Catholic Stance on HUNGER???

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Catholic : One Thread

What exactly is the Catholic stance on hunger in the world? What are they doing about it?

-- steph (pnut9108@hotmail.com), March 24, 2001

Answers

Jmj

Hi, Steph.

There is no private group (religious or otherwise) in the world that does more to alleviate the world's hunger than does the Catholic Church and its members. There are Catholics in every one of the world's more than 200 nations, and, wherever it is legal for the Church to act openly to help the poor, she does so. [I mention this because a few totalitarian governments forbid the Church to play a role in society.] Catholic work through person-to-person help and through various incorporated organizations. You have probably heard of, but maybe forgot, the biggest such organization -- Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

Here are a few passages from the new (1992) Catechism of the Catholic Church that provide Catholics with religious doctrine touching on the problem of hunger:
2447. "The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. [Cf. Isa 58:6-7 ; Heb 13:3.] Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. [Cf. Mt 25:31-46.] Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God: [Cf. Tob 4:5-11 ; Sir 17:22 ; Mt 6:2-4.] He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none and he who has food must do likewise. [Lk 3:11 .] But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you. [Lk 11:41.] If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?[Jam 2:15-16 ; cf. 1Jn 3:17 .]"

2463. "How can we not recognize Lazarus, the hungry beggar in the parable [cf. Lk 17:19-31], in the multitude of human beings without bread, a roof or a place to stay? How can we fail to hear Jesus: 'As you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me' (Mt 25:45)?"

2831. "But the presence of those who hunger because they lack bread opens up another profound meaning of this petition [Give us this day our daily bread]. The drama of hunger in the world calls Christians who pray sincerely to exercise responsibility toward their brethren, both in their personal behavior and in their solidarity with the human family. This petition of the Lord's Prayer cannot be isolated from the parables of the poor man Lazarus and of the Last Judgment. [Cf. Lk 16:19-31 ; Mt 25:31-46.]"

Here is a write-up about CRS that I copied from one U.S. diocese's Internet site. It goes into a little detail about just one of CRS's projects which has to do with alleviation of hunger:

-----------------------------------
CRS was founded in 1943 by the U.S. Catholic Bishops to assist the poor and disadvantaged outside this country. The fundamental motivating force in all activities of CRS is the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it pertains to the alleviation of human suffering, the development of people and the fostering of charity and justice in the world.

The policies and programs of CRS reflect and express the teachings of the Catholic Church. At the same time, CRS assists persons in over 80 countries around the world on the basis of need, not creed, race, or nationality. In addition, CRS maintains strict standards of efficiency and accountability with over 90% of all support going directly to programs overseas to help the poor.
"Operation Rice Bowl"
Parishes are invited to enrich their faith community's Lenten observance through participation in ... Operation Rice Bowl, Catholic Relief Services. program of prayer, fasting, education, and almsgiving. Participants prayerfully and financially support hunger relief and the self-help development efforts which CRS monitors worldwide. One quarter of the proceeds remains in [local U.S. dioceses] to help alleviate hunger in our own neighborhoods.

The Lenten support of individuals and families in our parishes enables CRS to send its emissaries to the far corners of the globe in active witness to the mandate of Jesus Christ. This humanitarian organization not only provides disaster relief wherever it is needed, but also seeks to find long-term solutions by working closely with a country's local agencies to insure that assistance is provided directly to those most in need.

CRS works in partnership with reconciliation and reconstruction efforts in such war-torn countries as Bosnia, El Salvador, Bangladesh, and Rwanda. Operation Rice Bowl funds are at work in Nicaragua, Ethiopia, India, Haiti, Morocco, Viet Nam, North Korea, Madagascar ---- and many, many more countries in Africa, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. [Catholic Relief Services World Headquarters, 209 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201]

--------------------- END QUOTED SECTION -------------

St. James, pray for us. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), March 25, 2001.


Dear Steph:
A Catholic stance on hunger?

Negative, what else?

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), March 26, 2001.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ