Man Asking for Money in Vestibule

  • Thread starter Thread starter akasseb
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

akasseb

Guest
I attend a church in the downtown area of a major city. Every week before and after Mass there is a homeless man (assumed) asking for money in the vestibule of the church. How do we, as Catholics, approach a situation like this? Does one give this man money, politely decline his requests, ignore him, or approach someone from the church about it? I am really unsure how I feel about this, as he is fairly aggressive. Thank you for your feedback.
 
Since it’s in the church, I would personally introduce him to the priest. He would have resources if he needs a shelter or something like that. I doubt the priest would want anyone being aggressive.

I used to know someone who worked closely with homeless people. She said that if you feel comfortable, instead of giving him money, you can ask him what he needs. If he says he needs food, offer to buy him a meal (of course staying in a public and traveled place). If he says he needs shoes, you can meet him at a store and buy him shoes, etc. If they’re actually hungry or need shoes, they will take you up on your offer.
 
I’d ask the church personnel concerning it and ask their advice on how to handle it. He could be in actual need, or he could be preying on people going into Mass. My default reaction would be not to give him money, but instead to see if he needed a meal, help finding a shelter, help getting into contact with the Church’s social services programs, warm clothes, etc. Money itself is far to liquid to be of long term help to the man.
 
If he is there frequently, they probably know him by name. I would tell an usher or greeter that he is there and they will decide the right course of action to take.
 
Well he could be homeless or a panhandler. I guess there would be no way of knowing that. Try to find out what he needs and give him money. He could really be in need.
 
LittleHannah said:
Well he could be homeless or a panhandler. I guess there would be no way of knowing that. Try to find out what he needs and give him money. He could really be in need.
Click to expand...
Or he.could be a swindler…tell the priest or an usher .
 
When approached by a “begger” irregardless of the location, or situation, GOD will judge you for what do or do not in answering the need - and GOD will judge the begger for he/she has done and continues to do to remain a begger.

There are several occassions where JESUS HIMSELF came as a begger to several saints “to be” and they passed the test.

St. Francis of Assisi, was returning home from battle to nurse a wound during winter when he came upon a leper. He was so moved he got off his horse embraced and kissed the leper and gave him his cloak - winter - and continued his trip. He learned later that leper was JESUS.

St. Therese of Lisuex (spelling) had the responsibility of answering the front gate of the convenant when - in winter again - a knock revealed a begger at the gate begging for bread. She went to the kitchen and discovered the last loaf. If she gave it away, the sisters would go hungry - she gave it away. And upon returning a few minutes later there were no footprints in the snow leading away, only the single set leading upto the gate.

Be very slow to analyze a beggar and very quick to give all that you can give - you may be giving to JESUS. Leave it to JESUS to analyze the begger - as HE is also analyzing you.
 
**Be very slow to analyze a beggar and very quick to give all that you can give - you may be giving to JESUS. Leave it to JESUS to analyze the begger - as HE is also analyzing you. **

THANK YOU for this comment. I was hoping to see a remark like this.
It is very, very true.
At Gesu Church, in downtown Miami, there was a couple of different street guys who WERE taking advantage of people. Even still, I gave them a buck or two when I had cash on me ( I never carry much cash, though ). These two guys would deliberate hang out on the curb directly outside the door of the the office where you purchased your votive candles and donated to get bottles of holy water and buy inexpensive rosaries. They knew people would go there from one hour before the mass, until one full hour AFTER the mass, and the same guys would hang out there and very un-courteously stick their hand out with a “you owe me” look on their face (one of them, that is). The other guy would just sit there, by the door, and I would give him something too.

Jesus did not say to teach people to go to shelters or only buy them food, and refuse to give them any cash. He said to GIVE TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU.
You don’t have to bankrupt yourself, but do help out. The shelters are NOT the be-all and end-all solution for the homeless. They are actually, here in Miami, quite violent places where you can have the hell beaten out of you by a fellow JEALOUS homeless person, that violence happens all the time, which is why many homeless here opt to sleep in doorways rather than be beaten up in the shelters in the middle of the night.

There are, we all know, people who don’t want food, they want booze.
My friend Myriam bought a GOURMET breakfast one morning, to go, on her way to the office. A street person asked her for money for breakfast. She handed him her breakfast, which I know (I used to occasionally go the place) was a GOURMET, top-notch breakfast. In front of her, the guy opened the styrofoam package, looked at the breakfast, and violently threw it to the ground right in front of my generous friend Myriam.
Needless to say, from then on, she gave 50 cents or a buck to them, and never gave anyone her $9 or $10 breakfast ever again, not willing to risk having it thrown to the ground like that. Who can afford such waste?
 
Whenever I am confronted with the truth of Jesus in our midst- I offer to take them to MacDonalds or a restaurant in the area to buy them a meal-some take the bait- most just want money- the bait is I tell them about Christ and how He saves us all through the Eucharist.
 
I stopped by our local pharmacy while walking home from my bus-stop from work,
to buy several boxes of ENSURE liquid nutrition drink for my mom.

When I exited the store, a man was there who said he needed a buck. I had no cash on me (paid with a debit card), and I apologized and started to leave. Then I remembered, I had nutrition drinks in my bag, so I came back and gave him one of them.
At least the poor guy got some protein and vitamins and potassium, and a nice chocolate flavored drink.

We can always do something, and he was appreciative.
 
Then there’s the joke about the aged Jewish grandmother walking down the street in New York when a panhandler comes up to her and says-“I haven’t eaten in three days” and she says “Force yourself”.
 
Given that this is in a church.

Assuming that you put money in that receptacle that was handed around.

Assuming that the priest in said church is - like all of the RCC priests I have ever met - heavily involved in charities catering to those less fortunate among us.

Asking the priest is the thing to do. He is the man who has the time and the experience to help this guy if he wants to be helped.
 
I have never given these people cash, and I never will. Many individuals are homeless by choice because they choose to spend their money on what they consider the “basics of life” liqour and cigarettes. They choose not to spend on food, clothing, or shelter.

I will buy them food instead, or offer them clothes not enabling the addictions.

A huge number of the homeless are mentally ill, since we have decided to de-institutionalise them, and place them in the community they have no support. My own brother was schizophrenic and he died from cancer. He went around the streets picking up discarded ciggarette ends.

I think it was a huge mistake removing the mentally ill from instituions, when they were in mental hospitals they had to take their anti-psychotics. When they run loose they get off the meds because with their paranoia they think the medicine is poison.
 
akasseb said:
I attend a church in the downtown area of a major city. Every week before and after Mass there is a homeless man (assumed) asking for money in the vestibule of the church. How do we, as Catholics, approach a situation like this? Does one give this man money, politely decline his requests, ignore him, or approach someone from the church about it? I am really unsure how I feel about this, as he is fairly aggressive. Thank you for your feedback.
Click to expand...
If the panhandler’s behavior is aggressive, it is imperative you inform the priest ASAP. The last thing he wants is for one of parishioners to get assaulted or get put off of attending Mass out of fear of an confrontation with this man. I sometimes bring my young stepdaughters with me to Mass, and you can be sure that we wouldn’t stay if we were accosted in the vestibule. Besides, he may have mental health issues that need to be addressed by professionals.

If someone where simply asking for money at my church, I would give her/him a buck. I generally don’t carry food or an extra outfit with me to Mass, and I figure the person needs that dollar more than I do. When the parish office is next open I would bring this person to the attention of the parish staff, who might be able get him some help through Catholic charities in our area.

Luna
 
I want to thank all of you for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I have decided that I will email someone from the Church about the situation. While I don’t think there will be any sort of incident because of this man, he may discourage someone from attending Mass. He isn’t aggressive physically, but he is very active in going up to as many people as possible and asking for money.

In the meantime, I am going to plan on giving him a buck or two when I see him, as I think it is my obligation to give in some capacity.
 
Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away. Mt 5:42

A woman was begging outside our parish one day and it struck me that so many walked past her. I’m not throwing stones at them. Not too long ago I likely would have as well. She looked shamed to be there. I offered her a smile with a few dollars. She has not been there since.

Depending on the perceived sincerity of the one begging for money determines the value I generally give them, but if i can I give. In the vestibule is a little more disturbing. Maybe say hello to him and offer him a few pennies to gauge his sincerity and need…
 
akasseb said:
I attend a church in the downtown area of a major city. Every week before and after Mass there is a homeless man (assumed) asking for money in the vestibule of the church. How do we, as Catholics, approach a situation like this? Does one give this man money, politely decline his requests, ignore him, or approach someone from the church about it? I am really unsure how I feel about this, as he is fairly aggressive. Thank you for your feedback.
Click to expand...
I never give money because it may be spent on drugs. If the man is a smoker, I will give him a cigarette and ask him if he needs food. If so, I will usually go to a shop and buy some basic foodstuffs for him, such as bread and cooked meats. I usually take the opportunity to have a conversation with the person and learn of their personal situation, and give them information about possible state or charity assistance they may be entitled to.

In the majority of cases, the person in question is someone I would term as “undeserving poor,” but I always try and see him as though he were Jesus Himself and do what God would expect me to do. The judgement does not belong to me and appearances can be deceiving. There have indeed been cases, particularly when I’ve been abroad, when such a man was truly in a desperate situation and in giving him help, I was also able to witness to the truth of the Christian faith and potentially sow seeds for his future conversion. I’ve found that people who are genuinely in need are very much open to the truth of God’s word.

I never get disheartened if the person I helped did not appear genuinely in need because I still have the hope that this experience of someone caring enough about him to want to help him out will somehow lay the foundations for him realising his own value as a human being and will set the stage for him being able to help himself.

I am a man, however, so I do not generally feel threatened by homeless people, even if they become aggressive, so I would only advise approaching such a person if you feel it would be prudent to do so.
 
Isn’t it a sign of spiritual pridefulness when someone goes into lengthy detail over what he or she does when he or she encounters a beggar?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top