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Sworn to poverty?

Im not all that religious but I do take interest sometimes and learn what I can. I have heard several times on the radio and so on that priests are sworn to poverty and…something else. Could someone explain this to me?

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Answer #1

Poverty is when you lack in basic necessities. The “vow of poverty” priests take is really a vow of “less oppulence than some”.

Priests in the US not only have all their basic needs met for life, but also get a lot of perks on top of that. This is hardly what I would call poverty.

Answer #2

I think the idea behind it, was to make them more holy… most are also forbidden to marry.. however, this was mans rules… not Gods. Big… difference.

Answer #3

yeah thats where I was kinda confused, seeing priests driving 70,000$ cadillacs

Answer #4

That would be certain orders…Priests come in many “orders”…Monks, Jesuits, etc etc…they don’t all take vows of poverty,

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Answer #5

A vow of poverty means that the priests or monks in that particular order share all their possessions and wealth; there is no individual ownership of anything. It also means that once the monks take care of their own material needs and the needs of their monastery, they donate the remainder of their mutual income to charities or community development.

Answer #6

ohhh, I like. Thank you very much

Answer #7

but elaborate, I dont even know what the vow to poverty means.

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