Are Catholics obligated to help people in other countries the same as their own family and neighbors?
A viewer asks whether there is a hierarchy of charity, that is, whether Catholics are obligated to help people in other countries the same as their family, neighbors and community, in light of the debate between Pope Francis and JD Vance over the order of love.
Answer
Our view of how and when we give to the world has been modified from the old family-then-town-then-nation ordering, because communication, travel and money exchange are now instantaneous, so we are more global than we used to be. There should never be barriers to giving: if a country genuinely needs help, saying "my family comes first" will not do, because you can provide for your family and still give something to a nation in need. So there is nothing wrong with the pope saying we must think globally. What is wrong is how it has been done, the deceit about where the money actually goes, so a legitimate global responsibility does not excuse mishandling the money that should reach the poor.