Good point. I think some people with blind passion want to help because it makes them (the helper) feel better. Could this form of blind passion in and of itself be considered self-righteous and lacking careful discernment and humility? Open the mind to consider it, regardless of feelings. I think so.
Regarding innocent mistakes, I agree. Regarding blind passion without discernment for dishonesty, I disagree.
I didnt say we shouldnt wisely use them but deciding who is morally worthy of them is a different matter all together
How do you determine they are lying. And the presense of your statement in parenthesis hints at the difficulty and dangers of doing so.
Take my personal exmple of someone ringing at my door claiming to be in need for money because of hunger barely able to speak german but with a clear worded in plastic enveloped piece of paper, describing her alleged situation.
Do you know the person wasnt hungry?
I did not say she claimed to be hungry. She claimed she needed money to avoid hunger.
Everyone needs money to avoid hunger.
Seriously?
Not always, if someone is for example in diry danger, using others property to save him, is not always theft.
I could not disagree more. Private charity is ALWAYS faster and more effective than that given through governments. When disasters happen, it is private companies and individuals that get there first and give the most help. Governments, like giant ships, move very slowly and have to go through legal channels in order to help in any way, unless they overcome their own Constitutions, which ours has done (the President should not promise money to anyone since it is not within his Constitutional duties and limitations to do so. That belongs entirely to the Congress, especially the House of Representatives, since they are closest to the people’s purses.). When disasters happen it is private organizations which have the flexibility to respond within hours.
Well if you gave him all your property that would be your choice I guess. No one ever said you are expected to provide for ALL of someones needs. Who has advocated that? The absurdity of your exemple doesnt help you here. You over played it
I understood you, that what one is asks for and able to give, one should give. Thats because you seem to be critical about judging the asker (does he need help? does it help him? is the information he gives correct?).
You are correct that just because in such circumstances “theft” would be moral, it does not mean the government is well equipped for the task.
Tell me where in the Bible Jesus told us to let the government care for our widows and orphans? Tell me where Jesus ever told us that a different system other than the Church was to help care for the poor?
What is happening through governments is theft. Plain and simple, taking people’s earnings and property to give to others is theft. I am a Christian and I understand God’s dictates to care for the poor. In addition to paying my taxes, I contribute to my parishes (I attend 2) and also to pro-life organizations in my area. I give to other charities as I deem wise.
Government programs are rife with waste and fraud. They create larger problems in society and usually only bring harm to those they espouse to help. It’s not just my opinion, look at the last 40 + years of social welfare through the government and tell me that things have improved. To the contrary.
But it’s not the Church’s fault for any of this. We are still charged to take care of the poor. Unfortunately, the message has been usurped by politicians to justify taking our private property to achieve their own re-election instead of what they are supposed to do, which is uphold the Constitution through the writing of necessary and judicious legislation.