By Lavoisier Fernandes –
In today’s secular society, philanthropy is the new “vogue” word, which has in a way replaced charity. Philanthropy makes sensationalised headlines and good token PR exercises when corporate houses, the wealthy, powerful and affluent politicians brazenly promise to donate their wealth to solve today’s crises, react to a hashtag (#) crisis or causes on social media with fancy social cause events, thus acting as the Robin Hoods of our day.
Philanthropy sounds nice and trendy. The superrich, corporate houses or the wealthy politicians often claim their philanthropy is meant to “change the world” and with enough money and the right approach this can be solved at a great scale. Connected to the wealth and concerns of the super-wealthy, it reinforces their position as benefactors of an unfair economic structure. It evokes the picture of a giving individual who funds public welfare initiatives. And sometimes that holds true and with the best of intentions, it can encourage humanitarian effort that genuinely transforms lives.
The trend of philanthropy has seeped into Christian circles on a micro-level as well, flooded with spectacular advertised fundraiser events but subtly disregarding the old Christian virtue-assisted with the fuel of great social media optics and the temporary dopamine rush created by the social media rewards of “likes” on Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others.
Philanthropy vs. Charity
Author of What is Philanthropy For? Rodri Davies draws a distinction between philanthropy and charity in a podcast for Bristol University. He suggests that this distinction has historical significance and has been used by individuals from different intellectual backgrounds to draw lines between different points of view and approaches to problem-solving. He continues, nevertheless, pointing out that there is one important contrast between the two: charity is on the sentimental, subjective, heart-cantered side and emphasizes the individual and the motivations behind their repeated desire to assist others. Philanthropy is based on the notion that it is more rational and strategic. The topic of whether philanthropy should be driven more by the heart than the mind still causes a lot of controversy in the philanthropic community.
In Christian theology, charity or almsgiving (Latin: Caritas, the altruistic love) is considered one of the seven virtues and was understood by Thomas Aquinas as “the friendship of man for God”, which “unites us to God”. The Catholic Church considers almsgiving “a witness to fraternal charity” and “a work of justice pleasing to God” (CCC No. 2462).
Christian Charity Is More Than Just Giving Money or One’s Surplus.
A few years ago, I visited a Mother Teresa home with my donation and felt like I was completing a great kind deed. The missionaries of charity nun for the home challenged my reasoning in response, suggesting that although they get a lot of funding from donations to clothes, what they really need are time-devoted volunteers to waste their time serving the needy and the destitute.
Many automatically assume that charity entails only donating money, and that if one provides money, they have fulfilled their Christian obligation of Christian tithing and charity. But Christian charity is more than giving of one’s abundance, whatever that could be.
One Holy scripture that makes this deeper and non-superficial connection and distinction- is the parable of the poor widow’s offering of her only two copper coins (Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4). The poor widow’s generosity in this parable is more than a lesson on charity; but it is her willingness to give everything that moves our hearts.
Charity can take many different forms and is not always financial or monetary. But ultimately charity or almsgiving should always be founded on the guiding motive of love and for that as St. Mother Teresa said -“Love to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self ” with the fruits being joy, peace, and mercy.
The Catholic Church has a long and rich tradition of charity and philanthropy, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the example of the early Christian community. Several key principles emerge from the provided Catholic documents:
- Charity as a Christian duty and not an optional good deed: The Church sees the command to love one’s neighbour as a fundamental part of the Christian faith, inscribed by the Creator in human nature. Charity is not just an optional good deed, but a core responsibility for all Christians.
- Charity as Responding to Immediate Needs: Christian charity involves directly addressing the concrete, material needs of the poor and suffering – feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, etc. This “simple response to immediate needs” is an essential part of the Church’s charitable work.
- Charity is not just a feeling or emotion: Charity is spiritually much deeper and is not just a feeling or emotion, but an active love that seeks the good of others. This charitable activity is an essential part of the Church’s mission, flowing from the love of Christ and the desire to serve others.
- Charity must be guided by truth: “Charity in truth” is the principle that should animate all the Church’s social teaching and action. Furthermore, the Church sees charity as the foundation for building a just and fraternal society. Charity in the social, economic, and political realms is essential for promoting the common good and addressing the grave problems facing humanity.
Simple Philanthropy is Not Enough; Christian Charity Is a Higher Form of Giving
Through his writings and reflections, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has consistently challenged the World and each of us Catholics, suggesting that the Catholic Church’s charitable mission must be to share the Gospel message of unity, justice and peace or risk becoming “merely a semblance of goodness.” The work of Caritas is “not just a matter of initiating projects and strategies that prove successful and effective, but also of engaging in an ongoing process of missionary conversion,” he said.
More recently, Pope Francis in an address to the recently concluded G7 and G20 summit in Italy, involving the heads of the World’s advanced economies, reflected on three subjects: the environment, the poor, and young people. The Pope urged his guests to place the environment “at the centre” of their attention, warned against “a certain ‘meritocracy'”, which, he said, is “used to legitimize the exclusion of the poor, who are judged as undeserving ” and to pay attention to the struggles of young people, who are often “poor in resources, opportunities, and a future.” He attacked the idea that “a little philanthropy” could be considered sufficient. “The challenge is to include the poor in businesses,” the Pope said, “to make them resources for the benefit of all … I dream of a world in which the discarded can become protagonists of change.”
In light of this, Pope Francis in one of his Sunday Angelus address and reflecting on the day’s Gospel reading (Matthew 16:13-20), in which Peter professes his faith in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God said that “Christian charity is not simple philanthropy but, on the one hand, it is looking at others through the eyes of Jesus Himself and, on the other hand, seeing Jesus in the face of the poor.”
Lavoisier Fernandes, born and raised in Goa, is currently based in West London. His faith is “work in progress”- and a lifelong journey. He has always been fascinated by the Catholic faith thanks to his Salesian schooling and his passion is podcasting, theology, the papacy, volunteering.
He has hosted the ‘Talking Faith’ series for Heavens Road FM Catholic Radio, connecting with ordinary men and women within the Catholic faith, other faiths and examining issues affecting both Church and society and has also hosted the ‘Heart Talk’ series for Shalom World Catholic TV. In 2018 one of his podcast -Mental Health and the role of the Catholic Church was shortlisted for the Jerusalem awards in UK. Presently contributes for the Goa Diocesan magazine – Renovação, Mumbai Diocesan magazine – The Examiner, the only digital Indian Catholic portal – Indian Catholic Matters and the Faith Companion Magazine in England.