He is/was a clergyman (Don’t know if Mnsgr Pope is dead). They have a different view. They look at all the hungry people and look at your car and think “How many mouths could you have fed with the money for that car? How many orphans could you have clothed?”
It is a different outlook. St John Chrysanthemum was quite famous for going to the Empress and blasting her for spending money on frills while the people starved. Made her so mad she exiled him. He was also famous for eating so poorly it made him quite ill. Guests to his place were shocked at the poor accommodations he gave them. Such people are a very good mirror on our own spending.
There needs to be a balance. At some point, enough IS enough. I struggle with that myself. If we were honest, we all do. The race for more will kill your spiritual life.
The flip side is often people in the “non profit” industry (and that includes churches) are VERY greedy. They use the funds they raised for massive buildings, housing, salaries, and all sorts of things. Very few pennies on the dollar actually make to those in need.
I have friends who worked for a time with a major charity. One raised money for it as his primary job. He had a very nice house (better than I can afford as an engineer), nice company car, and prided himself that five cents of every dollar went to the mission of the charity. Five cents.
Now I am VERY selective on who we give to. So much so I donate more directly (help out a family locally that needs it, pay for a repair that is needed, etc). That often makes some of those sweet people calling me greedy go insane. THEY want the power and money, and are very greedy when I use that money directly rather than giving them their cut. They accuse me of stealing THEIR money and lifeblood. In truth, they are leeches of the worst variety.
I couldn't agree more...being in a race for more WILL kill you spiritually. What is that old saying, money isn't evil, it is the LOVE of money that is evil.
That said, I am in full on mode for Capitalism with a capital "C". Capitalism has done more than any charity, church, or government in the history of the world to raise the standard of living and reduce poverty. I don't think Capitalism and Social Good are mutually exclusive.
Monsignor Pope is very much alive. One of our FReepers goes to Mass at his Church.