How exactly does the Vatican justify it's wealth?

[stan1980]

Clearly, you just need to look at images to see the accumulation of wealth the vatican holds in churches, museums, art and treasure.

What would God think of this accumulation when he see's this:

 

[TuxThePenguin]

"The Lord works in mysterious ways" ?

 

[LittleNipper]

I'm not Roman Catholic, but I do not see the palaces of governmental institutions as being any different. And they were built not with free will offerings, BUT WITH TAX MONEY.

 

[Soul Searcher]

I'm not Roman Catholic, but I do not see the palaces of governmental institutions as being any different. And they were built not with free will offerings, BUT WITH TAX MONEY.

1: The government is not the church.
2: The church or many of them anyway demand 10% of the gross be given to the church then they ask you to give more.

The government will give you a break if you are low income, in some cases even give you money when you need it. The church wants 10% of that too. I've even saw them ask for the cash value of 10% of a families foodstamps even though the family could barely get by as it was. Then come the hell fire threats for robbing God.

I would never give one red cent to any church which has such displays as those pictured in this thread.

Small churches are a different story. The one I attended as a boy is still here and they never require anyone to give anything. The only improvements that has been made to the church in the last 40 years are cushions on the pews, ceiling fans [no AC] and a wheelchair ramp.

The money that does come into the church is used to help people in the local area who need it as it should be.

 

[LittleNipper]

1: The government is not the church.
2: The church or many of them anyway demand 10% of the gross be given to the church then they ask you to give more.

The government will give you a break if you are low income, in some cases even give you money when you need it. The church wants 10% of that too. I've even saw them ask for the cash value of 10% of a families foodstamps even though the family could barely get by as it was. Then come the hell fire threats for robbing God.

I would never give one red cent to any church which has such displays as those pictured in this thread.

Small churches are a different story. The one I attended as a boy is still here and they never require anyone to give anything. The only improvements that has been made to the church in the last 40 years are cushions on the pews, ceiling fans [no AC] and a wheelchair ramp.

The money that does come into the church is used to help people in the local area who need it as it should be.

The government of the United States is supposed to be government of the people, by the people, and for the people. They presently take far more than 25% from most working individuals to pay for their public service. The church does ask for a 10%, but does not throw you into jail if you do not pay. I would not give to a church that had such displays either, and I do not.

 

[TimmyPage]

1: The government is not the church.

This is the Vatican we are talking about here. There, the church IS the government.

 

[Futuwwa]

Do you think God would be pleased to see the Vatican put on sale on e-bay to raise funds for missionary work?

 

[FaithLikeARock]

Why just the Vatican?

In America, if you don't have a computer, you're practically below the poverty level. In the third world, many people don't even know what a computer is. We have real poverty in the United States as well, and yet people want to take away the little welfare we have that's helping some of these families because it means "stealing" from those who have plenty.

 

[CCGirl]

I have been to the Vatican and the obscene wealth made me ill.

 

[Avatar]

I have been to the Vatican and the obscene wealth made me ill.

The Vatican is a MUSEUM!

Does the Louvre make you ill? Or the Smithsonian?

 

[TeddyKGB]

Why just the Vatican?

In America, if you don't have a computer, you're practically below the poverty level. In the third world, many people don't even know what a computer is. We have real poverty in the United States as well, and yet people want to take away the little welfare we have that's helping some of these families because it means "stealing" from those who have plenty.

Americans are indoctrinated into capitalism at a young age. We are told that the world works best when we're out mostly for ourselves. That doesn't make wealth-hoarding right, but it's certainly a reasonable explanation. One that the Vatican can't appeal to.

 

[ArchaicTruth]

I would certainly feel a lot better about that catholic symbol under my name if the Vatican would just give all the unnecessary riches away to the poor

 

[Avatar]

I would certainly feel a lot better about that catholic symbol under my name if the Vatican would just give all the unnecessary riches away to the poor

Those riches are history - art and architecture. They are preserved for the benefit of everyone.

 

[TeddyKGB]

Those riches are history - art and architecture. They are preserved for the benefit of everyone.

Except for the stuff that's secreted away because it's too sacred or potentially damaging or whatever.

 

[NoDoubt]

Except for the stuff that's secreted away because it's too sacred or potentially damaging or whatever.

Like Peter's so-called bones.

He never set foot in Rome.

 

[Avatar]

Except for the stuff that's secreted away because it's too sacred or potentially damaging or whatever.

Whatever sums it up well.

 

[ArchaicTruth]

Those riches are history - art and architecture. They are preserved for the benefit of everyone.

*sarcasm* oh yes, I forgot that the entire of the Vatican's wealth is compromised of art and history, my bad *sarcasm*

 

[Avatar]

*sarcasm* oh yes, I forgot that the entire of the Vatican's wealth is compromised of art and history, my bad *sarcasm*

The rest of it is what, then? Do they own IBM?

Seriously now, you did the whole sarcasm thing, so where is the wealth?

 

[stan1980]

Why just the Vatican?

In America, if you don't have a computer, you're practically below the poverty level. In the third world, many people don't even know what a computer is. We have real poverty in the United States as well, and yet people want to take away the little welfare we have that's helping some of these families because it means "stealing" from those who have plenty.

It's true, i didn't have to just pick on the vatican or the roman catholic church. However, their network of buildings and materialistic goods throughout the world stretches beyond any other organisation i can think of. They are also supposed to be the pillar of what is good, so i'd like to see them put their money where their mouth is.

As for poverty in america... it isn't the same sort of poverty i'm talking about. Compare someone living on the streets in America, to the millions starving to death in africa, and you will see there is no comparison.

Do you think God would be pleased to see the Vatican put on sale on e-bay to raise funds for missionary work?

I don't think God cares for materialistic goods so yes. If the roman catholic church sold every single extravagent building/artwork/treasure/church etc and decided to move into more modest buildings, i couldn't even estimate the amount of billions they would raise.

Which would God rather see:

or happy children:

 

[stan1980]

The rest of it is what, then? Do they own IBM?

Seriously now, you did the whole sarcasm thing, so where is the wealth?

When i say the vatican, i extend that to mean the whole of the roman catholic church. To say their assets as a group are anything less than huge is an understatement, and saying anything else is just silly.