On helping the Poor?

[HabemusFrancis]

As Catholics we all know how important it is to help the poor. But my question is, to what extent, and is there such thing as “too much help?”

I agree it is good to help the poor, in the sense of giving canned food to a shelter, donating old clothes, or dropping a dime or two into the homeless man’ styrofoam cup.

But should there really be a drive to end poverty as we know it? I myself am not so sure.

In some ways aren’t poor people sort of blessed to be poor? By not having many material things or possessions, they can have more room in their lives for god. Perhaps poverty enables people and families to “draw close” to Jesus in a way that I, with all my goods and money… just have a tougher time of doing.

Couldn’t one say that desperate poverty can in fact be a good thing? It can spiritually purify those who “suffer” from it, by helping end whatever time in purgatory they may have incurred? By being poor and desperate they are also less likely to be distracted with frivilous ideas or frivilous careers/passions, which could lead them to hell, even if they are in fact “happy.”

And don’t those in desperate poverty help us Catholics? We have people we can exercise charity toward and obtain graces from helping.

I just wonder if there is a sort of “beauty” or “purity” in poverty and the poor, and would it in fact be a shame if they didn’t exist?

I know we are called to succor and alleviate the sufferings of those we see… but are we morally obligated to end poverty? Are we morally obligated to insure it still exists?

Thoughts please!!

 

[Bonnie]

I suppose it depends on which side of “poverty” you are on. I am definitely in favor of programs that help the poor - they have helped us a lot. They did not make us rich, but got us out of substandard housing and helped our children get higher education.

 

[Rhubarb]

It seems to me that giving to the poor is one of the main themes of the Bible - if you’ll forgive me for using literary descriptions for the Bible.

 

[esieffe]

Couldn’t one say that desperate poverty can in fact be a good thing? It can spiritually purify those who “suffer” from it, by helping end whatever time in purgatory they may have incurred? By being poor and desperate they are also less likely to be distracted with frivilous ideas or frivilous careers/passions, which could lead them to hell, even if they are in fact “happy.”
:

Though I have only included part of your text above that I want to answer, I know what you are driving at. To “live among the least of you,” I think it should be a choice. Far better to live simply as a choice, rather than being in a desperate financial situation, not knowing where the next meal will come, or when the eviction order might come.

It is not up for me or you to judge if anyone’s crushing poverty is spiritually helpful for them. To do so almost sounds like “let them eat cake.” People who are able to escape poverty with help or not, more than likely bring good values with them, but I would venture to say that poverty under most circumstances, is never a good thing.:twocents:

 

[puzzledtoo]

I would say it is our moral obligation to help who we can when we can to the best of our ability. Blessings to all.