Catholic Social Teaching on Economic Justice For All/ Option for the Poor is Biblical and Good Policy

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/081611.html

August 16th, 2011 by Andy Alexander, S.J.

"It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven."“Who then can be saved?”Jesus looked at them and said,“For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19"
"It seems to me that we tend to forget that Jesus warned us about the dangers of being rich. Much of the world doesn't know the gospel or has forgotten his words about it being as hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven as it is for "a camel to pass through the eye of a needle." Upon really hearing this gospel, all of us are one with his first disciples is immediately asking him, "Then tell us, just WHO can be saved?" Of course, the consolation is that what Jesus really wants us to know is that "for God all things are possible..."
..."What's wrong with being rich? Experience shows us that the more we have, the more energy it takes to maintain the wealth we have. And, it inevitably happens that the more we have, the more we want. And, sadly, the more we have, the more it seems we think we deserve what we have. Of course, there are outstanding exceptions. There are wealthy people who are incredibly generous and who work hard for the benefit of others. Unfortunately, that isn't the way it always works. I find myself most challenged by how Jesus asks us, later in Matthew's gospel, Chapter 25:41-46, to live. It is our mission to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless and care for the sick and imprisioned. That is how we will be judged. It is stunning to me sometimes to realize that much of what I think is important, much of what troubles me, much of what takes up so much of my time, has nothing to do with caring for "the least" of Jesus' brothers and sisters. Too often the "riches" of talents and energies and our place in the world so insulate us from the day to day life and struggle of the poor that we can be seduced into the path that leads to pride, rather than the holy and simplifying path that leads to humility."

Social Justice Teaching of Church in Economic Pastoral:

"There is an outstanding summary of Catholic Social Teaching for our day - well worth reading in its entirety, as a meditation, with amazing relevance for the challenges of today. It is the great economic pastoral, written by the U.S. Catholic Bishops 25 years ago this year. I conclude with just two paragraphs from it. It is challenging and can call us to great conversion. "

16. "All members of society have a special obligation to the poor and vulnerable. From the Scriptures and church teaching, we learn that the justice of a society is tested by the treatment of the poor. The justice that was the sign of God's covenant with Israel was measured by how the poor and unprotected -- the widow, the orphan, and the stranger -- were treated. The kingdom that Jesus proclaimed in his word and ministry excludes no one. Throughout Israel's history and in early Christianity, the poor are agents of God's transforming power. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, therefore he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor" (Lk. 4:18). This was Jesus' first public utterance. Jesus takes the side of those most in need. In the Last Judgment, so dramatically described in St. Matthew's Gospel, we are told that we will be judged according to how we respond to the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger. As followers of Christ, we are challenged to make a fundamental "option for the poor" -- to speak for the voiceless, to defend the defenseless, to assess life styles, policies, and social institutions in terms of their impact on the poor. This "option for the poor" does not mean pitting one group against another, but rather, strengthening the whole community by assisting those who are the most vulnerable. As Christians, we are called to respond to the needs of all our brothers and sisters, but those with the greatest needs require the greatest response."
202. d. "The tax system should be continually evaluated in terms of its impact on the poor. This evaluation should be guided by three principles. First, the tax system should raise adequate revenues to pay for the public needs of society, especially to meet the basic needs of the poor. Secondly, the tax system should be structured according to the principle of progressivity, so that those with relatively greater financial resources pay a higher rate of taxation. The inclusion of such a principle in tax policies is an important means of reducing the severe inequalities of income and wealth in the nation. Action should be taken to reduce or offset a disproportionate burden on those with lower incomes. Thirdly, families below the official poverty line should not be required to pay income taxes. Such families are, by definition, without sufficient resources to purchase basic necessities of life. They should not be forced to bear the additional burden of paying income taxes [60].
"Economic Justice for All: Pastoral Letter on Catholic Social Teaching and the U.S. EconomyU.S. Catholic Bishops, 1986 http://www.osjspm.org/economic_justice_for_all.aspx
Bridget Mary's Reflection.
Justice is a constitutive dimension of the Gospel. Indeed as Jesuit Andy Alexander points out the Judeo-Christian tradition teaches that God's option for the poor is the heart of religion: "Justice is the sign of God's covenant." Jesus makes his choice for the poor and the marginalized in the Gospels, and makes it clear that we will be will be judged on how we live justice- how we treat the poor and those on the margins of church and society. We are all called to live the option for the poor in every area of our lives and in all our structures and policies as a nation. As people of faith, we need to challenge our politicans to make policies and laws that protect the poor and vulnerable in our society. The super rich, as Warren Buffet rightly pointed out, do not need to be coddled by more tax breaks. Instead we need to make justice for all, including the poor and marginalized, a religious belief that informs our national policy. Then with God's help and our hard work, the poor and most vulnerable will be treated as beloved sisters and brothers and be given the protection and opportunities that they deserve. Then justice will flourish in our hearts and in our land!
Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org