New Report Finds Charity is in Decline

A recent study by the Giving USA Foundation reports that charitable donations has declined in the recent past.

"June 10, 2009 - Charitable giving fell last year by the largest percentage in five decades, according to a new study by the Giving USA Foundation. Individuals and institutions made gifts and pledges of $307.65 billion, a decrease of 5.7 percent on an inflation-adjusted basis over the $314 billion given in 2007, according to the foundation, a research organization backed by the fund-raising industry." (Faith in Public Life)

Likely due to the recent dire state of the economy, people simply aren't able to set aside as much money and time as in the past when the financial situation was not as bleak.

Nonetheless, in Unity, as in other religious traditions, we believe that tithing and charitable giving is an important part of one's spiritual life. According to what we call the principle of mind-action (which many will note is similar to the law of karma in some eastern traditions), whatever we put out into the world will come back to us abundantly in one way or another, though it could be in a different form than that with which we have given.

Based on Jesus' teaching, "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back," (Lk. 6.38) when we give, donate, or tithe from whatever amount we have we have faith that it will help and serve other for their benefit and also come back to us in turn so that we may again engage in the blessed act of giving.

Stephanie Strom of the New York Times has a write-up of the findings. Read it at Faith in Public Life.

Repossessing Virtue: Wise Voices on the Economic Crisis

This past week's Speaking of Faith program is a continuing series on spirituality and finances:

"This ongoing series explores the moral, spiritual, and practical aspects of the economic downturn. Former guests and you, our listeners, share their wisdom and insight from first-person perspectives, and stories of transformation that may help you in these unpredictable times." (Speaking of Faith)

Go to Speaking of Faith website to listen to the program.

(Photo: "Walking the Sky" by Thomas Brown/Flikr at www.speakingoffaith.publicradio.org)

New Book Enciting Prayers During Economic Crisis

Barbara Bartocci's new book Grace on the Go: Powerful Prayers to Ease Money Worries speaks of how important and effective simple, affirmative prayer can be in motivating people to responsible and efficient decisions in their lives conducive to financial betterment.

The Religion News Service has a brief review of the book.

Priest Becomes Savior in Foreclosure Crisis

Father John Lasseigne works with residents and banks to halt foreclosures in his diocese in Pacoima, California.

Fr. Lasseigne is a wonderful example of how religious leaders can help to alleviate financial-economic concerns of those they serve. The mitigation of financial woes lessens people's stress levels, which, in turn, affects their mental and physical well-being. And these kinds of activities are certainly elements to be addressed in the process of spiritual growth.

As we in Unity would affirm, though spiritual transformation has its origin and foundation in mental/attitudinal conditions, the psychological, emotional, physical, environmental, and even financial facets of life must be addressed in order for real progress in personal development takes place. That is, our mental-intentional being is the agency that guides and directs transformation, all aspects of the human being must be holistically accounted for so as to engender productive spiritual growth. (Some Unity literature references would be, for example, C. Fillmore, Prosperity [1936] and E. Butterworth, Spiritual Economics [1993].)

Fr. Lasseigne has realized that he can't just stand by and watch his parishoners fall into financial chaos, especially when many of the banks are engaging in unfair practices and taking advantage of their unknowing (often immigrant and English language learning) patrons. He can't just pontificate at the pulpit or simply tell his congregants what they should be doing in terms of prayer, lifestyle, etc. He has realized that he can also be effective by becoming involved in people's individual and communal lives by counseling people, attending community meetings, publicly voicing the church's concerns, and advocating for people in his spiritual community by working closely with them and their banks. He states, "The church is concerned about the health of its community, and if the community is going through an upheaval and many families are being dislocated, we have to respond."

Thelma Guitierrez of CNN has the Fr. Lasseigne story.