The Catholic church is based around the Eucharist, which has a strong base of justice. This is a kind of praising and thanks giving to God. Its a memorial and sacrifice which involves holy communion and attendance of Holy Mass. The Eucharist is ‘a sacrament of love, a sign of unity , a bond of charity’. This shows that if we love our neighbours (Christians perceive everyone as their neighbour) then we cannot let them suffer. If united with them then we should at least advocate those in need and help to change their situation. We should share what we have we those who need it more, if we are charitable. The Eucharist also challenges us to convert the unfair systems that suppress people in deprivation. Communion is part of the Eucharist where we receive bread and wine to remember the last supper, this also symbolises the body and blood of Christ. When Christians take this they are seen as ‘meeting Christ’ which means are asked to identify him in everybody we encounter, and share with one another. If we were to share with those lining in poverty then the situation could be improved. Before participation in the Eucharist Christians are expected to acknowledge our failure within our relationship with God and people alike. It is hypocritical to accept these blessings if we do not intend to take action to change injustice, you cannot truly celebrate the Eucharist whilst disregarding those in need. It is not only the Eucharist which urges Christians to help the poor, the bible also teaches that this is eminently important.
In both the Old and New Testament the theme of helping the poor runs explicitly throughout. The Old testament preaches that surplus food is ‘to be left for the foreigners, orphans and widows’ in Deuteronomy 26:19. The new Testament gives more full ideas on the way Christians should aid those living in deprivation. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) the wealthy man fails to help the hunger stricken beggar. On his day of judgement he was punished for ignoring someone in great need, when he could have easily alleviated his suffering. When Lazarus died he was ‘carried by the angles to sit beside Abraham’, whereas the rich man was thrown into hell where ‘he was in great pain’. The message here is that those who endure poverty on earth will be compensated in heaven. It also highlights that if you neglect someone in such great need then you will pay the penalty on your day of judgement.
Jesus also taught that on the day of final judgement everyone would be divided into two groups – the ‘righteous people on his right and the others on his left’(Matt 25:31-46). Those who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, gave drink to the thirsty and shelter to those who needed had helped God himself and would be recompensed with eternal life. This was saying that if we help those living in painful poverty now, then later in heaven we will be rewarded.
The feeding of the five thousand(Mark 6:30-44) also shows another Christian view. Five loaves and two fish fed five thousand men, which shows that if we share what we have then everyone will have enough. If we were as selfless as the poor widow in Marks Gospel then the world would be a much more equal place. She gave all she had to the church, thinking of others before herself. Jesus praised her saying ‘I tell you that this poor widow put more in the box than all the others......she gave all she had to live on’ (mark 12:41-44). Today we need to follow her example and begin to consider those with virtually nothing. We can help by firstly giving up what we don’t need, organisations such as CAFOD (Catholic Association For Overseas Development) collect any donations. This organisation is devoted to helping people in situations like those in Afghanistan. They’re strategy however is not to simply supplement food shortages, there motto is ‘give a man a fish for a day and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and he will feed himself for life’. They give education and skills to those who can help themselves, this secures there future much more than simply handing them food for a few days. They also have a ‘Trade justice campaign’ which fights for the rights of exploited workers in many third world countries. They also help refugees such as those I discussed earlier. However, with this particular example it is Christian Aid, another aid agency which is particularly concentrating on tackling the situation. There work is similar to CAFOD’s although there approach is slightly different. Their slogan being ‘Live simply so others can simple live’. They have poured vast amounts of money into providing shelter and food for as many Afghan refugees as possible, receiving grants from many associations. Still this is not sufficient, they need your help and any donations no matter how substantial are greatly appreciated and put to use in order to save lives.
Individually Christians often raise money to help suffers in developing countries other than simple contributing. You can participate in a sponsored walk or fast, or fundraise in other ways i.e. hold a cake stall, or competition, the money raised can then go to organisations helping those in plight. Many projects run which allow you to actually go out to a developing country for an allocated amount of time to assist with the construction of a school in an area lacking one. You could also sponsor a child, each year you pay a fee and as a result the child receives an education – you pay for it. Work like this will certainly support the many charities which help the victims of unjust poverty, but only large government action can radically change the situation.
Campaigns such as Jubilee 2000 which aimed to eradicate, or at least reduce third world debt directed itself at the government. The third world debt has built up by poor countries borrowing money from the 1st world for development. The extortionate interest rises in economic recessions which makes it near impossible for developing countries to repay the interest alone, not even considering the original capital. This means that the indebted countries can spend less on services and the general welfare of their people. The ‘Drop the debt’ campaign had a positive effect and the debt was considerably dropped achieving a reduction of 100 billion dollars. The latest in these debt cutting policies is Target 2015, this aims to demolish the debt by the year 2015.
2) “Charity begins at home. Christians should only support charities in their own country”
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have considered more than one point of view.
Some Christians may agree with this statement arguing that our own country also has poverty. It is true that millions survive below the poverty line here in the United Kingdom. Many Christians may see these as their priority, and more of their responsibility as they are nearer the suffering seems more real. Another reason why some Christians may refuse to support overseas charities is that they feel they can’t make enough of an impact. Individually it is impossible for us to make any real difference in the third world situation, any contribution we make will not make enough of an impression to make it worth while, therefor we should concentrate on local charities where we may actually be able to help. Some Christians cannot see how, and why should we individually support third world countries. The larger scale problem should be tackled by higher powers at an international level. Only authoritative politicians and managers of ultra successful multi-national firms truly have the power to distribute global resources fairly. Some Christians may also feel that prayer is a much stronger vigour than any money. Reflection and prayer should be far more long-lived and effective.
On the other hand many Christians would strongly disagree with this statement. They believe that everyone is their neighbour, because we are all God’s children and that we should love each other. If this is the case then how can we feel comfortable with their suffering, without at least trying to make a difference to the desperate situation of others. It doesn’t matter whether the problem is in our country or not, where ever the greatest need is we should support the people in pain. Secondly, to say that we are only obligated to assist our own people is highly selfish. Christians should believe in equality so why should we put our country first? They may also believe that poverty is one of the evils on earth. Our corrupted first world has caused this injustice and therefor we must do all we can to alleviate it. They may also point out that England only has relative poverty, compared with the absolute destitution in developing countries. For example many street children in Latin America have nothing. They scavenge for food surviving through petty theft, prostitution and begging. They have no education and thus no future, most have never known any other way life and they can do nothing about there situation. The locals regard them as nothing but a nuisance – only we (people living in the 1st world) can help them.
I personally disagree with this statement. I cannot contemplate why we should only help people in our country when there are others in abroad who need our help desperately, far more than most living in the UK. Recently the World Trade Centre was attacked and as a result it collapsed. I do not deny that this a true catastrophe, and the mortality horrific (approx. 6000 known dead, over 5000 still missing). In the aftermath millions of Americans were willing to pour money into charities for the injured and bereaved, which is obviously considerate and right. However, thousands die each year in Afghanistan of starvation, and surely this is just as great a disaster, but they go unnoticed by the most powerful country in the world and indeed by us. Is this justice? No. The fact those suffering are not in our country does not lessen their need, I certainly feel we should support overseas charities.
