Rocco Basile

Link: http://www.roccobasile.net

I found this article in the Asian newswire, with the headline -  "Vatican: Pope: Charity can not be reduced to philanthropy, it must always express God's providential love."  I believe this is a really good point.  As you know I cover topics like this in my website www.roccobasile.net. apparently when Benedict XVI visited the "Don Orione Center” in Rome this morning, blessed the statue of Madonna that had been restored and re-installed after a storm.

Benedict XVI has stated on several occasions and reiterated again today during his visit to the "Don Orione Centre" that for Christians, charity can not be merely a "philanthropic gesture,” but must always express the love of God.  Addressing members of the Don Orione Institute, he stressed specifically that, "works of charity - - be they personal acts and or services offered to vulnerable people in large institutions, can never be reduced to philanthropic gestures, but must always remain a tangible expression of God’s providential love of God. 

With our troubled economy, and so many families out of work, I see this every day with the chairy that I support - Children of the City. It gives the world hope that people do really care.

-- Rocco Basile