Dom Helder Camara, Liberation Theologian, and Archbishop of Recife in Brazil, is attributed with saying: “When I feed the poor, they call me a saint, but when I ask why the poor are hungry, they call me a communist.” When I feed the poor, they call me a saint, but when I ask why the poor are hungry, they call me a communist. Let’s talk about this for a moment – what is the difference between feeding the poor and asking why people are poor? What do you think?
Feeding the poor is an act of charity. It is something we can do with our leftovers and that is good and helpful. It fills bellies. This is important. If that is all we ever do, however, nothing will change. Tomorrow the same people will be hungry and hoping someone will have something to give them. Feeding the hungry without ever finding out why they are hungry is like putting a Band-Aid on a wound without ever finding out why the person is bleeding.
What happens when we start to ask the harder questions about the systems which treat people unequally? What happens when we start asking why social assistance is insufficient to meet basic needs and people are penalised if they have savings or work reducing the amount of money they can access? What happens when we ask why minimum wage is not a living wage ensuring that individuals working full-time are still unable to afford the basic necessities? Why does anyone think it is OK that people have to access food banks and rely on charity to survive? Why is it considered bad to question this system as we seek to respect the dignity of every human being and dream of something better?
Did you know that Canada ran its first basic income experiment back in the 1970s in Dauphin, Manitoba? For about 4 years, every family in the town of approximately 10,000 people was guaranteed a basic minimum income. A change in government meant the data wasn’t reviewed until years later. When it finally was, the results showed that when individuals and families had a sense of financial security, they didn’t become complacent or lazy, they dreamed and engaged with the community in new and previously unconsidered ways. Financial security, even the barest minimum sense of security made a huge difference in physical and mental health. In fact, the entire community became healthier.
Based on this evidence, what happened during COVID, and other basic income experiments, there has been a renewed effort to advocate for basic income as an alternative to the complicated and costly social assistance systems. The Basic Income Canada Network is a leader in this advocacy and Evelyn Forget’s book Basic Income for Canadians is an easy read for those interested in learning more about basic income and its possibilities. Social and Ecological Justice Huron offered a book study using this text a few year’s back that was quite engaging. Resources are available for those willing to continue to ask why the poor are hungry and consider alternatives.
Truthfully, when you read about those communities around the world where basic income has happened, it seems reminiscent of the kinds of communities we heard described in the reading from the book of Acts today: All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need…they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.
Having the goodwill of all people! What a wonderful ideal that fits so well with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus loved and welcomed all, and the early Christian communities sought to do the same. Shouldn’t that be the pattern of the Christian Church some two thousand years later? Shouldn’t we long for, indeed continually work towards communities where we seek the goodwill of all the people? Haven’t we seen how wonderful life can be when we embrace the gifts of diverse individuals?
The work is ongoing. May we continue to share generously of our gifts, breaking bread together, praising God, and having the goodwill of all the people, so that we too can be a sign of God’s love in this world at this time. All this we pray as we sing: The Kingdom of God is the Queerest of Nations
