What does the catholic church say about helping those in need?
Through the Catholic teaching, one can better understand the necessity for the people, and the government, to be actively involved in helping the needy. The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” states, in paragraph 1908, what the basic necessities of human life are, and the need of the government to support the peoples’ needs, which include proper housing. It says the government “should make accessible to each what is needed to live a truly human life: food, clothing health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family, and so on.” The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” goes into more detail on this concept of the role of government, and defines the principle of subsidiarity, a Principle of Catholic Social Teaching. In the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” the principle of Subsidiarity, in paragraph 1883, says, “a community of a higher order should not interfere in the life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good.” The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” also looks at the benefits of direct aid, in paragraph 2440. Direct aid is good for immediate help and extraordinary needs, but it doesn’t help long-lasting needs. It is also necessary to “reform international economic and financial institutions so that they will better promote equitable relationships with less advanced countries. The efforts of poor countries working for growth and liberation must be supported. This doctrine must be applied especially in the area of agricultural labor, because according to the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church,’ Peasants form the overwhelming majority of the poor.” In addition, the Address of Cardinal Angelo Sodano says “the struggle against hunger, and also thirst for that matter, goes well beyond dealing with emergencies: it has to address a whole series of complex factors such as, for example, the need to invest in the human capital of local populations, to equip them with appropriate technology and to guarantee equity in international commerce.” The whole Catholic community is called not just to help those in immediate need, but also to work towards the fixing of the issues that cause hunger and thirst, perhaps by investing in the areas that are struggling.
In the Catholic faith, individuals have a duty to share with the needy, which is also discussed in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church.” Paragraph 2833 of the Catechism says “Our bread is the one loaf for the many. In the beatitudes, poverty is the virtue of sharing: it calls us to communicate and share both material and spiritual goods, not by coercion, but out of love, so that the abundance of some may remedy the needs of others.” A good role model from the Catholic faith is Jesus Christ. Paragraph 544 of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” states “Jesus shares the life of the poor, from the cradle to the cross; he experiences hunger, thirst, and privation. Jesus identifies himself with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering his kingdom.” Believers in the Catholic faith are called to live like Jesus, and share with the poor. This view is also stated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, saying that “every Christian, in fact, is impelled to adopt Christ’s attitude towards those without food: I have compassion for the crowd, because they have nothing to eat (Mark 8:2).” “For the Catholic faithful, the commitment to build peace and justice is not secondary but essential.” This quote, in the USCCB’s Reflections on Poverty in America, is from Pope John Paul II, in his World Day of Peace Message of 2000. The USCCB also says that “we are called in a special way to serve the poor and vulnerable; to build bridges of solidarity among peoples of differing races and nations, language and ability, gender and culture.” In other words, the only way that poverty and homelessness can be overcome is if all of earth’s people help those in poverty until the whole problem is taken care of.
In the Catholic faith, individuals have a duty to share with the needy, which is also discussed in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church.” Paragraph 2833 of the Catechism says “Our bread is the one loaf for the many. In the beatitudes, poverty is the virtue of sharing: it calls us to communicate and share both material and spiritual goods, not by coercion, but out of love, so that the abundance of some may remedy the needs of others.” A good role model from the Catholic faith is Jesus Christ. Paragraph 544 of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” states “Jesus shares the life of the poor, from the cradle to the cross; he experiences hunger, thirst, and privation. Jesus identifies himself with the poor of every kind and makes active love toward them the condition for entering his kingdom.” Believers in the Catholic faith are called to live like Jesus, and share with the poor. This view is also stated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, saying that “every Christian, in fact, is impelled to adopt Christ’s attitude towards those without food: I have compassion for the crowd, because they have nothing to eat (Mark 8:2).” “For the Catholic faithful, the commitment to build peace and justice is not secondary but essential.” This quote, in the USCCB’s Reflections on Poverty in America, is from Pope John Paul II, in his World Day of Peace Message of 2000. The USCCB also says that “we are called in a special way to serve the poor and vulnerable; to build bridges of solidarity among peoples of differing races and nations, language and ability, gender and culture.” In other words, the only way that poverty and homelessness can be overcome is if all of earth’s people help those in poverty until the whole problem is taken care of.
What do Marianist charisms say about the poor?
Stephen Glodek, in the “Characteristics of Marianist Education,” explains the roles of different people in our society regarding teaching those of different classes, whether lower class, middle class, or upper class. Glodek says that some are called to teach the poor while others are called to teach the middle class about their responsibilities to change systems that keep people poor. While some people are called to be teachers, others will be prophetic voices, daily ministers to the poor, leaders and organizers for political and community action, tutors, healers, or advocates for individuals and families.
Sources:
“Catechism of the Catholic Church.” Trans. United States Catholic Conference, Inc. New York: Double Day, 1994. Print. (Paragraphs 1883,2431,1908, 2833, 2439, 2440, 544)Habjan, John, ed.
“Characteristics of Marianist Education.” Marianists (2007): 11. PDF file.
“Catechism of the Catholic Church.” Trans. United States Catholic Conference, Inc. New York: Double Day, 1994. Print. (Paragraphs 1883,2431,1908, 2833, 2439, 2440, 544)Habjan, John, ed.
“Characteristics of Marianist Education.” Marianists (2007): 11. PDF file.