When the Pope or the bishops speak on economic matters you sometimes hear the complaint: why are they messing in the marketplace. They should stick with religion. Actually, economics, in particular caring for the poor, has a prominent place in the Bible. At least 2,000 verses address directly the responsibility believers have to caring for those who are in need. The prophet Amos, for example, challenges very specifically what we would call today “income disparity” — that the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer. Again, in order to understand the parable Jesus tells about the Unjust Steward you have to know about the relationship between owners and tenants. It is not prosperity that the Bible promotes but solidarity. We have a responsibility toward the whole body of Christ so that all come to know and experience God’s gracious and merciful touch.
