1. Chapter Seven
Justice and Poverty

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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; billion have no access to electricity
In developing countries, 91 children out of 1000 die before their fifth birthday

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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?

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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?”

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