 The economy is meant to serve human needs.  God intended created goods to serve the whole of humanity.  Authentic moral character includes the practice of the virtues of temperance, so as to moderate attachment to this world's goods; the practice of the virtue of justice, to preserve our neighbor's rights and render him what is his due; and the practice of solidarity, in accordance with the golden rule and in keeping with the generosity of the Lord.  The fundamental obligation of political authority is to promote and protect the common good.

 What does “thou shalt not steal” mean when I am one of the privileged few in a global economy of multitudes of poor and hungry people?  What does it mean when Jesus tells me, “Blessed are the poor” and “Woe to the rich”?  Do I benefit from economic practices which include the unjust exploitation of human beings and the senseless destruction of the environment?  How can I be empowered to struggle against coveting riches for the work I do, achieving vain honor in the world, or taking pride in my success so that I may live in simplicity, humility and love of others?

 In groups of 4, create a family budget based on the information given.

 Get back into your family groups from the other day.  As a group, answer the following questions:  How would you describe your family’s economic class?  Why do you think you are in that class?  What could you or your family do in order to move up from that class?

 Gift economy Gift economy  What is meant by “a sense of wrongness?”  Are we separate being among separate beings in a universe that is separate from ourselves?  How do you understand the “story of self?”

Persons in family/householdPoverty guideline 1$11, , , , , , , , Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia

 Forty-three percent of working families with at least one minority parent were low income,  Nearly twice the proportion of white working families (22 percent).  In 2010, 15.1% of Americans live in poverty (46.2 million people).  9.9% of non-Hispanic whites  27.4% of Blacks  26.6% of Hispanics

 In 2010, 15.1% of Americans live in poverty (46.2 million people).  That’s 2 out of every 13 people  20.5 million people live in extreme poverty  Half of the federal poverty line  22% of children under the age of 18 live in poverty

 1 in every 3 families are low- income.  More than 60 million people are enrolled in either Medicaid or SCHIP.  50 million Americans do not have health insurance at all.  These numbers were made significantly worse because of the recession

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 Africa  Asia  Oceania  Europe  North America  South America  13.1%  60.6% .5%  12%  5.2%  8.6%

 Africa  Asia  Oceania  Europe  North America  South America  Wealth  1.8%  25.5%  1.6%  32.2%  31.8%  5.1%  Population  13.1%  60.6% .5%  12%  5.2%  8.6%

 Top 1/5  2 nd 1/5  3 rd 1/5  4 th 1/5  Bottom 1/5  82.7%  11.7%  2.3%  1.9%  1.4%

 “Thou Shalt Not Steal” (Exodus 20:15).  What does this passage mean? What is stealing?  Do you think, given these numbers, that being rich is the equivalent of stealing from the poor?

BLESSINGSWOES  Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.  But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.  Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.  Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

 Are we blessed at Bellarmine?  Why?