Is it ok not to give alms to street children inside the Church?

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Pythagoras

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Usually when there is Mass, poor street children would go inside the Church to beg for alms which in turn disturbs a lot of people, some people give, some people don’t. Should I stop giving alms inside the Church so that they would also stop begging inside the Church? Are there guidelines set by the Church on how to deal with these kind of situations?
 
You should stop. They of course disrupt people’s worship. If you give them money, it is more likely that they will do the same. You should think of the other people there in this case.
My wife likes to sit in the back row of church. Several times a beggar tapped us our shoulder during mass and then wanted money. It was very disruptive to my own prayer. Luckily, there is a security guard at our church, who I presume stopped the beggar from coming in during mass. They can always beg by the entrance to the church’s property instead.
 
Are they begging during Mass? Why doesn’t your parish get in touch with some sort of shelter? They are CHILDREN! They don’t understand what they are doing. So instead of just ignoring them, why don’t you ask your priest or someone who feels comfortable to explain to them what is going on
 
Maybe you can approach the priest and begin some sort of outreach ministry where you assist these children, AND you also catechize them so they will enter the church to worship as well! You’d be helping in 2 huge ways!
 
pianistclare said:
maybe you can approach the priest and begin some sort of outreach ministry where you assist these children, and you also catechize them so they will enter the church to worship as well! You’d be helping in 2 huge ways!
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^^^ this ^^^
 
mdgspencer said:
Several times a beggar tapped us our shoulder during mass and then wanted money. It was very disruptive to my own prayer. Luckily, there is a security guard at our church, who I presume stopped the beggar from coming in during mass. They can always beg by the entrance to the church’s property instead.
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What an awful experience. I hope when you were finally able to turn your full attention back to your prayer that you explained to God that it wasn’t your fault that the prayer was interrupted. I know He gets very upset when such things occur.
 
. I know He gets very upset when such things occur.

I don’t think any of us should claim we know that God gets very upset.

How do you know?
 
paperwight66 said:
. I know He gets very upset when such things occur.
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I don’t think any of us should claim we know that God gets very upset.

How do you know?

In a general sense, I think it’s fair to say that God is upset with things like abortion and homosexual unions. In this specific instance, just remember how upset Jesus was when He was overturning tables in the Temple, a place of prayer and sacrifice. Holy mass is a sacred time that must never be interrupted by someone begging for money. It is extremely inappropriate.
 
pianistclare said:
Maybe you can approach the priest and begin some sort of outreach ministry where you assist these children, AND you also catechize them so they will enter the church to worship as well! You’d be helping in 2 huge ways!
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👍
 
1neophyte said:
I don’t think any of us should claim we know that God gets very upset.

How do you know?
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In a general sense, I think it’s fair to say that God is upset with things like abortion and homosexual unions. In this specific instance, just remember how upset Jesus was when He was overturning tables in the Temple, a place of prayer and sacrifice. Holy mass is a sacred time that must never be interrupted by someone begging for money. It is extremely inappropriate.

These are little starving children

I think Jesus also said to let them come to Him. :rolleyes:
 
1neophyte said:
What an awful experience. I hope when you were finally able to turn your full attention back to your prayer that you explained to God that it wasn’t your fault that the prayer was interrupted. I know He gets very upset when such things occur.
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I assume this is satire, and I think it makes a good point. Jesus clearly said that we should care for the poor, but I don’t recall that he ever said that our prayers should be uninterrupted.
 
Beryllos said:
I assume this is satire, and I think it makes a good point. Jesus clearly said that we should care for the poor, but I don’t recall that he ever said that our prayers should be uninterrupted.
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👍
 
Pythagoras said:
Usually when there is Mass, poor street children would go inside the Church to beg for alms which in turn disturbs a lot of people, some people give, some people don’t. Should I stop giving alms inside the Church so that they would also stop begging inside the Church? Are there guidelines set by the Church on how to deal with these kind of situations?
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I would stop giving money inside the church, during Mass. There is a good chance that these kids belong to a street syndicate and the money is collected by an adult, who does not spend most of it on the kids. We are called to give alms, but that doesn’t mean to anyone, anywhere. If you could support a local children’s shelter or orphanage that would be really helping kids who would get the care they need.
 
Neofight said:
I wasn’t aware of Christ making qualifying statements concerning alms giving in his Gospel preaching.
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The problem is the money given to a legitimate charity would be of better use than money given to a begging kingpin. Discernment and prudence is key here. I would rather give funds to those charities that make certain that the money is being used to help the very people it is meant to help.

Jesus did mention about being shrewd as snakes.
 
Sarcelle said:
The problem is the money given to a legitimate charity would be of better use than money given to a begging kingpin. Discernment and prudence is key here. I would rather give funds to those charities that make certain that the money is being used to help the very people it is meant to help.

Jesus did mention about being shrewd as snakes.
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A couple of points:

+A legitimate charity does not satisfy the immediate needs of a poor person.
+We often claim a legitimate charity is better, but few get around to donating to one
+Discernment and prudence can show us the face of Christ in even those least likely to be Christ like.
+Jesus also said, "‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
 
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