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