I am shocking. I must read it tomorrow. I hardly ever read Papal Documents. They always read so turgid and boring. I suppose that is an awful thing to say, but it is true. They would put you to sleep. But I will read it tomorrow. Scripture, on the other hand never bores. It bites you on the ass. I was thinking for instance tonight about Samson who asked God to send Him a Sign and right away God sent a Lion to eat him. That is not boring, that is very exciting and interesting. At least I am sure it was for Samson...as it was for Daniel. So much about our Modern Church I find Feminine, Samson I find very Masculine, like so much in Scripture. Samson, I am sure was Irish and loved his Whisky.
I remember a friend talking about some reports of criticism of St. Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkatta). There were some saying that while she undoubtedly helped many (the poorest of the poor) with their immediate circumstances through her non-judgemental charity, however she apparently did nothing to help liberate the recipients of her charity or to prevent them from ending up in the same condition time and time again. It is a kind of socialist mindset and priority to tackle not just the poverty but the causes of poverty. There is a sort of faultline here. I do remember Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI talking about something similar. The gist of what he was saying was that it is not good enough for Christians to be acting on a scale and in a manner like that of an NGO. He said that Christians had to be personally present to those they were charitably caring for. I think nowadays the Church is becoming more like a big NGO. Hmm... Environmental NGO!
The best thing I recall in answer to all this was St Mother Teresa saying, 'I am not a Social Worker!' Once or twice when I have seen people on utube criticising the Saint I have asked the question. 'Alright then, suppose you are right, suppose she was no good. What are you personally doing to help the poor then, that gives you the right to criticise her?' I have not got an answer back yet. I suppose I never will.
I think there are many politicians here and elsewhere who are of a modern, socialist, humanist, atheist mindset and they are very good at adopting a virtue signalling, morally superior attitude. I suspect they might think, if they did not vocalise it, in answer to this question: we have put in place such and such policies which have lifted x number of people out of poverty, put in place supports etc., dealt with supply-side issues for housing bla bla.... and they are more effective and efficient than Christian charity. I'm not saying that these economic things may not be good, but I feel that they are usurping the role of Christian charities. And some of them view their work as being of a morally superior order than that of traditional Christian charities that tend to be concerned more with individuals. They see themselves as cutting at the roots of evil while others are cutting at the branches. So rather than be usurped, the modern Church is adopting a more corporate strategy of the NGOs (UN, UNICEF, WHO, WEF etc.). Not sure if any of this is making sense but that's my 2 cents.
I assumed that by the information you gave us. You did not say that you were unable to work and were in a situation that required you to beg. You said that you were conducting an experiment. My point was that although it was your experiment it affected others. Sorry to offend you but I think we can all agree that we as Christians need to be giving to the poor, not taking. I think that was your very point....
It reminds me a bit of the words of Jesus about taking the log out of our own eyes before taking the splinter out of others. In otherwards healing begins with ourselves rather than others. We have to heal ourselves first. In changing ourselves we change the world. But how are we to change ourselves but through Grace...and where is this Grace to come from but God? Leave God out of the Equation and we leave everything out of the equation. Jordan Petersen phrased this so well when he warned young people that they have to learn to clean their own room before they can clean the world . That we have to fix ourselves first , before we can fix others.
So, did you read it? In the absence (late coming?) of a society based purely on love, we need rules that will provide for a fair distribution of resources and the protection of the weak and especially the weakest. That is what Pope Leo was proposing in some detail in his encyclical 'Rerum Novarum' and if politicians adopted its contents (as several 'Christian Democrat' parties set out to do - but lost the point along the way) we might be living in a better world.
I will listen to it today I hope. I am reading a little life of Frank Duff at the moment. He was so,very,very active a soul. Interesting how people are so different. He had a profound distrust for all things Mystical and was the most active Apostolically. He was always with large groups of people. I am the opposite. I love being alone and love the Mystical. As to being Apostolic this little website is just about it. I find changing myself such an uphill struggle I have no huge fire for changing others. It must have been quite a moment when the Bishops of World applauded Frank Duff as Vatican Council 2. The Legion of Mary is amazing. I hope when I retire if I find time to give it a go.
