You wrote:
“Like I predicted...excuses, rationalization, justification.”
No, just truth - which apparently you can’t actually deal with.
“Neither Jesus nor Peter nor ANY of the Apostles give the slightest hint that being in the soul winning business comes with the lifestyle fit for a king or billionaire.”
Your view is entirely skewed and it is affecting how you discuss this. Let’s be honest, you’re going to hate the Catholic Church no matter what it does. Jesus nor Peter ever talked about hospitals, schools, orphanages, clinics, job training centers, soup kitchens, universities, or food pantries yet the Catholic Church has all of those things and has to fund them as well. They’re all part of the “wealth” of the Church as well. I guess you think we should get rid of those things too? I know a bishop who donated a house to an old poor man who was also an alcoholic so that he would have somewhere to live and not end up on the street. The bishop would not have been able to do that if someone had not donated that house to the Church in the first place. Is Benny Hinn going to do that anytime soon?
“But, hey, he’s your guy, your organization. If you are happy to see your hard-earned money going to pay for such lavishness rather than to the poor, like Jesus told the rich man, keep on contributing.”
And there’s the skewed view. Either-Or. We give money so that we have beautiful things with which to serve God. We also use those beautiful things to serve the poor in order to serve God. Jesus said we would always have the poor. I do not want the Church to get rid of all the things donated to it so that it has nothing left and still will have to feed the poor somehow the next day. We can better serve the poor with our property than without it. A priest I know opens up his parish all every day for local seniors in a poor neighborhood so they have somewhere to go and so doctors and nurses can check on them once a week (for free!). With no parish hall he wouldn’t able to do that. It would be impossible. That parish is the heart of the whole neighborhood - even for non-Catholics.
“Sure the church has many ministries to the poor all over the world, sure they run orphanages and hospitals and any number of good works. Sure no matter how much money is spent on the poor they will always be with us. But couldn’t more be done?”
Yes, you, for instance, could stop wasting time attacking the Church and actually be doing something in your own life to raise money or donate time for the poor. But no. Today we will feed tens of millions. I don’t know what you do. But apparently you’ll be wasting time online complaining about people who have probably done more than you ever will.
“Isn’t there always more that can be done... mouths to feed, feet to shod, bodies to clothe and medically treat, homes to be built, shelter to be procured, children to rescue, widows to care for, etc.? Can’t we ALL do more to win souls to Christ through our means?”
Yes, all of us. That means you too. So what are you doing today?
“I’ve seen Catholics on this forum criticize television “evangelists” for their lavish lifestyles and constant begging for money with promises of God making them wealthy, too. They make me just as sick!”
We complain about them for the following reasons:
1) Many of them seem to be frauds.
2) They do have lavish lifestyles which are about them.
3) If a bishop lives in a nice house he’s only there for his tenure and doesn’t even own the house. He uses it and moves on or dies. He gets little benefit from it other than a place sleep or eat. Do you think Benny Hinn is living that way?
4) All the televangelists are spreading heresy.
So, in addition to rationalizing, excusing and justifying, add defensiveness and personal attacks against any and all who DARE to name the slightest things wrong with the Catholic Church. They train y'all well.
Here are a few words of wisdom:
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (I Peter 5:2,3)
For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. (Titus 1:7,8)
Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. (I Timothy 3:2,3)
Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, They must have clear consciences about possessing the mystery of the Christian faith. (I Timothy 3:8,9)