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stellauk -> RE: Church closes food program because it attracts the poor (8/26/2012 1:10:43 PM)
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quote:
"Most clients of food banks have not yet come to a sense of personal responsibility in life. They are still in denial, blame, or seeing the world as owing them," wrote Rev. David Durksen of the Unity Church of Victoria.
You know you could arrive at the same conclusion looking at any poor or homeless person.
But...
quote:
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."
Matthew 7:1 to Matthew 7:5
.and..
quote:
"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Luke 6:37
..and...
quote:
"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement."
John 7:24
..and...
quote:
On one hand there is a growing moral sensitivity alert to the value of every individual as a human being without any distinction of race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or social class.
On the other hand these proclamations are contradicted in practice. How can these solemn affirmations be reconciled with the widespread attacks on human life and the refusal to accept those who are weak, needy, elderly, or just conceived?
These attacks go directly against respect for life; they threaten the very meaning of democratic coexistence, and our cities risk becoming societies of people who are rejected, marginalized, uprooted, and oppressed, instead of communities of "people living together."
Pope John Paul II
Solidaris Rei Solicitudo
You know you could look at anyone - anyone in the world - and find things about them which indicate a lack of personal responsibility, being in denial, or being entitled.
Yes you can also point out that there are those who abuse, who are playing the system, and you can use this as justification not to help the poor or the needy.
But this doesn't take anything away from the simple fact that the vast majority of the poor and the destitute are people just like you and me who have hit hard times and need help and charity.
Nor does it take anything away from the fact that - as described in the words of Pope John Paul II in his 1987 document Solidaris Rei Solicitudo you cease to be part of the solution and make yourself part of the problem which is breaking up society and supporting those who are creating fragments of people who are rejected, marginalized, disaffected and oppressed.
Withholding compassion from the poor and destitute doesn't strengthen society, but weakens it.
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