Christian Mission and Poverty

Chapter 5 Church Teaching

In cases of need all things are common property, so that there would seem to be no sin in taking another’s property, for need has made it common.

~ Thomas Aquinas

T homas A quinas (1225–1274) Background

Thomas Aquinas is celebrated as one of the greatest systematic theologians of the church. In his enormous work the Summa Theologica , he strives to present the orthodox consensus of church teaching down through the ages. His work is far-ranging and addresses all manner of issues, including economics and ethics. Among many other things, he demonstrates how the Western church of the Middle Ages tended to think about money and poverty.

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