Catholic Christianity & Poverty (AQA GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note

Catholic teachings on poverty

What are Christian teachings on poverty?

• Christianity teaches that poverty is not just about a lack of money but about people being deprived of:

  • Basic human dignity

  • Opportunities

  • Access to essential needs

• Christians believe they have a responsibility to help the poor, fight inequality and work towards a fairer society, both in the UK and around the world

• In the UK, churches and Christian charities are actively involved in helping the homeless

  • For example, Churches Together organises local initiatives such as soup kitchens and shelter programmes to provide care for the homeless

  • The Salvation Army, a Christian charity, offers support through housing programmes, food banks and practical assistance for people facing poverty and homelessness

• Christians believe that inequality in society can be a key cause of poverty

• Many Christian organisations advocate for:

  • Better wages

  • Fair treatment at work

  • Improved employment opportunities for people in lower-income areas

• The Church of England has spoken out against rising inequality and called for policies that support the poor, including:

  • The Living Wage Campaign

  • Government action on affordable housing

• Many Christian organisations focus on supporting families and children who live in poverty

  • Programmes such as The Children’s Society work to support disadvantaged children, providing them with education, emotional support and practical help to improve their living conditions

• Christian organisations such as Christian Aid, Tearfund and CAFOD work in developing countries to tackle global poverty, providing emergency aid, supporting sustainable development and fighting for fair trade

  • The Bible teaches that Christians should work to help the global poor

• Many Christians support fair trade, which ensures that workers in poorer countries are paid fairly for their work

  • Christian organisations, such as the Fairtrade Foundation, work to ensure that the products Christians buy do not exploit poor workers

  • Fair trade principles are in line with the Christian teachings of justice and fairness

    • They ensure that producers in developing countries are treated with dignity and paid a fair wage for their labour

• Corruption in some countries can prevent the poor from receiving help, and Christians often campaign for responsible governments

  • Organisations such as Tearfund and Christian Aid advocate for fair policies that tackle corruption and ensure resources are used to support the poorest

• Many Christian organisations are aware that climate change disproportionately affects the poorest people in the world, particularly in developing countries

  • Natural disasters such as floods, droughts and hurricanes make it harder for people to escape poverty

• Pope Francis called for action on climate change, stressing that environmental damage harms the poor and that Christians have a responsibility to protect the planet and the vulnerable
  

What are Catholic teachings on poverty?

• Catholics believe that poverty is not just a lack of money but a lack of basic human needs, such as food, clean water, shelter, healthcare and education

• Catholic teaching is rooted in the Bible, which shows that God has a special concern for the poor

  • Jesus consistently helped those who were suffering, marginalised or excluded from society

• Jesus taught that caring for the poor is central to Christian life, shown in his teaching that when Christians help “the least of these”, they are serving God

  • This means that helping the poor is a religious duty, not optional

• A key Catholic belief is the preferential option for the poor, which teaches that the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people should come first

• Catholics believe poverty is often caused by injustice and inequality, such as:

  • Unfair wages

  • Exploitation of workers

  • Corrupt systems

• Because of this, Catholics believe that charity alone is not enough

Poverty must also be addressed through justice, by changing unfair systems that keep people poor

Christian views on giving money

What are Christian views on giving money?

• Christians believe that giving money is an important part of living out their faith

  • They believe this because Jesus taught that loving God also means loving and helping other people, especially those in need

• The Christian view of giving is rooted in the Bible, which teaches generosity and care for others, showing that money should be used to help people rather than stored selfishly

• Many Christians believe giving money is a way of serving God, as Jesus taught that when believers help the poor and vulnerable, they are helping God himself

• Christians believe giving should be voluntary and generous, not forced, because God values the intention behind giving rather than the amount given

• The Bible teaches that even small amounts are valuable if they are given with love and sincerity, showing that generosity is about attitude, not wealth

• Christians believe giving money helps to reduce poverty and suffering, both locally and globally, and doing so supports charities, churches and aid organisations that help those in need

• Some Christians practise tithing, which means giving a regular portion of their income to the Church or charity, as a way of thanking God and supporting religious and charitable work

• Christians also believe giving money helps to challenge greed and materialism, reminding believers that money should not become more important than God or people

• Many Christians believe giving should be discreet and humble, not done to gain praise or status, because Jesus warned against showing off generosity

• Overall, Christians believe giving money is a responsibility and a sign of genuine faith, showing love, compassion and commitment to justice

Christian actions against poverty

What are Christian actions against poverty?

• Christian belief in helping others in need is based on the Bible and the teachings of Jesus

• Jesus told his followers that the greatest commandment was to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31)

  • “Loving your neighbour” means to help anybody in need, no matter who they are

• The love that Jesus encourages is the unconditional love known as “agape” love

• The Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31–46) strongly encourages Christians to take action to help those in need

  • In this parable, Jesus makes it clear that a life worthy of the reward of Heaven must involve actively helping people in need

  • Jesus explains that helping a person, no matter how low in status the person may be, is just the same as helping Jesus

• The Bible’s message is clear about the dangers of wealth and the importance of charity:

• Following these teachings, many Christians are involved in charity work where they can put this into action

• Many Christians give money regularly to charities and aid organisations as a practical way of showing love, compassion and responsibility towards others

  • Christians often support organisations such as CAFOD and Christian Aid, which work to reduce poverty by providing emergency aid, clean water, education and long-term development projects

• A key Christian belief is that poverty should be challenged through both charity and justice

  • This means that Christians should help those in need immediately while also working to change unfair systems that cause poverty

• Many Christians take part in voluntary work, including:

  • Food banks

  • Shelters

  • Community projects

• Christians also campaign for social justice, including fair wages, debt relief and ethical business practices

  • They do this because they believe poverty is often caused by injustice and inequality 

• Some Christians practise simple living, choosing not to live excessively wealthy lifestyles so that more resources can be shared with those in need

• Prayer is also seen as an important Christian action, as believers pray for the poor

Different perspectives on poverty

What are the different perspectives on poverty?

• Many Christians believe helping the poor is a religious duty because Jesus taught that caring for “the least of these” is the same as serving God

• Some people believe poverty is mainly caused by individual responsibility, such as poor choices or lack of effort, and that people should help themselves rather than rely on others

  • Catholics strongly reject this view, arguing that it ignores social injustice and fails to respect human dignity

• Another perspective is that poverty is caused by structural or social injustice, meaning governments and societies are responsible for reducing inequality and protecting the vulnerable

• A secular perspective focuses on government action, such as welfare systems, education, healthcare and employment opportunities, rather than religious motivation

• Some people believe poverty should be addressed mainly through charity, but Catholics argue that charity alone is not enough without justice and social change

• Overall, different perspectives on poverty range from personal responsibility to social injustice, but Catholic Christianity teaches that poverty must be challenged with compassion, justice and action