Chapter Seven Justice and Poverty

Definitions of Poverty The Scourge of Poverty: being blessed with wealth calls for a duty to use our wealth wisely pauper or poor Poverty Lack of means to provide for material needs or comforts

Types of Poverty Poverty of the soul Poverty of the spirit Lack of purpose in life, a sense of hopelessness about any lasting meaning Poverty of the soul Poverty of the spirit Totally depend on God Lack of sufficient material means to meet basic human needs Material poverty

Definitions of Poverty Evidence of material poverty: 20% of the population in developed nations consume 86% of the world’s goods Nearly 1.3 billion people live on less that $1 a day Nearly 1.3 billion people have no access to clean water; 3 billion have no access to sanitation; 2 billion have no access to electricity In developing countries, 91 children out of 1000 die before their fifth birthday

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

The Bible and Poverty In the Old Testament: In the New Testament: Sabbatical year – land was not to be farmed, debts were to be forgiven and slaves were to be let go every seventh year Jubilee 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 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

Leads to infection and disease The Scandal of Hunger Body gets food but the food lacks the proper amount of vitamins and minerals for a healthy life Leads to infection and disease malnourishment Body starves and consumes muscle, fat, and tissue for food; immune system fails; brain function slows Chronic hunger

Exploiting limited resources Unfair and high interest on foreign loans The Scandal of Hunger Causes of hunger: Exploiting limited resources Corruption Unfair and high interest on foreign loans Politics

The Scandal of Hunger A moral response to world hunger Subsidiarity Manage earthly goods more efficiently A moral response to world hunger Subsidiarity Solidarity

The Scandal of Hunger Did you know... We are to become the bread of life for others We are to be Christ’s hands and feet to those in need Did you know... …that another way to respond to the problem of world hunger is by participating in the Eucharist?

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 Christian Response to Poverty: Preferential Option for the Poor A Place at the Table: Everyone is invited to gather to eat, to make decisions, and to worship, including: families & individuals Institutions that help society stand with the poor government Community organizations and faith-based institutions Marketplace and institutions of business, commerce and labor

Eliminating Poverty How can we fight poverty? Change attitudes to the poor Support full and equal employment and just wage Empower the poor to help themselves Make education of the poor a top priority Continually evaluate how tax system affects the poor Reform nation’s welfare programs to help recipients become self-sufficient Governmental efforts to preserve and protect family operated farm People have created the economy; they can change it Simple question should be asked, “Does it support or threaten human dignity?”

Vocabulary poverty Jubilee Year Sabbatical Year malnourishment chronic hunger subsidiarity solidarity A Place at the Table