Attitudes Necessary in Helping the Needy

There is no rest from a ringing telephone, reports the columnist in the Catholic Times, in his Catholic Social Welfare Center. They are receiving applications from those interested in becoming registered care workers. Besides the applications there are calls asking about expenses, requests to shorten the time of the programs, the possibility of  accreditation without the need of attendance.

When the answer is they not only educate care workers but have a responsibility to consider those for  whom they will be working, many  opt for another program. The center is interested in making the the programs  financially self supporting, but it is much more than finances. They have to be true to their mission. Why are they in the business of training care workers in the first place?

The principle of Catholic activity in social work is God's  creation which  was made good and God's  love for creation. Especially humans in which he made after his likeness, precious. Human dignity: for a Christians based on  Christ  "he worked with human hands, thought with a human mind, acted with a human will, and with a human heart he loved."

From the Second Vatican Council we have a number of principles that the columnist  elucidates as the reason for the Church's interest in  works for human dignity:

1) Respect for the liberty and dignity of those helped. (On the Laity #8)

2) All humans are fundamentally equal, their rights should not be engendered because of difference in gender, race, color, social standing, language,or religion.Modern World #29

3) Welfare works should not be for the benefit of the Church or individual Christians, efforts needed  to avoid the temptation to control  those helped. (On the Laity #8)

4) God intended the earth and all that it contains for the use of all humanity. Thus, as all men follow justice and unite in charity, created goods should abound for them on a reasonable basis. (Modern World #69) The demands of justice should be satisfied, lest the giving  of what is due in justice be represented as the offering of a charitable gift. (On the Laity #8)

5) Not only the effects but also the causes of various ills must be removed. (On the Laity #8)

6) Help should be given in such a way that the recipients may gradually be freed  from dependence  on others and become self-sufficient.( On the Laity #8)

7) There is a need  to seek out those in need of help and find them, console them with eager care and relieve them with the gift of help. (On the Laity #8)

8) There is a need to cooperate will all those who share these  values that Catholics hold. (On the Laity #27)

9) There should be a unity in these  works of welfare and the hierarchy of the Church. (On the Laity #23-25)

In the work  for the needy  it is necessary that those being served experience the love of God in service and  care, and nothing should compromise this help.The education that is given has to show this love and respect for  those in need and should continually grow. For a Christian it should be sufficient to say that we are ministering to Jesus.