Why does the pope in rome not sell off all the vast wealth from the Vatican city and use the money to help others? Isnt this what "God" would do? Or do you feel that if Jesus Christ returned to earth tomorrow, he'd be quite happy to live in luxury and Grandeur like the pope et al are doing now?
2007-08-07 06:29:32 · 22 answers · asked by scotslad60 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
good suggestion..that would be nice.
2007-08-07 06:33:32 · answer #1 · answered by Tiffany R 2 · 7⤊ 5⤋
many people seem to have the erroneous notion that popes lead lives of pampered luxury.. that might have been true once upon a time.. but the past few popes have led really ascetic lives. They sleep on normal beds.. the eat normal food and they spend their lives in prayer and spiritual contemplation. The last pope, John Paul II died with only the following possessions - his Bible, his rosary and his clothes. He didn't own anything else.
lets talk about the "vast wealth" of the Vatican.. what does it consist mostly of? artwork for the most part.. property.. books.. texts of historical worth... While the church could most certainly sell all of this stuff off.. what would it achieve really other than to turn the church into a pauper institution? Would it solve the problems of the poor? no.. all the "vast riches" of the chuch won't even make a dent in the problem of world poverty, hunger and disease.
At least by maintaining the resources that the church does presently the Pope is able to do much good.. both now and in the future..
There is no magic wand solution to fixing the problem of world poverty.
and for those who say that Catholics are not Christian.. please pick up a history book. If Catholics are not Christian.. then nobody is either..
2007-08-07 15:20:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Again, you are asking about a man that men have elected to lead us in "God's" name. Man (and woman) can be a greedy SOB. If you look in the bible (also written and edited by men) Jesus went into the temple and chased out the money lenders (etc.) saying they desecrated his father's house... No, I do not believe that he would be happy. As for the pope, I think that he is just a figure head that is being used as a puppet for all those greedy people... Half the time I really don't think he really knows all that is going on around him, only what his "advisers" tell him.
2007-08-07 15:47:33 · answer #3 · answered by Rev. Kaldea 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wrong there, the Pope does not live in luxury, but has his own simple apartment. Like the rest of the clergy he takes the vow of poverty, chastity and obedience.
The rest is only ceremonial.
The Vatican is one of the biggest givers of aid and it could'nt function without the rest of the people (the church).
That's quite a 'slur' joey!!!
2007-08-07 15:40:40 · answer #4 · answered by Plato 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They do so because that is their church tradition. Im not Catholic, but what gives anybody the right to criticize believers for how much is spent on any Christian ministry? We ARE the ones helping the poor quite often. The NT does NOT teach that we all have to take a vow of poverty. But we do need to be compassionate toward the poor.
Who is more justified by God, Southeast Christian Church in Kentucky that is a billion dollar church that is a blessing to thousands of people where people get saved everyday? Or the VP of microsoft that owns some of the biggest luxury ships in the world to impress his friends?
2007-08-07 13:47:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Good question,
First of all, the Pope, Bishops and Priests all take a vow of Poverty, as for the buildings, and large Churches, it would be difficult to pass on the faith if there were no buildings to do it from!
There is already lots of money going out to help others, asking if there should be more is a good question.
As far as how the Pope "et all" are living now, I know that the Priests are not living high on the hog, and the Pope is quite busy tending to the souls of all of us, I am not sure how much time he even has to live in Grandeur.
Peace!
2007-08-07 13:38:32 · answer #6 · answered by C 7 · 5⤊ 4⤋
The Catholic Church already provides far more human services for the poor than ALL other churches COMBINED. The Catholic Church's income from its investments and holdings, along with the generous contributions of its members, is how this tremendous outpouring of aid to the poor is maintained. You would prefer that the Church divest itself of all its property, spend it on today's poor, and then be unable to provide for the poor in the years and centuries ahead?
Incidentally, the Pope lives in a small, modest apartment.
.
2007-08-07 13:46:15 · answer #7 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 9⤊ 1⤋
No He wouldn't but He's fairly pissed at the way many Christians are acting in this area. He was comfortable in modest homes with nasty people like me as his host back then and I know He hasn't changed.
That being said, don't fall into the trap of judging the pope and other Christians actions. We are to love each other unconditionally and pray that the Holy Spirit opens their eyes for them without condemning them for their actions.
WOW, there is a whole lot of hating and judging goin on here!!! Think for a minute my brothers and sisters, how you act is attributed to Jesus in you. Are you portraying Him correctly.
2007-08-07 13:38:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
I grew up in a mixed religion family. Religion is holding many of us back. Look how we discriminate by religion. We all need to practice love and charity--not hatred of other religions.
As for the pope, I would be happy to see him do more charity and less opening his mouth to cause controversy.
2007-08-07 14:19:38 · answer #9 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are probably over 100 statements in both the Old and New Testaments that indicate he'd be very very unhappy with today's Catholic Church for the reason you mention.
2007-08-07 13:37:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
don't make it sound as if the Pope and Bishops own it, they don't. we respect God by building Him a Temple fit for a King. and as for ignorant people saying Catholics are not Christians, I really hope they study history to know where they came from, but, then again, we all know they'd rather stay in the darkness of their ignorance.
2007-08-07 13:37:20 · answer #11 · answered by Perceptive 5 · 4⤊ 4⤋