fill out to get your children, if you have any, on State medical. Then the lead volunteer said, “I want you to know that our Catholic Bishop has fought hard to make sure these State welfare programs remain available to you.” And here (from Christ’s Bride, 1.1 billion Catholics) is a voucher for twenty dollars.

What an abomination!

Who loves you Jesus? The Catholic Church and her twenty dollars or the State through taxpayers who actually feed and care for the poor in our country and abroad?

Don’t worry JP2 and those like him. You just go on condemning the World Bank, Western Nations and secular authorities and go on teaching about the difference between natural and efficacious grace. We Americans will feed the poor and teach Jesus teaching to care for the poor, loving the least of Jesus’ brothers, or burn in hell like the rich man in Jesus’ Lazerous story.

Peace
Steven
www.ILOVEYOUGOD.com

 

[Bishopite]

Steven Merten,

Why are you wasting your time posting replies when you could be spending that time helping the poor?

Shouldn’t you be spending more of your time helping the poor?

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Steven Merten,

Your post is rather incoherent. I’m not sure what you are railing against. For example, I don’t know what Caesar and his role has to do with things. Nor do I know what you mean by my “condemning a World Bank” ??? Perhaps you can take a deep breath and try again.

If you are referring to the role of the State and the role of the Church in providing for the common good, the Catechism states:

"Love of neighbor is inseparable from love for God… [Each man] rightly owes loyalty to the communities of which he is part and respect to those in authority who have charge of the common good… Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative. The teaching of the Church has elaborated the principle of subsidiarity, according to which “a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to co- ordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.”… The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to all forms of collectivism. It sets limits for state intervention. It aims at harmonizing the relationships between individuals and societies. …

Widespread participation in voluntary associations and institutions is to be encouraged. … In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, neither the state nor any larger society should substitute itself for the initiative and responsibility of individuals and intermediary bodies. … it is necessary to call for the conversion of hearts and appeal to the grace of God. Charity urges just reforms. There is no solution to the social question apart from the Gospel (cf. *CA *3, 5). (CCC 1878-1896)

Thus, like Vatican II did in Gaudium et Spes, John Paul II taught that we are to have a preferential love of the poor, warning that to do otherwise is be like the rich man who ended up in torment because he ignored poor Lazarus, .

Preferential Love of the Poor
34. In seeking to promote human dignity, the Church shows a preferential love of the poor and the voiceless, because the Lord has identified himself with them in a special way (cf. *Mt *25:40). This love excludes no one, but simply embodies a priority of service to which the whole Christian tradition bears witness. “This love of preference for the poor, and the decisions which it inspires in us, 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 (cf. *Lk *16:19-31)”. [John Paul II, *Ecclesia in Asia,

Elsewhere John Paul II makes the same warning as to avoid the “torment” of the rich man:

The rich man lived in opulence and luxury, ignoring the beggar on his doorstep. But after his death, the situation was reversed: Lazarus was welcomed into Paradise, whereas ***the rich man ended up in torment. ***

The teaching found in the Parable is clear: all individuals must show not selfishness but solidarity in the use they make of their possessions. (John Paul II, Angelus address, 26 Sep 2004)

Affirming the teaching of St. Gregory the Great, John Paul II taught:

“Every day we can find Lazarus if we seek him, and every day we come across him even without seeking him. The poor who importune us at inappropriate times could intercede for us on the Day of Judgment… Consider whether it is right to refuse them, since those importuning us may be our future protectors. So do not miss opportunities to act with mercy!” (*Hom. in Evangelia, *40, 10: *PL *76, 1309).

If, in the Book of Sirach, we read: “The prayer of a poor man goes from his lips to the ears of God, *and his judgment comes speedily” *(21: 5), the Gospel states clearly that on the Day of Judgment, the Lord of the universe will say to those on his right hand: “I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to me” (Mt 25: 35-36)." (Message of John Paul II, 7 Feb 2004)

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Steven Merten,

I also invite you to read the following article from the National Catholic Register, by Fr. Thomas D. Williams:

Thanks FEMA, but No Thanks
by Fr. Thomas D. Williams
National Catholic Register, 27 Nov-3 Dec 2005
freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1525465/posts

Here’s an excerpt:

Moreover, even if government were theoretically able to meet all the material needs of all citizens, it shouldn’t be allowed to do so. There must always be a place for the direct exercise of charity and voluntary assistance, which should never be usurped by an overweening nanny state.