Our local parish does food baskets for needy families in addition to supporting the St.VdP Society. Both are in serious need of food, and the local homeless shelter is running low on food and clothing. While there are many who scam, I think it important to remember that there are people who are truly needy and who live on the margins of society for whatever reason. Christ let us know that we were feeding Him when we fed the hungry. He didn't cite any difference between those who are truly needy and those who mooch. I trust His judgment in those matters because in essence the mooches are stealing from the truly needy. I'd hate to be on of those mooches on Judgment Day.
I agree that there are truly needy people who deserve assistance. However, it is the policy of the SVdP to investigate whether or not the people who come to them for help really are in need, otherwise it would quickly run out of money and would not be able to help anyone.
There was an opinion piece today in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which was written by a guy who runs a food bank in Connecticut. He was complaining that just giving food away indiscriminately has created a cycle of dependency, which is correct. However, his solution is for the government to take over the work that is done by private charities and to provide free food, housing, health care, ad nauseum for the poor. He apparently does not think that this would create an even worse cycle of dependency, as Johnson’s Great Society program did. But perhaps he wants people to be dependent on government.
“He didn’t cite any difference between those who are truly needy and those who mooch. I trust His judgment in those matters because in essence the mooches are stealing from the truly needy. I’d hate to be on of those mooches on Judgment Day.”
Well said! :)