(March 1, 2018 at 8:16 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:(February 28, 2018 at 1:45 pm)wallym Wrote: No doubt, you can still do a lot of good. And I think the church has to sell something that people would accept.
I'm just thinking intuitively.
You come across a school bus that's on fire with 50 kids inside. You could save them all, but you're on your way to the movies.
Is it okay to only save 30 and then head out so you can make the movie?
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In the end, why would you want to go to a nice dinner, when you know the money could be saving lives instead? Shouldn't you be wracked with guilt?
Of course you should stop and save the kids that are dying in the school bus.
I feel that's a different scenario than literally never eating at a restaurant in order to give the extra cash to the poor. Perhaps if it was a more immediate situation, like you walked by someone who is dying of starvation and you give them the money you were going to use to eat out.
What you've described would be extremely noble as I've repeatedly said, but I can see how that type of super strict thinking might become some sort of unhealthy OCD of scrupulosity. Because theoretically you could always forego doing something so that you can give the money to someone else, and there are always going to be people in the world who need it more than us. I think the guidelines on the bishops site are good and generous. I could definitely do a better job of it.
I think our society has so much wealth coupled with the excess to spend it on, that we're all trying to fit the camel through the eye of the needle. I don't think there's a god, so it doesn't matter. But I think 'the bishop said 10%' would be a hard sell when face to face with God on judgement day. "Sure I could have done more, but asking me not to ever eat at restaurants? I mean c'mon!" Yikes. I think you're wrong about God being real, but if you happen to be right, send an email down to hell to let me know how that goes for you.
I do understand what you're saying. But that 3rd person perspective on what the world looks like with wealth distribution and need...it doesn't paint us in a flattering light, I guess is all I'm getting at. And it seems like that's the view a God would have.
