Is the richness ie gold cups and paintings of the Catholic church in Rome a problem?.....

[VivienneJ]

Something which people often do not realise about those “gold cups” is that they were donated by a member of that specific church in memory of someone in their lives who has died. Now how would your brother (or was it brother-in-law, sorry I wasn’t paying enough attention back there) feel if he gave something in memory of someone in his life and was told “Oh, sorry, we can’t have this because people will criticize us for using this valuable gold cup”. The donated item has been entrusted to the church to keep and use.

 

[Nicea325]

My bro in law a former Catholic says that the Church is too rich, with all those gold cups and paintings and expensive artifacts and what not. He says he left because the Church (which he admits was the “First Church”) forgot its humble beginnings.

Is this a thought some non-Catholics have as well?

However, let me ask did Jesus actually forbid riches in all circumstances?

MJ

Then he also must have an issue with Solomon who constructed a beautiful Temple. It sure was very “rich” in materialism. What about the Ark of the Covenant?

Better yet, the U.S. is rich, does he express the same sentiments?

 

[ConstantineTG]

My bro in law a former Catholic says that the Church is too rich, with all those gold cups and paintings and expensive artifacts and what not. He says he left because the Church (which he admits was the “First Church”) forgot its humble beginnings.

Is this a thought some non-Catholics have as well?

However, let me ask did Jesus actually forbid riches in all circumstances?

MJ

This came from an Orthodox priest, but it applies to the Catholic Church as well. He said that if we have gold, why shouldn’t we offer it for use for God’s glory? The Jewish temple was adorned with gold and precious stones, why can’t Christians do the same?

Jesus never forbade riches. Read up on that part where he was anointed with oil which cost more than a month’s salary for an average worker of his time.

And what humble beginnings was he talking about? The Apostles who were Jews surely would have used the best of the best things they have for Christian rituals.