We sell every last church piece'o'real estate, large and small, every fresco, statue, monstrance, candlestick, gold-brocade vestment, organ, pyx, chalice, platen, altar cloth, reliquary (relic included), gem-encrusted miter, crozier, buckled velvet slipper, bishop's ring, pectoral ... sell it all. Give it to the poor.
Sotheby's to handle.
Buy every poor man, woman, and child a really nice ham sandwich.
Then what? Hate to break this to you, but churches operate like businesses. To help the poor, which is a primary mission, they have to (a) exist, and (b) have operating capital, facilities, and budgets, just like any other welfare agency.
Next time, you're in a richly artistic church, drop a few into the poor box, or better yet, write a check to the pastor, or an organization he might recommend.
Same principle: Confiscate every last cent of every last millionaire and billionaire in the US. You wind up with enough cash to operate the Federal Government for 25 minutes.
Well said!