Is giving to charity always a moral obligaton?

[JackVk]

Perhaps you heard the readings at Mass today about the works of mercy, and how we very well could be helping Jesus when we do them. I want to donate money to World Vision for the victims of the earthquake in Japan. I’ve donated to this organization before, but they mailed the receipt to my house, and my parents found it, and chewed me out for donating money, since my dad just recently got a job and we don’t have a lot of money. I know we need money, but I feel the victims in Japan need it more. I feel like I could be denying Jesus help. What do I do?

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Perhaps you heard the readings at Mass today about the works of mercy, and how we very well could be helping Jesus when we do them. I want to donate money to World Vision for the victims of the earthquake in Japan. I’ve donated to this organization before, but they mailed the receipt to my house, and my parents found it, and chewed me out for donating money, since my dad just recently got a job and we don’t have a lot of money. I know we need money, but I feel the victims in Japan need it more. I feel like I could be denying Jesus help. What do I do?

I think we have an obligation to our neighbors, congruent with their actual need and our ability to give. It is praiseworthy to give, even out of one’s poverty.

Luke 21: "1 He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had.”

 

[mcrow]

It is an obligation, but you should scale to your ability to give.

Maybe you can only afford $1, if that’s all you can truly give then I think you are OK. You need not make your self broke or put yourself into financial problems to do it right. Give as much as you can and still be financially responsible.

 

[Julian0404]

If your parents are still in your business, get a P.O. Box. The Gospel teaches us that when we do good, do not let the right hand know what the left hand is doing.

 

[Antrim]

Charity begins at home.

Antrim

 

[baltobetsy]

Whose money did you want to donate? Do you have a job or receive an allowance? Or would you be donating your parents’ money directly? If it’s not strictly your money, you owe your parents the courtesy of discussing it with them.

If you have your own source of funds, it is not necessary to donate in such a way that you receive a receipt in the mail. I’m quite sure your parish church will be having a collection for relief, and there will be Red Cross donation opportunities everywhere. You can simply drop in some cash and be done with it.