We should eat less to show solidarity with the poor, says cardinal

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We should eat less to show solidarity with the poor, says cardinal

The spiritual discipline of fasting has a long tradition in Christianity, and is practised most regularly in Lent, the season of penitence that begins next month. For centuries Roman Catholics and Anglicans also practised eating less on Fridays, cutting out meat and eating fish instead. Many regret that the prohibition of meat on Fridays was relaxed in 1966 by Pope Paul VI, who wanted Catholics to pray and do charitable works instead.

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Would probably help me fit into last year’s pants again too, which would allow to get more wear out of my clothes, and show even more solidarity with the poor that way.
 
It would be nice too, if we had a second collection once a month and donated the money we save by eating less. The money could go to expand or start new Catholic schools to give the children of the poor the quality education they’re not getting from the public schools.
 
Good idea Vern…
another idea…
Try to keep the poor in mind when grocery shopping. When you stroll down the meat and fish counter think about the poor…or when you walk by the more dainty, delicate and costly items…pass them by. Find a good association that helps the poor and donate money and food that will help.
 
Sometimes we get so caught up in following the rules that we forget the purpose behind them. One of the major reasons for fasting, going all the way back to Old Testament times, was to make available to the poor what we saved by fasting. We are only half obedient when we simply fast and don’t do the rest.
 
Why don’t we show solidarity with the poor by living in mud huts and in appalling sanitary conditions?
 
hoosiertoo said:
Why don’t we show solidarity with the poor by living in mud huts and in appalling sanitary conditions?
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Easting less (fasting) and starving a two different things. Although there are plenty of Catholic (and other Christian) missionaries who ARE living in mud huts and appalling conditions in an effort to bring the Gospel to the poor throughout the world.

Perhaps for us in the Western world, the question would be, why don’t we live in regular houses instead of McMansions? Why don’t we give up an activity or two in our hectic livestyles so we can actually be home to cook our own food or clean our own houses every once in awhile?

Perhaps we could give up buying the latest gizmo or fashion? Watch TV on a regular screen instead of buying the latest, biggest, flatest one? Any of those sacrifices would be good to help us understand more of what it is like to NOT have those choices. And as Geezerbob said, we could then complete the sacrifice by donating that time or treasure so that the poor can benefit from our efforts.
 
Why would we want to make it more difficult for those on the margins of society to earn a living.

It may be chic to show solidarity with the poor to deny ourselves material goods.

It may be true that a healthier diet would help me go a long way toward treating my body as the temple it is supposed to be.

And it is right that we help feed the hungry and give shelter to the homeless.

But to truly show solidarity to the poor, try hiring them to produce your food and build your McMansion and make your clothes.

That ain’t a rich guy serving you your Big Mac across the counter.
 
hoosiertoo said:
Why is it the poor in America are obese?
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This question causes great difficulties for the Government, which has been forced to redefine “hungry” as “malnounrished.”

Obese people are obviously malnourished, and hence can be classified as “hungry.”
 
vern_humphrey said:
This question causes great difficulties for the Government, which has been forced to redefine “hungry” as “malnounrished.”

Obese people are obviously malnourished, and hence can be classified as “hungry.”
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So we should show solidarity with American poor by eating more?

I somehow doubt that our starving brothers in Africa would get that. I know I don’t.
 
hoosiertoo said:
So we should show solidarity with American poor by eating more?

I somehow doubt that our starving brothers in Africa would get that. I know I don’t.
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Since they have no access to the media, and most are illiterate, I somehow doubt that our starving brothers in Africa would get any symbolic gesture we might make.

And if they were aware of it, they’d probably ask, “How does fasting on your part put food into my child’s belly?”
 
Eating less would be much more healthy for most of us. I fail to see how my passing on that serving of bacon or Edy’s ice cream will help the poor unless I give the money I saved to a charity. I feel that by living in the best house I can afford, driving a good truck/car, buying new clothes, eating good food and enjoying gadgets like remote control TV, a cell phone, my P/C, etc. I am giving a lot of people work and work beats charity any day.
 
Lance said:
Eating less would be much more healthy for most of us. I fail to see how my passing on that serving of bacon or Edy’s ice cream will help the poor unless I give the money I saved to a charity. I feel that by living in the best house I can afford, driving a good truck/car, buying new clothes, eating good food and enjoying gadgets like remote control TV, a cell phone, my P/C, etc. I am giving a lot of people work and work beats charity any day.
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In general, you’re correct. There is some value to symoblic action, but the danger is when the symbolism over-rides substance. And we’ve become very bad about that – abdicating our responsibility to act in many cases because we have substituted moral support for some idea or other for effective action.

If we wish to help the poor, we must educate them. In a nation where about 30% of children never graduate from high school, and where many who do graduate are functionally illiterate, we cannot ever eradicate poverty.

The one thing we Catholics were famous for – our schools – are decayed and shrinking. Let us make a committment to expand our Catholic schools, and establish new ones in the poorest areas of the country. Then we can say we are doing something about poverty.
 
contemplative said:
Good idea Vern…
another idea…
Try to keep the poor in mind when grocery shopping. When you stroll down the meat and fish counter think about the poor…or when you walk by the more dainty, delicate and costly items…pass them by. Find a good association that helps the poor and donate money and food that will help.
Click to expand...
I work hard to enjoy my delicacies and that makes life bearable. I can do all three - enjoy fine things, ie material and food, as well as give to the poor AND fast.
 
Maranatha said:
We should eat less to show solidarity with the poor, says cardinal

The spiritual discipline of fasting has a long tradition in Christianity, and is practised most regularly in Lent, the season of penitence that begins next month. For centuries Roman Catholics and Anglicans also practised eating less on Fridays, cutting out meat and eating fish instead. Many regret that the prohibition of meat on Fridays was relaxed in 1966 by Pope Paul VI, who wanted Catholics to pray and do charitable works instead.

more
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Is having 4-6 kids showing solidarity with the poor?
 
Franciscan said:
Is having 4-6 kids showing solidarity with the poor?
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Can someone define “showing solidarity with the poor?”

I understand helping the poor – by feeding them, clothing them, housing them, and educating them. But I don’t understand “showing solidarity” with them.
 
CathCentrist said:
I work hard to enjoy my delicacies and that makes life bearable. I can do all three - enjoy fine things, ie material and food, as well as give to the poor AND fast.
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…somehow you are conjuring up for me an image of someone who has his cake and eats it too…

I believe the Cardinal is addressing those who are lost in their dainties and have forgotten the poor.
 
Part of it too is just a spiritual work for yourself. It’s a good thing to deny yourself of a want.

Like many things in Catholism, there often is no simple reason, but reasons are dynamic and complex. To east less to show solidarity with the poor, is just one reason, but at times it’s good to isolate the reason, and to meditate and contemplate it. Your action is best when it is taken as a prayer.
 
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