I have always found the poor difficult. Today I visited Fort Worth, TX and had to refuse two homeless people who approached me. Admittedly I refused the first one because I thought he looked a bit off kilter. After confessing at the cathedral I refused yet another from behind the wheel of my accidentally pretentious car. What do we do with the poor?
Logically I know that the poor of modern America are a different matter from the poor of 1st century Jerusalem. Those poor lived in an intractable socio-economic system worsened by compounding taxes and Roman domination. The poor of Boston and Brooklyn are less often families burdened by debt collectors and more people with mental problems or addictions. Surely this does not discount our duties as Catholics and servants of Christ to do something for these children of God, but giving them alms solves nothing. What will an alcoholic do with $5? Buy a shot-sized bottle of Smirnoff?
A few years ago I took on the policy of not giving the poor money. Judgmental as I sound, I do not trust the average beggar with $1 or $5. I will buy them food, whether they ask for it or not. Never groceries that can be traded, just one warm and hearty meal. Is this enough? Is this helping one's brother? Something I think it comes up short: me determining what someone else needs or is fit to have. Do I have another choice?
As I drove away from that third poor man I felt a sharp cut in my heart, wounding my soul a bit as I rationalized my three refusals. Yes, they logically make sense. Yes, many of us intend to do the right thing. Does this part of Our Lord's charge simply not fit into the modern American economic situation? The Pope clearly wants us to do something to engage the poor, but how? As one blogger said—and the press buried him for it—"The poor are messy." I knew a priest who would give beggars food or a small quantity of cash, but only if they said a prayer for him to his face.
Dear Rat Trad.I like the remark about the priest. That is what I do when I give money to beggars.I tell them my first name and ask them to say a prayer for me.I hve convinced my own self that is a matter of dignity as I am paying them for work - as prayer is a work
ReplyDeleteO, that was a bad error. Obviously I intended Rad Trad
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderfully honest post, Rad Trad. I live in New York City and am often approached/pass by the less fortunate. I can not help but feel like I am ignoring them- sometimes for my safety and other times for my own sanity (so many poor people but I can't help all of them). I think the beauty about volunteering for organizations that serve the poor is that it solves the dilemma which you found yourself in. Although it is kind to buy food or give money, it does not help solve the systematic problem. Finding more consistent and reliable services is what these people need. It isn't only about food, it is about helping resolve a spectrum of problems for the underserved and often forgotten members of our society. They are all children of God and we have to try hard to support organizations, in whichever way we can, to help them establish their path in life. On a more human level, it is always disheartening to have to refuse someone who seems to be in need.
ReplyDeleteDear Tanguk. Yes. My Bride has been quite creative in developing programs to serve the poor in Maine and now in Florida.
ReplyDeleteMany of the beggars have direct access to food and shelter gratis with the one condition that that they have to pee int a cup to prove they are not on drugs/etoh.
Now our esteemed maximum leader is forcing Social Service Agencies who provide such services as my Bride has developed (she has helped thousands) to provide food and shelter while permitting those she serves to drink..
No, I am not making this up.
Talk about a Beggar's Banquet....Food, shelter, clothing provided so the client can use his money to buy booze or pot.
O,, and the goal that American Churches use to have before this charity/compassion was professionalised (see "Tragedy of American Compassion"), the gaol was to have the man stop drinking and to reunite him with his family.
God preserve us from the educated.
There is a definite distinction between the poor and the beggars/homeless that we see on the streets. Although a tiny percentage of people choose to be homeless, most have been outcasts most of their lives and unfortunately addicted to some substance. I am not familiar with the programs that you speak of, but would love to learn more- please send some info my way. :) If that is truly that case, obviously that is a poor decision. How can we support people's unhealthy habits like that. Funnel that money into getting them real substantive substance abuse help. Gah, " our esteemed maximum leader" makes me so mad sometimes! On the bright side, only a few more years of his nonsense left.
DeleteLet me clarify, I want more information on that requirement- providing sustenance and allowing abusers to use their earned money for their habits. :)
DeleteGod preserve us from the professionals, I meant
ReplyDeleteI attend a downtown cathedral, and there are always several beggars outside on Sundays. I greet them, especially the regulars, but I don't give them money except on special occasions like Christmas. Instead, I try to put between $5 and $20 in our church's Poor Box every couple of weeks, and I know my wife does the same. This way, I know my money will be disbursed by our pastor to people in actual need. (Our church receives about $11,000 per year through the Poor Box, all of which is given to those in need.) This is in addition to our regular weekly contributions to the Church, and my wife fills in at our soup kitchen when her schedule permits.
ReplyDeleteIs all of this enough? Well, no--we could always give more. And the disadvantage of the Poor Box is that it delegates the actual work of helping the poor to someone else (albeit a very orthodox priest). But overall I think it strikes a good balance between handouts and refusal.
What a good idea! :) Churches almost always have dinner service for the poor and needy. Some churches also run thrift shops and help the poor connect with services that they need. I remember reading a book about an Irish immigrant who would often use the services of the Vincent de Paul Society and think that we need more private non-profits like this- I wouldn't even mind my taxes going to charities such as these.
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