Question about poverty and the Roman Catholic Church?

Question

Servants of the Catholic church take a vow of poverty. We know that this applies to everyone from the Pope on down to Priest and Nun.
Given this fact, how then, does the Roman Catholic church justify keeping it's vast treasure in storage? When the bible clearly instructs the church to accept tithes and offerings to live on, and to further the spread of the gospel?
Secondly, there are individula RC churches which are going bankrupt for lack of monetary support. It matters not what their attendance is. Some are in poverty stricken areas where members are unable to tithe, some are in areas where members refuse to tithe. Why isn't the Vatican supporting these churches so that they may remain open to do the work they were called to do in ministering to these people?

Answer 1

Let's take this one at a time. Shall we?

< Servants of the Catholic church take a vow of poverty. We know that this applies to everyone from the Pope on down to Priest and Nun. Given this fact, how then, does the Roman Catholic church justify keeping it's vast treasure in storage? When the bible clearly instructs the church to accept tithes and offerings to live on, and to further the spread of the gospel?>>

You've practically answered your own question! the Church accepts charity (not tithing) from the Faithful - so much so that the Church has amassed a significant amount of weath.

But, for the sake of facts, let's examine a few:
1) The Annual Budget for the Vatican is comparable to the annual budget of the City of Chicago.
2) Many charitable donations gifted to the Church were meant for the Church to keep. But these treasures are not keep in storage. The Church shares these many priceless works of art in Rome at the Vatican Museum - for all the world to see.
3) Very little monitary donation actually goes to the Clergymen. They are given enough for a modest living, the rest does not actually belong to the clergymen - it belongs to the Church as a whole. So, as you can see, not a single clergyman is in violation of their vow to poverty.

There is a difference between controlling wealth and owning it.


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This fact seems to confirm what I said about the Church; that it's budget is far smaller than you seem to be suggesting. Again, the Church does not tithe. Tithing is the strict - required - donation of 10% of one's personal assetts. This idea contrary to the Christian Virtue of Charity which requires one to give only what they wish to give, whatever percentage one is able and/or willing to donate.

In poorer parts of the world, obviously a Catholic parish is apt to struggle supporting itself, whereas a Catholic parish in a richer society does not struggle financially.

It's well to know that one's measure of charity is not the amount of wealth one donates to their parish. There is a Biblical teaching that points to the fact that a poor woman's donation of a few cents is a much bigger charitable act that when a rich man donates a lot of money.

It's not a sin to be poor, but it is a sin to be rich - when the rich are not using their wealth to help the poor. Most well-to-do Catholic parishes have a "sister" parish in a poorer area, and some of the charitable donations raised in rich parishes are sent to help support the poorer parishes.


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Again, the Vatican's annual budget is comparable to Chicago's budget. It is not feasible to suggest that the Vatican alone can finanicially prop up all the poor Catholic parishes in the world.

It's well to know that Catholic Charities does more to help more people than any other charity in the world. Think twice before you accuse Catholics of not doing enough.

Answer 2

First of all, NOT every servant of the Church takes a vow of poverty. That's only certain religious orders.

Second of all, most of the Church's treasures were gifts to the church, and the Church approves of sacred art that inspires people to worship the Lord, so it make sense that the Church keeps a lot of these objects. A painting wouldn't feed anybody, and if you sell it, it might end up in the hands of somebody who intends to commit sacrilege with it.

Third of all, each parish is supposed to be supported by the people who live in that parish. If a parish goes bankrupt, its because the people who live there aren't doing their part. In poverty stricken areas, nearby parishes that have excesses share with the ones that are not financially sound, and then the Diocese kicks in a share, too, if need be.

Answer 3

There are two types of Catholic priests:

A religious priest is ordained into a religious order like the Society of Jesus (Jesuit) or Franciscans. He receives duty assignments from superiors in their respective religious orders. Some religious priests specialize in teaching, whereas others serve as missionaries in foreign countries, where they may live under difficult and primitive conditions. Other religious priests live a communal life in monasteries, where they devote their lives to prayer, study, and assigned work. These priests take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience.

A diocesan priest is ordained to serve in a specific geographical area (called a diocese). He ministers under the leadership of a bishop, and will more than likely serve as a parish priest. These priests take vows of chastity and obedience but not poverty.

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

Actually, you are incorrect. Not everyone that is a Servant of the Catholic Church has taken a vow of "poverty" just as not all Priests have taken a vow of "Celibacy" for some in Rome are allowed to get married.
You need to do more research before you try to "slam" ANY Religion.

Answer 5

The Roman Catholic Church was the salvation of Christianity but does write its own doctrine. The largest church in the world should follow only the words of Christ. The treasury money is that of a small nation and a good portion of that should be paid to make amends to the children abused by priests, and other crimes ignored by the Papacy for so long.

Answer 6

Priests do not take a vow of poverty. The money in the Church treasury belongs to the Church itself, not any individuals.

It is not necessary to the interests of the Vatican to support any poor parishes.

Answer 7

Stop thinking about the church as a religion. Think of it as big-business and you can see exactly what is happening.

Answer 8

you gotta show us the vatican bank accounts some time

Answer 9

very good point, it would be a sure way to prove love one for another....my church gives 75% of it's money to charities.