extreme Catholic 

I try to follow what goes on in experimental economics although I am not an economist. So I had some ideas which are related to voluntary alms vs. taxes which become transfers from one income group to another (a sort of involuntary alms).

If there were million dollars it was promised to be paid it out as follows: You can only participate once. You can choose (1) to take $10 for yourself or (2) take $5 for yourself and $10 will be donated to relief in Haiti. To modify it a little bit, imagine that this was done in a situation where you would be observed by people in your community, or that your name would be associated with your choice on the Internet.

Another. Let's say that there's a video feed established between the U.S. Would you contribute more if there was a earthquake victim with a bottle of water and food rations thanking you by name? What part does personal visible gratitude have in alms-giving?

Labels: charity, economy, haiti

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:47 AM   Permalink  

Where did the idea of "positive rights" enforceable by law become popular with the Catholic Church?

It takes some capital and labor to provide health care, education, clothing, food, shelter. These are essential for all, and the purpose of alms is to make a provision for people unable to purchase from their own wealth to obtain them.

I can understand committed socialists like Obama to advocate nationalization of health care as consistent with federal control of the economic life and liberty on the installment plan -- but why has the Church been so enthusiastic to embrace a federal bureaucracy -- one committed to promoting abortion, euthanasia, cloning, and rationing of health care.

I know ACORN is funded by the Campaign for Human Development which in turn is funded by donations collected at Mass from Church-going Catholics, but that's not even a significant part of the Church. Yet it seems all of the agencies of the Church with involvement in health care and the alleviation of poverty are on board with Obamacare and "positive rights".

Labels: charity, church, church-state

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 8:26 PM   Permalink  

Like many people who stopped donating to FFP after their scandal in 2000. They never stopped asking for money. Persistent. Now there's another scandal:

Radio Jamaica: The Fraud Squad has made a breakthrough in a case involving major fraud at Food for the Poor.

Two persons have been arrested and charged with defrauding Food for the Poor of more than $700,000.

However, the police say nearly five million dollars has been stolen from the agency which assists Jamaicans in need. (24 April 2009)

Labels: charity, fraud

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 5:30 PM   Permalink