Poverty
Working to alleviate poverty is not simply a question of giving money but of changing lifestyles through raising awareness and peaceful action.
We believe we are to have to have a ‘preferential option for the poor’.
Pope Francis himself said on his election that he wanted ‘a poor church for the poor’.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church it is stated: “The Church’s love for the poor … is a part of her constant tradition.” This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of his concern for the poor [2444] . ‘’Love for the poor is incompatible with immoderate love of riches or their selfish use.’’ [2445]
St Luke’s Gospel: Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. (Lk 6:20-21)
‘Poverty’, traditionally perceived as simply a lack of or absence of money for life’s essentials, has many dimensions: financial, social, physical, mental, spiritual and cultural.
We ‘who have’ have a duty to share with those ‘who have not’. “If someone who has the riches of this world sees his brother in need and closes his heart to him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)
Saint Ambrose: “You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over to him what is his. What has been given in common for the use of all, you have arrogated to yourself. The world is given to all, and not only to the rich. Thus, far from giving lavishly, you are but paying part of your debt”
Pope Francis, in an address to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation, said: “A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table, but above all to satisfy the demands of justice, fairness and respect for every human being.”
As far as the U.K. is concerned, organisations of note working in this area are:
And, internationally, we obviously recommend you work with and through the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) [www.cafod.org.uk]
E.W.
We believe we are to have to have a ‘preferential option for the poor’.
Pope Francis himself said on his election that he wanted ‘a poor church for the poor’.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church it is stated: “The Church’s love for the poor … is a part of her constant tradition.” This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of his concern for the poor [2444] . ‘’Love for the poor is incompatible with immoderate love of riches or their selfish use.’’ [2445]
St Luke’s Gospel: Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. (Lk 6:20-21)
‘Poverty’, traditionally perceived as simply a lack of or absence of money for life’s essentials, has many dimensions: financial, social, physical, mental, spiritual and cultural.
We ‘who have’ have a duty to share with those ‘who have not’. “If someone who has the riches of this world sees his brother in need and closes his heart to him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17)
Saint Ambrose: “You are not making a gift of your possessions to the poor person. You are handing over to him what is his. What has been given in common for the use of all, you have arrogated to yourself. The world is given to all, and not only to the rich. Thus, far from giving lavishly, you are but paying part of your debt”
Pope Francis, in an address to the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation, said: “A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table, but above all to satisfy the demands of justice, fairness and respect for every human being.”
As far as the U.K. is concerned, organisations of note working in this area are:
- Housing Justice [www.housingjustice.org.uk], and
- Church Action on Poverty [www.church-poverty.org.uk]
- Christians Against Poverty [http://www.capuk.org/]
- Food Banks [www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects]
- The Living Wage Foundation [www.livingwage.org.uk]
And, internationally, we obviously recommend you work with and through the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) [www.cafod.org.uk]
E.W.