On Christians and Prosperity

Concern for the poor is at the heart of Christianity. Christians are also called to contribute to human flourishing and create the wealth necessary to alleviate poverty. In this wide-ranging essay, one of the great teachers of political philosophy of our time calls us to think prudently about poverty and prosperity within the Christian tradition. Fr. Schall engages with core questions about the sources of poverty and prosperity and challenges some of the deeply embedded assumptions that arise from the currently dominant humanitarian framework. He also reminds us that while economic development and the creation of prosperity are important, they are always in service to the higher things. Economic prosperity alone is insufficient.