Would like an answer from a Catholic?

Question

We are taught to help our neighbor, feed the hungry and take care of the poor. But where does welfare fit into our religion?

I know that if people cannot work for some reason we are called to help them. But what about the people that simply don't want to work? Does it say in the bible about not taking money from the working man? Should we help them as much as we would, say, someone who physically cannot work? I'm curious to see Catholic's take on this.

thanks everyone so far....sorry didn't mean to say just Catholic....I actually meant Christian :)

Answer 1

If we listen to God (what's in your heart) he will lead us in the right direction. I don't think God cares if that person can work or not (that's his business), my business is to help others without questioning it. It's about what I can do, what I can learn, about being compassionate without judging, being of service to God and others..only he knows their particular circumstances, let him be the judge and you just serve the best way you know how.

Answer 2

Well I believe, I could be wrong, that it says somewhere in the Bible that if a man is being paid by the hour, if he does not work hard throughout all of his work day then he is stealing from his employer. You could easily apply this to the wellfair program, methinks. The government is helping people out until they find a job, but if they start to take advantage of this generosity its stealing. Im not sure that the Church has an official stance on it. I have only studied Catholicism myself and while it used to be the absolute center of my life, I would not call myself a Catholic now so I may not be the best person to answer, but my view has always been that wellfair is terrific to help those who cannot truly get a job or who just got fired and are trying to get back onto their feet. When they just sit around and take the free cash though, thats getting a bit ridiculous and taking advantage of other people.

Answer 3

Wellfare helps people keep a roof over their head and feed themselves and their families. The wellfare system does indeed have some Christ-like qualities. The fact that there are those who choose to abuse this system, to account for their own laziness, does not take away from the good the wellfare does do for the honesly needy. There is consolation to be found in this.

Answer 4

I don't think this is a issue for catholics alone, I think that anyone of any religion could answer this question. But yes, I am catholic.

i do feel that we should help those who can not do for themselves out of infirmity, illness, etc. I do not feel that we should help those who choose not to work for whatever reason. And them deciding that they are unable to work for whatever asinine reason that they come up with is not good enough. And I am really tired of hearing how these people's children are not the ones making the decision not to work so we still need to help them, for the children that is. These people did not bring us into the decision making process when they decided to have these children. They choose to have these children, so therefore they should be the ones responsible for raising them,on whatever salary that they can generate.

My attitude may not be very charitable, but I am tired of having to work twice as hard to raise my children by myself, and then having to help someone else who is not willing to help themselves, help raise their children. I can think of many things that my children need or want with the money that i make, but they are unable to get it because I'm having to give that money to the state so that they can give it to someone who will at least try to get a job and help himself.

Answer 5

I am a born again believer, I think that the welfare system has its own criteria to help people, Christian people are "led by the spirit of God" to help those in need, without worrying whether they deserve it or not. Do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.

Answer 6

The Commandment to rest from work on the Lord's Day infers that we should work on the other days.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 states:

In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.

With love in Christ.

Answer 7

"For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly,working not at all,but are busybodies.Now them that are such-we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ,that with quietness they work , and eat their own bread." 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 Sorry I'm not Catholic, I am a Christian.I hope this was okay

Answer 8

The Bible also says that we shouldn't feed those who refuse to work.

Just common sense, based on human nature.

Answer 9

i think we should choose the people we help.
i believe that helping the poor but able-bodied man does not do him justice at all.
helping him would only make him feel that he doesn't really have to work just to get by.
and this does not help him at all.
i myself choose to help the old ones.
i feel sorry for them because they no longer have the bodies to work well.
and they've been shunned by their own flesh and blood.

Answer 10

They get people when they are down and use food and such to convert them.