34. Stewardship of this world's goods

34. STEWARDSHIP OF THIS WORLD'S GOODS OUR WORK AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES ARE ROOTED IN HUMAN DIGNITY AND THE COMMON GOOD Compendium 503-520, 531-533 Dt 5:19,21 Matthew 6:21 1. The seventh and tenth commandments: DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR'S GOODS; instruct us to be generous and just stewards of God's blessings and creation. 2. Love of neighbor is necessary to create a well ordered society. 3. The right to own private property is an expression of human dignity but it is not an unlimited right which deprives others of a fair share of opportunities or is contrary to the common good. 4. The parable of Lazarus and the poor man instruct us about our obligation to take care of the poor and to live justly, with temperance and prudence. We do not have a right to live in luxury while others lack basic necessities. 4. The seventh commandment requires that we return what we have stolen. 5. It forbids unjust wages and fraud. 6. Financial systems must be ethical and at the service of the human person. 7. Unbridled Capitalism and Totalitarian Government both offend human dignity. 8. We must be aware that Labor is a path toward holiness. 9. Citizens must actively engage in civil affairs as witnesses of authentic Gospel values. 10. We must imitate Christ's detachment from this world's goods and live the beatitudes so that God will say to us “well done, good and faithful servant.” 11. We are all precious gifts to one another. When we share our treasure , talents and our time we are truly children of God. If we hoard our blessings they shrivel and die. 12. How can we reconcile magnificent churches,vestments and vessels with “Blessed are the poor in spirit” ? The answer is implied in the question. Jesus does not recommend poverty for poverty sake but rather detachment from worldly treasures in lieu of the eternal treasures of heaven. No one is entitled to more than they need. Justice demands that our surplus must be shared with the needy. This sharing must be voluntary and not violently enforced as often happens in totalitarian governments and results in greater poverty and injustice and loss of freedom. Capitalism is immoral if it does not afford opportunity and equal access to the needy. It is not a matter of one or the other but rather a matter of both and. There can be both magnificence and justice for the needy. Hatred and greed breed poverty and misery, whereas when we share there is more than enough for all as Jesus demonstrated with the multiplication of the loaves and fish to feed 5000. Judas complained when the repentant women used expensive oils to anoint the feet of Jesus and opined that it would be better to spend this on the poor but Jesus corrected Judas and it later became clear that Judas was not interested in the poor but rather his own pocket. There is no organization that has invested more time, talent, and treasure in lifting up the needy than the Catholic Church. Tens of thousands of schools, hospitals and missions cover the globe with priests, nuns and dedicated people sacrificing their own lives for others. Those who have done more than the church for the needy can cast the first stone.