Post on 17-Dec-2015
Chapter SevenJustice and Poverty
Definitions of Poverty
Povertypauper or poor
Lack of means to provide for
material needs or comforts
The Scourge of Poverty: being blessed with wealth calls for a duty to use our wealth wisely
Types of Poverty
Poverty of the soul Lack of purpose in life, a sense of hopelessness about any lasting meaning
Poverty of the spirit Totally depend on God
Material poverty
Lack of sufficient material means to meet basic human needs
Evidence of material poverty:20% of the population in developed nations
consume 86% of the world’s goodsNearly 1.3 billion people live on less that $1 a dayNearly 1.3 billion people have no access to clean
water; 3 billion have no access to sanitation; 2 billion have no access to
electricityIn developing countries, 91 children out
of 1000 die before their fifth birthday
Definitions of Poverty
The Bible and Poverty
Did you know...* Sacred scripture reveals that God is
compassionately concerned for the welfare of the poor
* Jesus was a prophetic voice telling of God’s love for the poor and God’s command for the well-off to
respond to the needy
In the Old Testament:Sabbatical year – land was not to be farmed, debts were to be forgiven and slaves were to be let go every seventh yearJubilee year – people were to return to their proper place in the community and original owners were to lay legal claims to their property every fifty years.These were established to help reduce poverty and to help the poor assume respectable positions in society
The Bible and Poverty
In the New Testament:† Jesus lived a life of poverty and associated with the poor
and outcast throughout his ministry
† Jesus’ parables revealed his attitude toward the poor
The Scandal of Hunger
malnourishment
Body gets food but the food lacks the proper amount of
vitamins and minerals for a
healthy life
Leads to infection and
disease
Chronic hunger
Body starves and consumes muscle, fat, and tissue for
food; immune system fails; brain
function slows
Causes of hunger:
The Scandal of Hunger
Corruption
Unfair and high interest
on foreign loans
Exploiting limited
resources
Politics
The Scandal of Hunger
A moral response to
world hunger
Manage earthly goods more efficiently
Subsidiarity Solidarity
Did you know...
…that another way to respond to the problem of world hunger is by participating in the Eucharist?
The Scandal of Hunger
We are to become the bread of life for others
We are to be Christ’s hands and feet to those in
need
A Christian Response to Poverty: Preferential Option for the Poor
What does it mean to have special love for the poor?† We cannot love immoderately or selfishly use
riches or wealth† We must put into practice the spiritual and corporal
works of mercy† Evaluate social and economic activity from the viewpoint
of the poor and powerless
A Place at the Table: Everyone is invited to gather to eat, to make
decisions, and to worship, including:
A Christian Response to Poverty: Preferential Option for the Poor
Institutions that help society stand with the
poor
families & individuals
Community organizations and
faith-based institutions
government
Marketplace and institutions of business,
commerce and labor
How can we fight poverty?
1) Change attitudes to the poor2) Support full and equal employment and just wage3) Empower the poor to help themselves4) Make education of the poor a top priority5) Continually evaluate how tax system affects the poor6) Reform nation’s welfare programs to help recipients
become self-sufficient7) Governmental efforts to preserve and protect family
operated farm8) People have created the economy; they can change
it9) Simple question should be asked, “Does it support or
threaten human dignity?”
Eliminating Poverty
Vocabulary
povertyJubilee Year
Sabbatical Yearmalnourishmentchronic hunger
subsidiaritysolidarity
A Place at the Table