Guest Voices

Blessed are the Poor In Person

Stuck in an endless line of bumper-to-bumper beach traffic, my frustration turned to fear when a dirty, disheveled man walked unsteadily toward my car. Instinctively, I locked my door and averted my eyes, hoping he’d move past me.

Instead he stopped beside my window and held up his hand printed sign. Feeling a bit ashamed, I glanced over at him and burst into laughter.

“Why lie? I want a beer” the crudely printed sign proclaimed.

The man’s sign summed up the skepticism many of us feel about anyone asking for a handout. I was tempted to reward his honesty, but unwilling to enable a habit that contributed to his poverty. I hesitated and he moved on, leaving me to examine the range of emotions I had experienced in less than a minute.

Poverty continues to be one of the most perplexing and emotional issues facing Americans, especially people of faith. The Bible, Koran and Talmud all speak specifically to how believers should respond to the poor. But despite our beliefs, most people of faith experience the same range of emotions I did--fear, guilt, suspicion and frustration--when confronted with poverty.
When I interviewed people of faith for a book I was writing on poverty, most agreed that poverty was a faith issue, but few could name specific ways their own faith community engaged with the poor, except in foreign missions.

Many believed that welfare still exists in the U.S. and that the poor can “live off the government.” Few seemed aware of reforms in the 1990’s that set strict limits on payouts for the poor, including a lifetime limitation of five years for receiving any form of government assistance.
In fact, most people in America who drop below the poverty line are working poor who have lost a job or suffered from illness. Instead of a hand out they often need a babysitter while they look for a job, a loan to meet the rent payment or a Metro card so they can commute. Some need help overcoming a habit that disables them or learning a skill that can help move them forward.
They need assistance from people who understand their particular situation and who take the time to care for them materially and spiritually.

And that’s why faith communities represent a far better solution to America’s poverty problems than the government ever will. Some congregations provide tutors, others offer temporary shelter or bring meals to those who are ill. The fact is that every congregation needs to do something, not just because the scriptures require it, but because our communities need it. Each of us who is a member of a church, temple or mosque should know how we can reach out to someone less fortunate.

The gap between the rich and the poor is growing wider but a gap also exists between the good intentions of people of faith and specific actions. Now more than ever, we need clergy who lead the way in responding and congregations who creatively look for ways to move beyond emotions and misconceptions into action. America needs to launch a new “war on poverty” not based in government, but built on communities of faith.

Dale Hanson Bourke is the author of “The Skeptic’s Guide to Global Poverty” (Authentic 2007).

By Dale Hanson Bourke |  September 2, 2007; 1:28 PM ET
Share: Email a Friend | Technorati talk bubble Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
Previous: My Grandmother, Ruth Graham | Next: "I Believe" About Me and You

Comments

Please report offensive comments below.



6JRM0I Wow, it can be truth

Posted by: Kandoras | December 19, 2007 5:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Posted by: Gxzkilk | December 13, 2007 11:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Posted by: Gxzkilk | December 13, 2007 11:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Posted by: Gxzkilk | December 13, 2007 11:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment

TO
HOUNRABLE SIR,
WITH DUE RESPECT ,I SUBMIT FEW LINES FOR YOUR KIND CONSIDERATION . I HAVE COME TO KNOW THROUGH RELIABLE SOURCES AND PRESS MEDIA THAT YOU ARE DEVOTED SERVICE WELL BEING OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
I HAVE FIVE CHILDERN THEY ARE IN COLLEGES AND IN UNIVERSITY FOR EDUCATION .I CALL TO YOU FOR MY FINANCIAL HELP AND TO SOLVE MY FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.
INCIDENTALLY I MAY SUBMIT THAT I HAVE A LARGE POOR FAMILY.THEREFORE THERE IS NO FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ME. PLEASE FINANCIALLY HELP ME, I WILLNOT ONLY BE A GREAT RELIEF FOR A POOR FAMILY BUT WILL ALSO BE A GREAT ACT OF CHARITY ON YOUR HONOUR PART. IAM WAITNG YOUR FAVOURABLE REPLY.
I REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE HELP ME FOR THIS PURPOSE AND FOR GOD SACK DONOT DISAPPOINT ME.

I AM GRATE FUL TO YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
WITH BEST REGRADS.


YOUR FAITHFULLY

MISS FARZANA YASMIN
C/O KHURSHID ALAM
H.NO E-158 /A SATTELLITE TOWN
RAWALPINDI (PAKISTAN)

E _MAIL: HARRISALAM333@HOTMAIL.COM

Posted by: FARZANA YASMIN | December 7, 2007 9:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Speak softly and carry a cellular phone. Thanks good site.
http://lkdjifg.247ihost.com/e9f5d7/map.html

Posted by: [*names.txt*] | October 30, 2007 10:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Hello, very nice site, keep up good job!
Admin good, very good.

Posted by: Stasigr | October 29, 2007 8:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment

buy online viagra where orlcjikdkkkeijdi

Posted by: [*viagra.txt*] | October 27, 2007 3:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment

buy online viagra where orlcjikdkkkeijdi

Posted by: [*viagra.txt*] | October 27, 2007 3:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment

well thank you for including me in your lovefest jacob.

that was truly unexpected- as always peace and the love of the universe is radiating back at you from queens.

Posted by: VICTORIA | September 16, 2007 12:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment

James 2:5
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

The rich worship money, thus the reason they have so much of it. They reap the additional output of the poor for their own gain. Look about you at the 'rich' of the world. VERY VERY few have a real faith in God, else they would do as he instructs them.

Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.


Matthew 19:23
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Posted by: Peacetroll | September 4, 2007 8:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Please pardon the following paste from another blog until you see my point. It is also related to the question here, in that it reveals how the hypocracy of our elite class affects the well being of the poor, indeed the people of all class and all faith.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Muslims Speak Out
What does Islam really say about violence, religious freedom and the role of women?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
victoria :
im going to post this as an example of why it is so difficult to keep asnwering the same questions over and over again-

zosima asked me a question- prefaced with a negative and judgemental personal observation of me (which was unnecessary to the query)

but i still answered with respect-

instead of an acknowledgement of my reply in any way- on another question i discovered ANOTHER insult for no real reason-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


zosima:
Willem;

The rambling poster Victoria is having some strange typing diarrhea of nasty and mostly meaningless posts and seems to be offending just about everyone.

No need to read -but check out the number of posts she left on the active conversation Muslims Speak Out.

I'll be skipping her posts in the future.

September 3, 2007 6:09 PM | Report Offensive Comments-
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

so, peoples intentions reveal themselves pretty quickly-

i think its pretty safe to assume this is not a person who questioned me with any interest in the answer-

pretty well illustrates why i respond once with respect, even if it is confrontational-
but i am not a fool to respond to outright defamations with grace.

better not to respond at all

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2007/09/blessed_are_the_poor_in_person/allcomments.html
peace
September 4, 2007 1:37 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
victoria :
i have to admit- i didnt really expect such an examination of the plank in our american eyes-

peace rick

September 4, 2007 1:12 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rick :
Victoria:

Ha, fooled you! Here are the answers, that you didn't expect to see, to your questions:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. CHRIS T - here is an example of a respectful query-
what sources have you gotten your information about islam from?

Ans: Well, I kind of got it as second hand heresay. Gaby told Matt, and Matt told me that you never answer a direct question about Islamic violence. Well, it's true isn't it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2. CHRIS T - i'll asumme unless you point out otherwise that you are a christian (from your name)

ok, here's another one- does your philosophy include the idea that the natural state of man is a peaceful one?
or a warlike one?

i think it is a seminal point to start with-

Ans: Christianity is definately warlike. I mean, just look at what we did during the Crusades, trying to convert all those heathen moslems to the true faith.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3. So having asked that, i'll ask another-
take your time.
do you believe that america is going to war with islam around the world?

Ans: Of course, just look at the genocide that we are practicing in Palestine and Iraq. We plan to nuke Iran next before they develop nuclear capability. We can't go having any fair fights can we.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4. Is this a christian crusade with the muslims against the christians?

Ans: Kinda, but we are only pretending to try to convert them to the one true God, the Oil Barrel. Actualy, we are more selfish, we just want to steal the Oil Barrel for ourselves.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5. Where are the rules of engagement in christianity for going to war with a sovreign entity that hasnt attacked you?

Ans: Our Dear Leader has them in his secret vault. They are too important to share with the general public.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. If this is true, why oh why arent we going into saudi arabia, where all of the terrorists who attacked us are actually from?

iraqis didnt attack us- yet we went to a pre-emptive war with them.

Ans: We like the Saudis because they are willing to break with OPEC and pump all the Oil Drum that we want, so long as we keep them fat and rich in the process. Besides we want the world's 2nd largest oil field in Iraq for our very own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK, that's enough for now. I've got stuff to do.

Catch you later,

Rick

September 3, 2007 6:07 PM

Posted by: Rick | September 4, 2007 8:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment

Victoria wrote, “exactly where in the bible or talmud does it speak specifically to what we do for the poor? they both deal in only the vaguest of generalities… as a person of faith who has worked all over america with the homeless and poor- i have not had your feelings of fear, guilt and suspicion…”

Victoria, such comment coming from you, an ex-Catholic, who lived several years in a Franciscan convent training to be a nun, is somewhat shocking - to say the least. Shocking because the Franciscans devote their lives in serving the poor without trying to convert anyone they serve. It would be reasonable to assume that much of your work with the homeless and poor (which you have mentioned on several threads on this On Faith forum) would have been done in the context of your years participating in the life of a Franciscan convent, as part of your long years of training to be a Franciscan nun.

I could quote many passages from the New Testament where Jesus and the Apostles give specific instructions about how to “love one’s neighbour as oneself” demanding that God’s love be extended even to one’s enemies. But since you are an ex-Catholic, with several years of training to be a nun behind you, I’m sure you have read the New Testament yourself and are aware of the passages as well or even better than I am.

Posted by: Soja John Thaikattil, Sydney, Australia | September 4, 2007 6:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment

The bum looking for a beer was more honest than all of religion doctrine/dogma combined.

How sad you couldn't find it within yourself to give him a few pennies.

I hope he didn't ruin your day at the beach...

Posted by: Mr Mark | September 4, 2007 12:14 AM
Report Offensive Comment

You are right that "the poor" are not only those in other countries. There are poor people right here in this country.
But when people (and I include my fellow Quakers here) talk about "the poor," there is such an "otherness" to the way you consider people who may be friends, neighbors, or even relatives.
There is no such thing as "the poor." People living in poverty are not a separate ("lower") species of mammal. We are just people who have less money--often a lot less.
Many of us may be hiding our poverty from you (I am very good at shopping in thrift stores and at clearance sales--and I am somewhat proud--in the sense of "ashamed of being poor"). But you also may be hiding from your own awareness of the situation in which people like me find ourselves.
Yes, I may be "different" from some of the people you think really are "the poor." And on what basis did you already decide that? That I know how to use standard English well?
I may be one of the "deserving poor" (well-educated, working part-time, but living with a disability that is "not my fault")--a person who "deserves" to receive Social Security Disability, and to live in subsidized housing, and to get help with my Medicare premiums. But who are the "undeserving poor"? Who does NOT deserve help meeting their basic needs?
I can list some people living in poverty whom I think are "taking advantage of the system." That is not my point. Once upon a time I was married to a man from a wealthy family, and his parents sure took a lot more "advantage of the system" than any poor person I have ever known.
My point is that people are people--fully equal, equally important human beings--no matter what their income level is. And if people without much money are living in America, then we are just as American as you are.

Posted by: Margaret McCasland | September 3, 2007 11:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Willem;

The rambling poster Victoria is having some strange typing diarrhea of nasty and mostly meaningless posts and seems to be offending just about everyone.

No need to read -but check out the number of posts she left on the active conversation Muslims Speak Out.

I'll be skipping her posts in the future.

Posted by: zosima | September 3, 2007 6:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Completely agree that centralized government handouts are nothing more than subsidizing poverty and are ineffective.

Read "Who Really Cares" by a Brookings Institute fellow - it shows that statistically people of faith give much more than their secular counterparts.

Go figure.

Get the government out and let citizens and local organizations take care of local problems!

PS - Google Ron Paul 2008 for President!

Posted by: Anonymous | September 3, 2007 4:23 PM
Report Offensive Comment

VICTORIA

OH JESUS MARIA WHAT A STUPID VICTORIAN WOMAN YOU ARE , WHAT A CRAP YOU WRITE ABOVE. IF THERE IS A JESUS/GOD I HOPE SHE HAS A GOOD TALK WITH YOU AND EXPLAINS TO YOU THAT YOU AND RELIGION POISONS EVERYTHING!! MORE PROOF THAT RELIGION IS THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE ANSWER!!
NOW GO AND VISIT YOUR LOCAL MCDONALDS!

Posted by: WILLEM | September 3, 2007 3:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment

after a moments thought i realized what it was that bothered me about ms burke's article.

her initial reaction was to lock up and avert her eyes in fear

so clearly she realized he was going to approach her with a need

" I was tempted to reward his honesty, but unwilling to enable a habit that contributed to his poverty. I hesitated and he moved on, leaving me to examine the range of emotions I had experienced in less than a minute."

ms burke's judgements are all over the place

first, she deemed he may deserve to be rewarded for his honesty- (but not enough for her to actually do it)

then she deemed he was undeserving because she doesnt want to enabe his 'habit', but doesnt mind contributing to his further poverty by ignoring him.

6 reasons you could have tossed him 2 bits ma'am

1) he WAS honest
2)he had a need
3) im guessing his need wouldnt set you back much
4)he at least amused you and gave you a laugh
(got cable)?
5)you've used his story to push your book here
6) giving him a quarter might've contributed to his commission of some damage to himself
not giving him a quarter may encourage him to commission of some damage against another- maybe he'll steal something if he gets desparate
and then he'll STILL make a commission of some damage to himself

ive seen this guy in times square-
(likely there are others)

heres a hint-
next time you know youll pass him by, drive thru a burger place-
toss it out the window at him

then you can feel good about it for a week and include it in your next article

Posted by: VICTORIA | September 3, 2007 1:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment

ms burke- if you have no firsthand knowledge of the poverty stricken in america, why are you writing a book?

exactly where in the bible or talmud does it speak specifically to what we do for the poor?

they both deal in only the vaguest of generalities.

whe you admit your own reactive 'instinct' to a beggar in the street is fear and a desire to lock yourself away and avoid and flee, what possible insight do you imagine you have to impart to anyone?

speak for yourself only- as a person of faith who has worked all over america with the homeless and poor- i have not had your feelings of fear, guilt and suspicion.

guilt? of course guilt, some small voice inside of you is telling you that your reactions are self centered and the small help you could give you withhold.

im sure you and your publisher will profit from your book-

but you should stick to writing about something you have firsthand knowledge of.

Posted by: VICTORIA | September 3, 2007 12:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment

I think that your article is a bit to simplistic. Let's say you have a son or daughter who has no design but to get a good high school eduation, graduate and go to work. The goal to is to get out from under the grip of you and your husband and build a life form him or herself. We can sit around an intellecualize "What Amerians want" but I think what people want are insentives to work. We need an economy that supports the notion that people can get up in the morning, go to work and earn a wage that will support themselves and their family. I do not understand how anyone could be worth 5-10-20 or more million dollars a year. High school superintendents make enormous amounts of money and our property taxes are rising every year. The distribution of wealth is so far out of wack and greed associated to it so compelling that it would take a miracle to for us to come to our senses even if it meant that by not doing so will lead to our ultimate demise.

Posted by: Anthony Tomeo | September 3, 2007 9:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment

I think that your article is a bit to simplistic. Let's say you have a son or daughter who has no design but to get a good high school eduation, graduate and go to work. The goal to is to get out from under the grip of you and your husband and build a life form him or herself. We can sit around an intellecualize "What Amerians want" but I think what people want are insentives to work. We need an economy that supports the notion that people can get up in the morning, go to work and earn a wage that will support themselves and their family. I do not understand how anyone could be worth 5-10-20 or more million dollars a year. High school superintendents make enormous amounts of money and our property taxes are rising every year. The distribution of wealth is so far out of wack and greed associated to it so compelling that it would take a miracle to for us to come to our senses even if it meant that by not doing so will lead to our ultimate demise.

Posted by: Anthony Tomeo | September 3, 2007 9:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment

The religious sure seem to want to insert religion into the goverment when it comes to stem cells, gay marriage, abortion, tax money for church based organizations etc... but when it comes to the poor - they are on their own, the government should stay away. This hipocracy is a nice example of how religion is a self serving, man-made institution which has no real desire to promote the greater good.

Posted by: rm-rf | September 3, 2007 9:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment

The truly "faithy" among us hate the idea that government can help people. The disciples of "faithiness" (white sepulchers all) don't like all of us banding together, as a government, to bring Matthew 25 closer to reality. That's why they fought so hard to kill off the War on Poverty and, before that, struggled against Social Security and FDR's New Deal. What don't they understand about "Whatsoever you do for the least of these my brothers and sisters, you do for me"? They want the wall between church and state broken down forever, a theocratic system set up whereby the tax dollars flow directly to fundamentalist Christian churches and their preachermen who will then get the credit for helping the halt, the lame and the poor among us. Would any among us want the Reverend Ted Haggard passing out the loaves and fishes while getting his fix and quickie gay sex behind a tree? Or the "family values" Senator Vitter or the pious Christian Senator "Footsie" Craig, he of men's room frolics, getting a little while they administer to the poor? Or the child-molesting Catholic bishops and priests in charge of our tax dollars? I think not.

Posted by: almaden | September 3, 2007 3:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment

if you knew the bible in wich no one on earth dose.you would know the the great church that self destructs is america.and there is a prophet here.jesus told isreal you will not see me again till you say blessed is he who comes in my name and i will put my spirit on him as the father put his spirit me..be learning gods laws... the preachers are just feeling the spirits of angel and past prophets...soloman was the 666..josiah is the same person that fought in midgedo vally.. i alone destroyed new orleans because of one preacher who did not listen jessie duplantis and i alone moved benny hinn to texas and told him to build the golden alter...i removed arafat and sharon...i sent bush to iraq..mesoeasy@yahoo.com....world trade destroys nations...the is why the towers came down. fed taxes are the mark of the beast.counties and states are yokes and are to be removed from any political and tax options...stop looking for bin laden he is dead to this is why the earthquakes in iraq.iran.pakistan happed just for him.. do you want to be the first to see jesus on the temple mount.....it will only cost the use of a airplane for 3 days and your crew you choose for a couple more days.....SHUA son of david..830-832-1462..obama is to be your next presidend he is the only politician i will speak to...hillery is part of the distruction of america i will not speak to her....or any one else

Posted by: christ incarnate | September 3, 2007 12:58 AM
Report Offensive Comment

With the government's help my wife and I adopted three siblings out of foster care (commonly called "waiting children). Our son, at age 12 prayed for a Dad, and I guess I'm it. So yes, we attend church but I don't take communion because I can't believe in a god that permited the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, the Rwanda genocide, or the hell that is Iraq today. Back to the church and poverty. We'll spend every day helping our new children avoid poverty with the help of government medical and financial adoption assistance. So the government does it help.

Posted by: CC. | September 3, 2007 12:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment

The US Government has spent BILLIONS on the so called war on poverty and there are more poor people now than there were when they started. And to add to the problem, there are more people now who think they deserve the help and demand that the gov't do something to help them. We have a vast sea of poor who expect the gov't to take care of them and their children whether they deserve it or not. And gov't agencies have a vesteed interest in keeping people on welfare because it gives them a continued source of funds from the treasury. So what happens is that nothing good comes out of all the $ spent and the moral fiber of the community decays. I was a young teenager when President Johnson started his misguided war on poverty which has done more to hurt poor people because it gives without expecting returns and it continues to enslave those that it gives to. Help must be available to those who are in real need. The mentally ill, the blind, the physically disabled and etc. But the Church is the only instrument that is fully capable of making the right decisions and helping those in need. I know Churches that do just that and if they had the funds that the gov't robs from the people back, they could do even more.

Posted by: Roger | September 3, 2007 12:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment

The US Government has spent BILLIONS on the so called war on poverty and there are more poor people now than there were when they started. And to add to the problem, there are more people now who think they deserve the help and demand that the gov't do something to help them. We have a vast sea of poor who expect the gov't to take care of them and their children whether they deserve it or not. And gov't agencies have a vesteed interest in keeping people on welfare because it gives them a continued source of funds from the treasury. So what happens is that nothing good comes out of all the $ spent and the moral fiber of the community decays. I was a young teenager when President Johnson started his misguided war on poverty which has done more to hurt poor people because it gives without expecting returns and it continues to enslave those that it gives to. Help must be available to those who are in real need. The mentally ill, the blind, the physically disabled and etc. But the Church is the only instrument that is fully capable of making the right decisions and helping those in need. I know Churches that do just that and if they had the funds that the gov't robs from the people back, they could do even more.

Posted by: Roger | September 3, 2007 12:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment

The US Government has spent BILLIONS on the so called war on poverty and there are more poor people now than there were when they started. And to add to the problem, there are more people now who think they deserve the help and demand that the gov't do something to help them. We have a vast sea of poor who expect the gov't to take care of them and their children whether they deserve it or not. And gov't agencies have a vesteed interest in keeping people on welfare because it gives them a continued source of funds from the treasury. So what happens is that nothing good comes out of all the $ spent and the moral fiber of the community decays. I was a young teenager when President Johnson started his misguided war on poverty which has done more to hurt poor people because it gives without expecting returns and it continues to enslave those that it gives to. Help must be available to those who are in real need. The mentally ill, the blind, the physically disabled and etc. But the Church is the only instrument that is fully capable of making the right decisions and helping those in need. I know Churches that do just that and if they had the funds that the gov't robs from the people back, they could do even more.

Posted by: Roger | September 2, 2007 11:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment

The US Government has spent BILLIONS on the so called war on poverty and there are more poor people now than there were when they started. And to add to the problem, there are more people now who think they deserve the help and demand that the gov't do something to help them. We have a vast sea of poor who expect the gov't to take care of them and their children whether they deserve it or not. And gov't agencies have a vesteed interest in keeping people on welfare because it gives them a continued source of funds from the treasury. So what happens is that nothing good comes out of all the $ spent and the moral fiber of the community decays. I was a young teenager when President Johnson started his misguided war on poverty which has done more to hurt poor people because it gives without expecting returns and it continues to enslave those that it gives to. Help must be available to those who are in real need. The mentally ill, the blind, the physically disabled and etc. But the Church is the only instrument that is fully capable of making the right decisions and helping those in need. I know Churches that do just that and if they had the funds that the gov't robs from the people back, they could do even more.

Posted by: Roger | September 2, 2007 11:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment

OH JESUS YES THE BUSH/CHENEY CROWD PREFER TO WASTE OUR MONEY AND MEN IN IRAQ. THEY ARE A BUNCH OF LOSERS . KILLING HERE AND OVER THERE!! MONEY FOR THE POOR?? NOWAY JOSE ONLY TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH AND CORPORATIONS. BUT FRIENDS THE TIMES THEY ARE CHANGING--------!

Posted by: WILLEM | September 2, 2007 11:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Paganplace, I have known more than a few churches that run weekly food banks to anyone who comes, with no requirement to hear a sermon. I also have known people (real people with names that I won't share here) who used food banks to fill the kitchen, and appreciated not having to listen to sermons, but then later chose to go to the sermon to hear what the food bank had to say. Not all Christians are hypocrites. Just the loud ones. The struggle people with and without faith have is the same: is the money you give to the beggar going to feed him or his habit? Will it enable a new life or enable a drug addiction?

I think government should do more to help those who need it. It's unbelievable that mothers can't get financial help, can't get child care so they can go to work, and our government does nothing. We need more than just weekly checks - health care, child care, transportation, etc.

Posted by: Campbellite | September 2, 2007 10:40 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Paganplace, I'd be willing to bet your eyes are brown. My guess is YOU are hit and miss regarding your helping the homeless and poor LOL! Or shall we call you Paganplace St.?

Posted by: HeyYOU | September 2, 2007 10:23 PM
Report Offensive Comment

And, personally, all these 'Christians' talking about how the government shouldn't help the homeless oughtta *be* homeless long enough they get to think on a malnourished brain without any hope of getting back to armchair-Jesus-land.

Gods.

Churches are only effective at making a *ritual show* of feeding some people with moralistic-admonishments like the author bleats about here.


It ain't near enough, and it certainly doesn't half make up for what the 'faith vote' took *away * cause they *said* 'The Government can't do as well...'


At 'faithiness,' maybe.


At feeding people. Sorry, no.


Posted by: Paganplace | September 2, 2007 9:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Uhh.... What?

"And that’s why faith communities represent a far better solution to America’s poverty problems than the government ever will."


No, that's why faith communities *don't* represent the better solution:

They're mustered to vote for people who cut government social programs, get a little bit of a kickback, and *tell* the sheep that they're 'serving the poor better, of course, cause they're Christians...'

Even if they actually ain't.

How backwards can an article that statrted off so sensible *get?*

Posted by: Paganplace | September 2, 2007 8:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Dale Hanson Bourke, hogwash. Your article is hogwash. When the United States gov't was GIVING the poor of America what they need to survive the United States of America THRIVED. You cannot outgive God. Now when your hero's the Republicans took over in 94 and with the worst thing to ever happen to the Democratic Party Bill Clinton helped them gut help to the poor the United States started its plunge to the absurd. Evidence? G.W. Bush and I fear that absurdity is not the end of our descent. Dale Hanson Bourke and the other haters of God are astounding! The inside of your skull is a graffiti wall writing down what you say in private.

Posted by: HeyYOU | September 2, 2007 8:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Willem, YOU brought it up no one else. THATS whats so tiring about homosexuals. They blame everyone else for what THEY bring up.

Posted by: HeyYOU | September 2, 2007 8:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment

DARLING OFCOURSE THEY DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE POOR IN OUR COUTRY!! ALL THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS GAYS AND LESBIANS AND ABORTION!
THIS SHOWS US ONCE AGAIN THAT RELIGION POISONS EVERYTHING, THIS RELIGION SCAM IS THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE ANSWER!
WILLEMKRAAL@MAC.COM

Posted by: WILLEM | September 2, 2007 7:46 PM
Report Offensive Comment

"And that’s why faith communities represent a far better solution to America’s poverty problems than the government ever will."

REQUEST: Can you please show me with REAL statistics how Churches have helped the poor more than governments??? There is plenty of history for you to look at, both in this country and outside. (Have the poor really done so well under the Churches in South America, for example?)

From the statistics I have seen before, a very small percentage of most churches' budget goes towards helping the poor and needy. Of course you imply services are all that is needed. The poor don't really need money.

Now: If you can show me with facts and figures how your position can work, I will applaud you instead of criticize you.

Until then, I remain supremely unimpressed.
Afterall, Anyone can make up stuff on "what they believe".

Posted by: ThinkAboutIt | September 2, 2007 7:34 PM
Report Offensive Comment

Ms Bourke,

I have not read you book, but would like to ask a question or two. Did you actually talk to these people here in America? Visit a soup kitchen, or the shelters where they sleep? Surely you must have, or your book would be meaningless.

My own church (Atlanta, GA) does have ministries to help drug addiction and refugees.

Let me relate to you my experience with the homeless. I worked in downtown Atlanta for a while, and while waiting for the bus there, was approached by many of the homeless. Of course the central thing was asking for money. But they fell into three general categories. First, the con artists. Anyone with a very confident attitude and a story line is a con. The second group consists of those who are unemployed and looking for help. They ask for money usually for transportation. The third group is the hard core homeless - the ones with tired bodies, ruined faces, and pleading eyes. These are the ones that get to you. On one occasion, I was approached by one who said he was hungry, could I help. I gave him money. He then asked if I was a Christian. When I said yes, he asked me to pray for him. I said I would do that; he then said, "Now. Here. Please." I took his hands in mine, and prayed for him, out loud, not caring who heard because I knew that God did. And this was right across the street from my church. It was a moving experience, and changed me forever.

Posted by: Arminuis | September 2, 2007 6:28 PM
Report Offensive Comment

"And that’s why faith communities represent a far better solution to America’s poverty problems than the government ever will."

REQUEST: Can you please show me with REAL statistics how Churches have helped the poor more than governments??? There is plenty of history for you to look at, both in this country and outside. (Have the poor really done so well under the Churches in South America, for example?)

From the statistics I have seen before, a very small percentage of most churches' budget goes towards helping the poor and needy. Of course you imply services are all that is needed. The poor don't really need money.

Now: If you can show me with facts and figures how your position can work, I will applaud you instead of criticize you.

Until then, I remain supremely unimpressed.
Afterall, Anyone can make up stuff on "what they believe".

Posted by: ThinkAboutIt | September 2, 2007 5:43 PM
Report Offensive Comment

The comments to this entry are closed.

 
RSS Feed
Subscribe to The Post

© 2009 The Washington Post Company