Only rich people can be truly catholic?

[UKcatholicGuy]

How do I respond to this argument? . . .

1.The Catholic Church is set up in such a way that poor people cannot truly live out what it teaches. For example, how can poor people with no means of transportation go to a holy hour before the Eucharist? Or how do they even get to Sunday mass?

2.How do people in poor thrid world countries even have access to a [monstrance] since they’re made of gold and are expensive?

3.Isn’t it true that Catholics are typically middle to upper middle class folk?

I’d really appreciate some help with refuting these claims! Thanks!

 

[Fitz]

In poor neighborhoods that are in the city, churches are close to people’s homes. In Chicago, most churches I have seen are withing walking distance of most parishoners. Otherwise, there are city buses.

I have never been to the third world churches so perhaps someone can give you more insight.

I have never heard a breakdown of the financial status of Catholics. I think it would vary from country to counrry. I don’t think that historcially Catholics have been wealthy, yet that may have changed over time.

I actually think Catholocism works very well as a message to the poor. We are actually taught not to get caught up in worldly things.

 

[puzzleannie]

there is no requirement to attend a holy hour, there is a requirement to attend Mass when it is possible. If it is not possible, there is no obligation. There is no requirement for a poor person to buy a monstrance, and individual should not own one anyhow. The Catholic Church thrives in poor countries because the poor can follow Christ authentically without the burden of riches. Refer to the story of the rich young man who was called by Christ.

 

[MonicaC]

UKcatholicGuy:

How do I respond to this argument? . . .

QUOTE]1.The Catholic Church is set up in such a way that poor people cannot truly live out what it teaches. For example, how can poor people with no means of transportation go to a holy hour before the Eucharist? Or how do they even get to Sunday mass?

How do you explain the thousands in the poorest parts of the world who make it to not only adortion, Sunday mass but Daily mass, and that is with reciting the rosery many times inbetween.

2.How do people in poor thrid world countries even have access to a [monstrance] since they’re made of gold and are expensive?

You don’t have to be in a church with Gold and expense to go to church. By the way the expenses you are describing are most likely relics that cannot be bought. They most likely have been donated.

3.Isn’t it true that Catholics are typically middle to upper middle class folk?

I really doubt that this is a true statment. The biggest population of catholics comes from the third world

Being Catholic has nothing with what a person has. I personly have never meet a rich catholic have you?

 

[Michael_Howard]

UKcatholicGuy:

How do I respond to this argument? . . .

1.The Catholic Church is set up in such a way that poor people cannot truly live out what it teaches. For example, how can poor people with no means of transportation go to a holy hour before the Eucharist? Or how do they even get to Sunday mass?

2.How do people in poor thrid world countries even have access to a [monstrance] since they’re made of gold and are expensive?

3.Isn’t it true that Catholics are typically middle to upper middle class folk?

I’d really appreciate some help with refuting these claims! Thanks!

Sighhh…what will they think of next…?

 

[surfinpure]

UKcatholicGuy:

How do I respond to this argument? . . .

1.The Catholic Church is set up in such a way that poor people cannot truly live out what it teaches. For example, how can poor people with no means of transportation go to a holy hour before the Eucharist? Or how do they even get to Sunday mass?

2.How do people in poor thrid world countries even have access to a [monstrance] since they’re made of gold and are expensive?

3.Isn’t it true that Catholics are typically middle to upper middle class folk?

I’d really appreciate some help with refuting these claims! Thanks!

You might mention to your friend that the US, while being the wealthiest nation on earth, is still considered a mission field by the Church because of our low percentage of Catholics compared to that of many other countries. Do you know they send missionaries here from Africa? We also get them from Mexico. Both are largely poor areas, yet both have far more Catholics than we do here in the USA.

Tell him he’s got us confused with Methodists. LOL

 

[jimmy]

UKcatholicGuy:

How do I respond to this argument? . . .

1.The Catholic Church is set up in such a way that poor people cannot truly live out what it teaches. For example, how can poor people with no means of transportation go to a holy hour before the Eucharist? Or how do they even get to Sunday mass?

2.How do people in poor thrid world countries even have access to a [monstrance] since they’re made of gold and are expensive?

3.Isn’t it true that Catholics are typically middle to upper middle class folk?

I’d really appreciate some help with refuting these claims! Thanks!

Most churches are not real far away. They are within walking distance, so if you don’t have a car then it is easy to walk there. What kind of service are you talking about? Its the same with any protestant denomination. They would actually have much more problems if they were protestants because protestant churches are very local.

It is false to say that they are all rich or middle class. My family had very little money for a long time and we managed to make it to mass every Sunday and on holy days. Look at South America, the whole country is lower class but they are about 95% Catholic.

 

[mkw]

I’m an active Catholic and poorer then “dirt”

I make it to Mass EVERY Sunday and daily as well. What I struggle with is giving financially to my parish. I can give, on an average, only 3 out of the four weeks every month. I am a widowed mom with two boys to raise.

I told this to my pastor after he mentioned in one of his homilies about supporting the parish. I told him he could count on my TIME and TALENT (gifts) but not to count on my money. I try to volunteer when ever possible, cleaning the parish once a week with a group of others. This saves the parish $$$ because they do not need to hire a pro cleaning crew.

Most in my parish are middle to low income, but we have a wonderful parish alive with the Holy Spirit and a great pastor who really cares. That beats all the money in the world.

 

[Lisa4Catholics]

That is the worst argument against the Church that I have ever heard I can’t in good conscience give you a response that is not sarcastic sounding

 

[UKcatholicGuy]

thanks for your help, all! i enjoyed the humorous comments i’ll certainly pass these responses along. thanks!

 

[Anima_Christi]

My question would be, how do poor, illiterate people learn and live out Protestant Christianity? Protestantism places such emphasis on personal Bible reading–which in itself is commendable–however, Protestantism regards reading the Bible as an absolutely essential part of living a Christian life. How do Christians in third world countries and even in developed countries who can’t read or do not have access to a Bible live the gospel out? How did people live the gospel for centuries when the average person could not read or didn’t have a Bible? Does that mean they are bad Christians? They relied on the Catholic Church’s guidance to tell them about Jesus and the commandments of God. This produced some of the greatest saints in history.
The third argument amazes me. Catholic countries are among the most impoverished in the world (Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, etc.) There is not a single Protestant country that isn’t among the most wealthy. Throughout the history of our own nation, Catholics were typically the poorest people. It is still partially true, especially among the Hispanic population (who also happen to be some of the most devout Catholics).

 

[Lorarose]

I must admit…I’ve had similar thoughts but along different lines.

I am very fertile - at one point having 3 kids in each of the 3 years following my husband’s conversion.
We already had 3 and financially we almost went under.
Then consider the pressure to educate all of them in a catholic school - yikes!
There’s no way we could afford the tuition for one child, let alone 6!

 

[Sherlock]

I think you’ve already received good answers here, but I would add, along the lines of what Anima Christi (one of my favorite prayers, by the way) was saying, that some Protestants teach the “Gospel of prosperity”. I believe that this is largely the result of Calvin’s teaching. Basically, the way one can know if one is a member of the “elect” (those destined for heaven) is one’s prosperity in this life. By this reasoning, no poor person is going to heaven at all, as clearly God didn’t favor them with prosperity. It’s a loathesome, false doctrine, though it may explain the so-called “Protestant work ethic”.

 

[BlestOne]

mkw:

I’m an active Catholic and poorer then “dirt”

I make it to Mass EVERY Sunday and daily as well. What I struggle with is giving financially to my parish. I can give, on an average, only 3 out of the four weeks every month. I am a widowed mom with two boys to raise.

I told this to my pastor after he mentioned in one of his homilies about supporting the parish. I told him he could count on my TIME and TALENT (gifts) but not to count on my money. I try to volunteer when ever possible, cleaning the parish once a week with a group of others. This saves the parish $$$ because they do not need to hire a pro cleaning crew.

Most in my parish are middle to low income, but we have a wonderful parish alive with the Holy Spirit and a great pastor who really cares. That beats all the money in the world.

Hey MKW,
Bravo, well said!!!
I can totally relate. I am a divorced mom of three and poorer than dirt too. When my car isn’t running we walk to mass (about 10 blocks). My parish makes it easy to donate your time and talents. As a matter of fact, it is looked up to not down upon if you can’t give money but can donate your time. Our Catholic school requires all parents to do 25 hours of community service to the school if your kids attend. In addition, if you can’t afford tuition, you can do extra hours in lieu of the money. I have found that the best solution to doing the service work is to have my kids participate since they are the ones benefitting from the Catholic education. We have done things like weeding the cracks in the sidewalks around the church, watching kids in the aftercare program, singing in the choir, cooking turkeys for the annual fundraiser, cleaning up after the turkey dinner, running concessions at sporting events, cleaning the church, alter serving, etc. This week I am hosting the 8th grade graduation reception at the school. I work 40 hours a week and for me to work and then do all the volunteer work myself would just wear me out and not teach the kids to give back to their community, my kids are happy to help out most of the time (they are kids after all) but seriously, what they have learned is much more valuable than money could ever buy.

The Catholic church most certainly is not based on socioeconomic status as are many protestant churches. We have very rich to very poor in our parish, just as we have the poor in spirit and the spiritually blest in our parish. The Catholic Church is one of the very few churches that does not care if you are poorer than dirt or a millionaire, you are all welcome.

 

[GKB_Protasius]

I’m a financially stable Cathlic from the US. My wife is a Filipino Catholic whose family has had some rocky times financially in the past (but is doing well now). I lived in the Philippines for several months and saw a lot of Catholic life there, so I hope to give some response:

1.The Catholic Church is set up in such a way that poor people cannot truly live out what it teaches. For example, how can poor people with no means of transportation go to a holy hour before the Eucharist? Or how do they even get to Sunday mass?

In the Philippines there are very few true parish churches. Rather, there are lots of little chapels which are basically a roof and four walls. because the weather is hot, they aren’t even truly closed off, allowing air to help cool the people off. chapels are well within walking distance and are easy to get to. also, in the Philppines, if you had to, you could often ride a jeepney (a kind of truck used like a bus) for something like 15 or 20 cents to get to a nearby church.

2.How do people in poor thrid world countries even have access to a [monstrance] since they’re made of gold and are expensive?

at Saint Joseph’s parish in Cebu they had adoration. I don’t think a monstrace has to be especially large or expensive and i don’t know if it even has to be gold. (does anyone here know?). in any case, it was there, and lots of poor people went to that parish for adoration. no problem. even the poorest countries have some people of means who often are willing to give to the poor and to the church.

3.Isn’t it true that Catholics are typically middle to upper middle class folk?

again, a lot of the Catholics in the Philippines are extremely poor. i should also point out that while it is changing, in Korea, a lot of the Catholics were extremely poor and from the outcast groups. i remember vividly a woman at a communion service (in the US) saying a prayer that went something like this “God, I hope this isn’t being selfish, but I hope that you will help me get the job I am interviewing for today because I am having money problems.” It was clear from her dress and manner of speaking that she was not well off (I hope she got the job, what a prayer!). There was also a woman in my RCIA class whose father had to hunt rabbit so they could have some meat on the table.

Good luck with the discussion!
peace in Christ,
Frank

 

[Joan_M]

UKcatholicGuy:

How do I respond to this argument? . . .

1.The Catholic Church is set up in such a way that poor people cannot truly live out what it teaches. For example, how can poor people with no means of transportation go to a holy hour before the Eucharist? Or how do they even get to Sunday mass?

2.How do people in poor thrid world countries even have access to a [monstrance] since they’re made of gold and are expensive?

3.Isn’t it true that Catholics are typically middle to upper middle class folk?

I’d really appreciate some help with refuting these claims! Thanks!

1. What about walking, or taking public transportation. Has this person never heard about how people in Peru (I think that is where it is) who live in the Andes and only see a priest once a month, if that, walk for hours to get to go to Mass and Communion? When you love, you will do whatever you have to to see, feel, touch your loved one.
2. You will probably find that the poor people in third world countries have some of the most beautiful monstrances. Again, when you love you will make whatever sacrifices are necessary to purchase beautiful gifts for your loved one. Has your questioner never travelled? You will see some of the most beautiful churches in third world countries.
3. No, Catholics come from all walks of life. I would say that (and I am living in a third world country) that Catholics are probably in proportion to the general polulation - what is the greatest proportion of the population? In poor countries, poor people are the highest proportion of the polulation, and so, the greatest number of Catholics in that country will also be poor.

Poverty frequently allows people to realize the fragility of life - more so than for people in the middle or wealthy classes - and, therefore you also frequently find a greater depth of faith and religious living.

 

[Trelow]

I have to be Catholic, I don’t have enough money to get Benny Hinn to heal me.

 

[Exporter]

I live in Deep South Texas. We have 16% unemployment because we have no jobs and the Hispanic people will not leave home to go where there are jobs.

Over 80% of the kids in school get free lunches - meaning their household earns less than $18,000 per year.

You can see the shacks they live in but you always see a T.V. antenna and a truck or a car out front.

Our Rio Grande Valley has a population of about 1.7 million.

It has been reported they are over 80% Roman Catholic.

Poverty and falling away from the church doesnt seem to be true here.

 

[Peace-bwu]

UKcatholicGuy:

How do I respond to this argument? . . .

1.The Catholic Church is set up in such a way that poor people cannot truly live out what it teaches. For example, how can poor people with no means of transportation go to a holy hour before the Eucharist? Or how do they even get to Sunday mass?

2.How do people in poor thrid world countries even have access to a [monstrance] since they’re made of gold and are expensive?

3.Isn’t it true that Catholics are typically middle to upper middle class folk?

I’d really appreciate some help with refuting these claims! Thanks!

This should be so easy to defend that I don’t even want to waste my time with this one. This is a low blow, and shows the tremendous ignorance of the person who raised it about the Catholic religion. All I can think of is Mother Teresa. Was her work not within the Catholic Church? This is a wacky accusation.

 

[Peace-bwu]

Exporter:

I live in Deep South Texas. We have 16% unemployment because we have no jobs and the Hispanic people will not leave home to go where there are jobs.

Over 80% of the kids in school get free lunches - meaning their household earns less than $18,000 per year.

You can see the shacks they live in but you always see a T.V. antenna and a truck or a car out front.

Our Rio Grande Valley has a population of about 1.7 million.

It has been reported they are over 80% Roman Catholic.

Poverty and falling away from the church doesnt seem to be true here.

In fact, the wealthier the nation, the closer the citizens tend to grow to materialism, and turn away from their Catholic faith. It is the less wealthy countries, such as the Phillipines where Catholocism is thriving. I have often mused that American Catholics need missionaries from the Phillipines to rescue us from the trap of materialism. I know my own financial stuggles as a young enlisted military family, pruned our brances, and strengthened our Catholic faith.