Why does the Catholic Church...?

Question

Hoard so much treasure and money? Why don't they use it for the good of the people instead of just keeping it?

Too everyone who replied negatively to me: I'm just saying isnt that money better used elsewhere then just sitting in a dusty vatican where tourists can gape at the art? I didn't say that the Church doesn't help the poor, I'm saying that they could do so much more.

Answer 1

Those "riches" are actually works of art which people donated to the Vatican in their wills. So they, too, are gifts, one does not sell a gift!

The gifts are in the Vatican Museum, on display for visitors to enjoy. Were they sold to private collectors, they would no longer be available for public viewing. So one might as well say "Why doesn't the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Louvre sell their treasures and give the money to the poor?" Because they are art museums, and art museums contain art treasures. It they sold all their artwork they would no longer be art museums

Edit
Even a church cannot function without money nowadays. Churches still have to pay utility bills and buy candles, wine, altar breads, etc. You'd probably be surprised if you knew how much it costs to run a parish!

We lay people pay our own bills and living expenses by getting jobs. But priests cannot get outside jobs since they dedicate all their time to serving us. Among other things, they provide daily Masses, Confession, counseling and make emergency sick calls any time, day or night. This is in addition to their private prayer time, which is most necessary; if they are going to minister to us spiritually, they have to have a deep spiritual life themselves. With such a packed schedule, they could not possibly hold down a job like we do!

Answer 2

The Church does use it's money for the greater good of the people.

Perhaps the fact there is no such "hoard" of cash demonstrates proof that the Catholic Church serves the greater good with it's money. As for the Church's riches, you need to know that the budget for the Holy See is roughly the same size as the budget of the city of Chicago. Clearly, there is a huge difference between what the Vatican's budget really is, and what you think it is.

The collection of artifacts in the Vatican Museum is not the result of hoarding treasure for 2,000 years. Those artifacts were gifts to the Church. Faith inspired their artisans to paint, sculpt, smelt, whatever these beatiful testaments to the Church and God in general. The right thing to do is share them with the world. Anyone can come to the Vatican Museum and view these amazing pieces of artwork; these amazing testaments to the faith of their artisans.

Even with the Vatican's limited budget, they can both maintain a museum and financially contribute to worthy causes.

Answer 3

If the Catholic Church sold every valuable item she owned and gave the money to the poor, much money could be put to good use.

But poverty would not be eliminated- even for ONE day.

It would in fact iINCREASE- because all those wonderful treasures would be in the hands of private collectors and never again serve to enrich the lives of the millions and millions and millions of people all over the world who see them- from the 'dusty' halls of the Vatican....to the museums in cities big and small....to the small churches served by only a hundred people.

Artists create their work to be seen. Religious artists creat their work to raise our thoughts to Heaven- NOT to never been seen except by some guy with enough money to buy it and stick it in his living room.

Answer 4

You speak of the Catholic Church hording gold like it was Fort Knox or something. The Church has no great horde of gold bars or coins. What she has is a great collection, built up over 20 centuries, of great religious art of all kinds. These statues, paintings, murals, chalices, vestments, icons, chapels and cathedrals, were not built to decorate some CEO's anteroom, but to glorify God.

You would suggest that the Catholic Church sell these masterpieces of religious art to the highest bidder (so that they might decorate some CEO's anteroom) and give all the proceeds to the poor and hungry.

In part of the Gospels where Mary Magdaline pours the expensive perfumes on Christ's hair and feet. Judas berates her for this, saying that it is a waste of resources. We could have sold that perfume and used the money to feed the poor, he chides her. Then Christ calls Judas down, asking him is he really thinks they can solve the world's problems with money. "The poor will always be with us," He tells him. Christ then praises Mary Magdaline for seeing to His needs, glorifying Him. (I'm sure there were many poor Jews while the Tabernacle and Temple were bedecked with jewels and precious commodities.)

With this in mind, in your criticism of the Catholic Church, who is the Judas and who is the Magdaline?

This is not to say that we should not look after the poor. So let me ask you this. Which Christian denomination does the most (in the past, and currently) to aid the poor around the world? The Catholic Church. And where do these funds come from? Largely from the collection plate -- from me, the lady in the pew next to me, all of us everyday Catholics. Where does your tithes/donations go?

Answer 5

We all could do so much more. I was watching 20/20 the other night and John Stosel did a special called Enough. Among the stories, there was one about a non-profit group that monitors the financial activities of churches. They must've showed like twenty different protestant ministers living in multi-million dollar mansions, riding in private jets, vacationing in exotic resorts, etc. It just went on and on. The non-profit group asked several of them to disclose their financial records to see if the ministers were actually putting all that money to good use; some did, some didn't. Surprisingly, there wasn't one Catholic priest or other clergy featured.

God bless.

Answer 6

How did you arrive at those conclusions? Can you give us proof?

I have been a lay volunteer for more than ten years now at the parochial and diocesan level of the Catholic Church and I can tell you that we are a poor Church.

You have also insulted me because for more than 5 years I was actively involved in helping the poor. I was even given the St. Martin de Porres award by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin. There were many times when I had to dig from my own personal funds so that a poor family could have something to eat.

May the Lord's peace be with you!

Answer 7

You are right... The Roman Catholic church (to which I was christianed) is the richest global institution.
Every day they hand out another collection tray, buy more land, sell more books and take advantage of more people making more money.
It is a disgrace and for those thinking about people wanting handouts you're a moron!!! This question is asked as a tool to help identify whether the church are taking advantage of you!

** Sorry Abel, you like all of faith are being manipulated! The church are real estate tycoons, they pay no taxes, they are a joke and they are manipulating you! **

Answer 8

You mean why don't they give you some. It's not your concern what any church but your own does what they do with their money. Nobody tells you what to do with your money. and its not your concern what anyone does with theirs. It is in the states best interest to take care of their people why you try and push the burden off on the church they do plenty to provide welfare for people.

Answer 9

Well, in the USA some catholic diocese are bankrupt due to the legal fees of all those pedophile priests law suits so keep the donation flowing in please.

Answer 10

Are you sure your not talking about the Mormons. They have more money than all the religions put together.