Almsgiving, Subsidiarity, and your Stimulus Check
Last week, President Trump, in response to historic strain among American families and businesses, signed a $2,000,000,000,000 stimulus package. I felt it was important to write out those numbers, just to emphasize how massive this package truly is. Although admittedly it is filled with more political pork than a Wuhan swine market, the takeaway for the average American is that he or she is eligible to receive at least a $1,200 check, independent of other increases or decreases due to number of child dependents, and place on the tax bracket.
Although generally I consider myself a fiscal and political conservative, I support this move, albeit without the special interest addenda. An alarming amount of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, very few have substantial savings, too many have excessive credit card debt, and all around there is a lack of financial prudence. I don’t only think it’s important to support American individuals and families with monetary relief, I think it is important to impress on companies the importance of financial forbearance in the face of businesses and families who cannot afford now even their necessary bills. Occasionally I am edified by the suggestion of some economists that we decide to practice some form of debt forgiveness, almost like that of the Biblical Jubilee. Some landlords and property managers have announced that they will accept a late and/or reduced payment. I think this is a heartening example of solidarity and charity in the midst of economic distress, which is surely due to increase.
Yet there are problems with the idea of stimulus, and with the current economic system as it stands, that I think can only be solved by the virtue of citizens. No bureaucrat or politician can mandate it. All too often, as we witnessed even during the Financial Crisis of 2008-2009, massive stimulus packages have a way of being extremely wasteful. Moreover, the amount of money the government is currently printing simply to maintain liquidity in the financial sector is incredibly high.
Not only are government entitlement programs like welfare and unemployment benefits now under stress, with almost three million fresh applications alone made to the latter program last week, but also non-profit charities like food banks are experiencing a surge in demand. Much like 2008-2009, the wave of desperation has come suddenly. As usual, individual and local action usually is most cost-effective and helpful to the communities they serve. This demonstrates pragmatically the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church on the importance of subsidiarity, whereby societal solutions which are closest to the problems tend to be the best, most just, and most humane.
Our belief in solidarity is the other side of the coin: the teaching that each one of us has a social obligation to our neighbor. We cannot, and must not, turn a blind eye to the Lazaruses at our door.
One of the pillars of our Lenten and Christian practice is that of almsgiving. Almsgiving, in the words of the Fathers, is necessary for the giver, who is delivered from his own egoism, and the receiver, who is delivered from his own want. This is one reason why Christ said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), and even the famous first century document the Didache or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, commands Christians “let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give” (Didache, 1).
The majority of Americans are going to receive stimulus checks, but not all of us are going to experience the same degree of want. I know several families and individuals who will struggle, through no fault of their own, to make ends meet in the coming weeks and months. The government has no way of distributing this massive stimulus that actually does justice to the needs of individuals, it simply distributes money in order to stimulate the economy, or at least head off financial ruin. Perhaps consider, in the coming weeks, if you receive a check, donating a whole or a part, to your Church, to a local charity, or to trusted friends, family or neighbors who you know are in distress. This would be a marvelous manifestation of subsidiarity and solidarity, as well as charity. We Christians, in times of societal crisis, have always stepped forward to help the poorest and most vulnerable, even when our own resources are meager.
At a time when some in the Church are downplaying the importance of fasting, almsgiving and prayer, saying that it is “too hard”, such generosity would be a great way of manifesting your holy defiance of such supine laxity. And as a final Lenten gift to Christ, you could help to feed, clothe and shelter him among us in the least of these.
Please prayerfully consider this idea, and remember: God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)!
