Why doesn't The Church sell 'some' of its vast assets to solve world poverty??

Question

The Church is the richest organisation in the world. They are sitting on BILLIONS of $ worth of assets in bank accounts, property, fine art etc. I find it hard to understand why God's representatives on earth, the prime vocalists of doing good etc, continue to sit on their vast assets while people around the world are starving?? World poverty could be solved in a year if the church stopped telling everyone what to do and DID IT THEMSELVES!

Answer 1

Because that is not what the Church is for. And she is a very greedy Church.
The Church was established to control people, their lives and their minds. And to extract as much money as possible from the people, rich or poor. In fact the poor people of the world donate a lot more to the Church than the rich ones, and this has always been the case throughout history. The rich and powerful are in fact often the beneficiaries of Church money, either as parts of the hierarchie or through deals and agreements that benefit the Church in other ways.
If you want to stop world poverty, abolish organised religions that keep people backward, uneducated and take away their money.
If everyone would stop giving money to the Church, you would see a change pretty quickly.

Answer 2

Why should they? They're a business intended to make a profit from the gullible (most of the world population). By setting up assorted superstitions, they managed throughout history to control not only the people but also the Kings and governments. As a result, they made excellent profits, much of which went towards eliminating poverty among the clergy. An admirable business which all accountants must envy. As for "God's representatives" whell, if they ever manage to PROVE that there is a God, there might be a case to answer, but since they invented this God in order to extort money, things won't and shouldn't change.

Answer 3

Well, WHICH one??? Both the LDS Church and the Catholic Church own bazillions of dollars worth of land and property the world over. Trouble is, in some areas, there is NO way that the land can support that amount of people living there. Poor soil, bad climates, civil strife, corrupt governments, all work together to effectively prevent long term solutions to poverty. The churches would sell assets in a futile effort to effect a change.

Answer 4

Well let's look at a little history here in the USA. We have thrown BILLIONs of $$$ at poverty for years directed at US citizens and it hasn't solved US poverty. And while The Church as you call it is extremely wealthy by any measure I can imagine, the sustained wealth of the US exceeds even that of The Church. And you claim world poverty could be solved in a single year if The Church would just sell everything and spread the wealth. Sorry, the math just doesn't work. Nice thought.

Answer 5

Which church are you talking about? My church doesn't have that kind of money. How many billions are you talking about?

But the answer to your question is the same reason less relevant than why our goverment has spent over 6 TRILLION dollars on poverty here in America and there are still poor folks?

But for your information there is more money donated for charitable uses by Christians as a whole than any other group of people.

Answer 6

You say that the Church has done little or nothing to solve, or at least alleviate poverty in some of the worst affected and least economically developed regions in the world. Wrong.

Why? Look at the thousands, hundreds of thousands of missionaries from various denominations of the Christian Church both Catholic and Non-Catholic. I know in my country, Ireland, a country known for its close relations with the Catholic Church, one of our largest development agencies, Trocaire, is run by the Roman Catholic Church. Irish missionaries have been instrumental in bringing to light poverty in regions as diverse as Central America, the Congo and Cambodia.

Those that say that the Catholic Church holds people back, as they have said in response to this question are also wrong. The Catholic Church, t some people like Oscar Romero of El Salvador who fought for the advancement of El Salvadorian civil justice, are agents of positive change the world over.

I hope that my Answer has clarified the discussion.

Answer 7

Because the church is a money making institution which has hit on the ideal 'product' the selling of 'God' or salvation which of course it has nothing to do with.

I accept that the church has to have a certain amounts of assets or money to keep itself going, but how can it stand by and watch people suffer? It does though doesn't it and meanwhile thousands of hapless people contribute their time and money to 'saving the church roof appeals' etc.

Think back to Jesus' anger in the temple when he overturned all the wares that were being sold. Boy, I bet he's livid now!

Answer 8

No you didnt clarify anythin im sorry to say. You only added another complication of views, which im about to do as well.

The missionarys goal is to covert people. More people mean more money for the church. The missionarys dont see it or DO it this way. But in the grand scheme of things it only work in the churches favour. You are quite right this time magik gatherer. I think religion should be left behind, cos all there will be after that is FAITH. I have faith, just not in humans. Kinda sad really.

Answer 9

Speaking as an atheist, I rather like fine old churches and after all our forefathers built them for us. I used to think churches were useless, but I have seen how the poor go into churches in places like Mexico and the Caribbean and worship. At least the church offers somewhere where they get some uplift and feel they have a place. What about shopping malls. Now those I feel are really offensive!

Which church are we talking about here, by the way? If I respect peoples freedom and dont want them to put me on the rack for my atheism, surely I have to take the position if you dont like it dont join in. Shortage of cash works quickest, but that is individual choice, not mine.

Answer 10

i know. and i hate it.

i am sure that they are aware and do have their reasons because it is impossible in my mind for somthing this big and in-your-face to go unoticed.

all i hope for, is at least they acknowledge the situation and offer an answer as to why they are not directly solving poverty, no matter how complex the answer may be...

maybe, all the money will eventually be gobbled up by huge capitalist corporations no matter how diverse the funds were dispersed. and that'll be worse.

maybe, too much money going around is not good because of a very complicated answer.(although it would be better than thousands dying daily in africa)

i dont know. but we deserve to get an answer. and please, dont tell us the money we're talking about here doesn't exist.

any priests here on yahoo answer care to explain? even just their own personal opinions?

this should be suggested in bono's featured question...