When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.
~ Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recife, Brazil.
And don’t even think about suggesting that God has a preferential option for the poor. Such a thing is unthinkable to us who — despite our alms-giving, and our oh so noble acts of charity — pursue comfort, wealth, and that ever elusive sense of security. A preferential option for the poor? But I’m rich, and I’ve built my business with integrity — God must love me. God doesn’t have favourites.
Unfortunately, when one seriously studies the bible a preferential option is unavoidable. God does have favourites. There are people groups that God consistently sides with and speaks of with great affection — and there are people groups that God regularly sides against and speaks of with great anger. And it’s only natural that the groups the God sides against tend to claim that God is on their side, that they are living holy lives and are experiencing intimacy with the divine. It always was that way and I don’t expect things to be any different now.