And so do we so what is your point. If they can still tell people to be charitable why can't we when they are the biggest non government land owner in the world. You seem to be implying we cannot be critical of the churches charitable work but you and the church can of individuals.
I wonder how much of that 277000 square miles of land is available to the public. You can freely, (usually but I have been to churches that charge entry for entry), visit most churches and even the Vatican. I do not know for certain but I am guessing a fair percentage of that 277000 sq miles is not open to the public. If it is not how is it any different than private land?
, The Catholic Church is the largest charity in the world and runs hospitals, schools, orphanages, universities, missions, and other organizations all over the world. If they had to pay rent, wouldn't it be taking away from all of their charity work? Why would you or anyone want to deny anyone the RCC's beneficence? I don't understand that kind of mentality.
I doubt it! Most of the land in this country other than churches, probably belongs to the large Catholic universities like Georgetown, Notre Dame, Boston College, Villanova, College of the Holy Cross, Loyola, etc., etc. In Europe the RCC owns thousands of churches and monasteries that have been handed down for centuries, and in places like Africa most of the land is probably for monasteries and the different charities they run like hospitals, schools, orphanages etc.
I think the question should not be how can the Vatican justify its wealth, but rather how can the US justify its wealth, when most of our wealth goes into the military and is harmful to mankind, while most of the Vatican's wealth goes to benefit mankind.
Wow. This is the most twisted thing I have read all month. A prime display of religion spreading evil.
Because of the price of brainwashing it comes with. Did you know that Isis gives to the poor and provides support for them? Would you seek to deny anyone their beneficence? And do you know why the Catholic church is not as violent as Isis? Because it no longer has to be.
I’d feel “ un-Christ like” if I thought a beggar needs a palace to appreciate the “ word of god”. It would also feel hypocritical if I worked for a tax exempt organization that needed valuable art as an incentive for charitable work. To think my donations are going to the insurance and maintenance of valuable art that would be better served, sold and used to purchase food and medicine. That’s a choice all families have to make. Why not the Catholic Church ?
So they could transport their human cargo to death camps… It’s not a “good deed” selecting a few out of the death camps to play in an orchestra for ones pleasure. Am struggling with that concept.
That was Mussolini. Thank you for bringing up Hitler ..... And comparing the RCC with Hitler .... You have just won a Godwin's Law Prize ....
Now that the RCC has been put on the same level with Hitler, it is time for me to leave this thread. I hope I will remember to stay away.
It’s a worthwhile topic. It’s one of the times where any power not in the Nazi party but in the Catholic Church is much better for everyone. Hitler and many in the Nazi party and others were raised Catholic. He lived a charmed existence surviving all the assassination attempts, one by a Catholic theology student. Imo, it’s party to his downfall.
Because maybe both art and food, getting healed have their place in life ? Obviously, withing measure (for art spending). I'm not catholic anyway, but I'm quite sick that building for the poors are all just square grey building.
It’s difficult to rationalize inefficiency. The heating costs of traditional Catholic Churches and meeting places are astronomical. When half the December collection is for heat in the north and cooling in the south, charitable works takes a hit.