For many years, I have observed how the so called, “war on poverty” has served to help people in poverty to deal with their economic condition. It appears as if the result is that there are more poor people than ever.
I think I know why. The things we have enacted serve to make non poor people feel better rather than serve the poor. It has evolved into a war o poor people.
Charities are no better in that they act to make donors feel better about themselves as opposed to actually doing something to release poor people from the bonds of poverty. But, what can be done?
First; we can stop acting as if the poor are qualitatively different than the rest of us. Francis de Sales, a 16th century, (Common Era), French Catholic bishop wrote, “Love the poor and love poverty, for it is by such love that we become truly poor. As the Scripture says, we become like the things we love. If you love the poor, you will share their poverty and be poor like them. If you love the poor be often with them. Be glad to see them in your own home and to visit with them in theirs. Be glad to talk with them and be pleased to have them near you in church, on the street and elsewhere. Be poor in conversing with them and speak to them as companions do, but be rich in assisting them by sharing some of your more abundant goods with them”.
The good bishop has described in his words the term “empathy”, not sympathy. The poor do not need sympathy or condescension, but partners. The key to defeating poverty is true identity with the poor and by truly hearing them without our own agenda of making ourselves feel better.
Here is where religion can intersect the public square in ways too positive to ignore.
But, what do you think?
Good Sabbath.
chaplaintomdoc 