A Text for the Times: Poverty in the Church

Extract

The scandal of poverty has taken new forms in our time – the contrast is no longer between individuals within one community, some rich and some poor, but between communities, some affluent and (at least in the eyes of almost destitute Africans and Asians) Christian, some poor and non-Christian. On the one hand, the well-to-do Christian of the West has to learn to re-think his giving of alms; on the other, the Church has to prevent herself being identified with the affluent West – too often setting limits to its almsgining like the rich Roman lady in the letter of St Jerome’ quoted below. In facing the accusations of those who are the truly poor of our day, both Church and individual can realize again the radical meaning of poverty in the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, both by Christ himself and the interpreters of his message throughout the centuries.

Christ, who in his Gospel promises only crosses and afflictions, has plainly no need of rich men in his holy Church; their grandeur has nothing in common with his deep abasement, with God's humbling himself even to the cross. We may judge, therefore, that he does not seek the rich for their own sake. For to what use can he put them in his kingdom ? To build him grand temples, to enrich his altars with gold and precious stones ? Do not suppose that he takes pleasure in such adornments.