Historically adherents to Catholicsm are poor because it is in their teaching that only in poverty and suffering they will find salvation. That is why the people are poor and the church is the wealthiest in the world.
2007-05-14 00:02:38 · 6 answers · asked by periclesundag 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
The Church is not against the aquisition of personal wealth. However, the Church does teach that those who are better off have an obligation to contribute to helping the well-being of those who are not so lucky.
Catholics are amongst the most charitable people in the world. Catholic Charities raises more money than any other charity in the world. This is because a) Catholics are not opposed to the aquisition of wealth, and B) many donate some of that wealth to the Church and it's charities - thus empowering it with the financial means to help as many people as possible.
If all Catholics were as poor as you are attempting to insinuate, they would have nothing to donate to the Church and the Church itself would then be poor as well.
Now, let's say - strictly for the sake of argument - that all Catholics were poor, and that this was because of a Catholic's will to give up their riches to become more Christ-like. What's wrong with that?
There are two kinds of poverty in this world. One is a sin, the other is not. Being financially poor is not a sin. Being spiritually poor is a sin.
2007-05-16 03:30:44 · answer #1 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The Catholic church is quite wealthy and is supported by its millions of members around the world, some rich and some poor. The Vatican itself is probably worth billions of dollars,and it wasn't until Pope John 23rd that public display of its riches was discouraged. It was he who had the jewel bedecked crown once worn by popes dismantled. The ermine robes worn by cardinals also became a thing of the past under Pope John. He was intelligent enough to see that even the poorest Catholics could recognize the hypocrisy of the church when it ostentatiously displayed its riches.
Plus the poor do not "choose" to be poor to gain salvation.
Chow!!
2007-05-14 05:00:32 · answer #2 · answered by No one 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the case of Latin America poor people turn to the church because it offers something to those people freely. It is a moral authority in a world of corruption, extortion, and lawlessness, that the poor turn to.
Take for example, Cardinal Romero of El Salvador, who stood against government murders in the 1980's. He was martyred for tha cause of the poor, and those who had no rights.
But Catholicism is not only for the poor. The goal of Opus Dei, for example, is for professional intelectuals to put their profession to God's work, because "the problems in the world are a sign of the lack of saints in every level of society."
2007-05-15 08:21:01 · answer #3 · answered by the good guy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think iis the poorest religion. if it was then nobody would listen to it. but this religion is the most popular. i have never read catholic books, but i think if people prefer this religion it is coz they want to live in poverty.
2007-05-14 00:24:02 · answer #4 · answered by BelKa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the Catholic Church is the richest because it has been around the longest of any Christian church.
2007-05-14 00:08:59 · answer #5 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. It is the religion that looks out for people welfare.
2007-05-14 00:06:15 · answer #6 · answered by Sam S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋