Blog #13

Catholic Social Teaching Handout

Poverty stricken areas are found in every country around the world. Some countries have small areas which can be found sparsely scattered about, while other countries are mainly made up of areas of poverty. Catholic social teachings are that all people have a moral obligation to do whatever they can to help alleviate the suffering of all humans world-wide.  The Church states that the Church itself, each nation and international agencies that come together on behalf of this cause must work together to find ways to help development in all countries that are so poor and underdeveloped. Trying to help with such underdeveloped areas could start with international agencies comprised of people from all countries that address excess tools from countries being taken to these impoverished areas. Whether these tools are needed for education, farming or whatever each of these countries need, along with directions and teachings on the proper way to utilize what is given to them so they can succeed with these tools properly.  An ongoing question within the Church has been what caused all of this poverty in the first place. Some are interested in “placing blame” on where all of these problems started.   What is more important is the history we have learned of what happened hundreds of years ago with colonization and even before that time,  and how dominating powers had such control over other areas, was good for few and bad for many. The “blame game” should only be played to make sure history stops repeating itself when it involves these matters. Yes, in badly impoverished countries there desperately needs to be dramatic changes, yet even here in the United States, in each state, in each city, county and town there are areas where people are starving and homeless.  In our country as well as many countries around the world, the percentage of people that are affected by poverty is low compared to third world countries, yet it still does exist. But many times comparisons seem weak because of everything our countries have available to us compared to these third world countries. There need to be more international agencies that are comprised of people from around the world working together within the same agency to help all countries to combat poverty and find ways to use all the excess nonperishable items, tools, school books, and every item that someone may be throwing away into landfills, to help with the problems facing others.