This week we saw here in the United States a powerful mark of a world without charity. Congress has acted to remove bonuses from AIG executives who received huge amounts of bonus money although the company received a bailout from the US Government. US Citizens were incensed. How could people give out this money when others are losing their jobs and when the company itself needs a lifeboat from the US government. We learned the truth in the congressional hearings. The money was part of a contract and if AIG did not hand out that money by March 15th, then they would be liable for three times the amount. There is one issue not addressed. They executives did not have to take that money and they did not have to sue if they did not receive it.

This is the issue that is facing our country, a lack of simple personal charity. Jesus preached against living the letter of the law and casting the spirit of the law to the wind. Yet, that also works both ways. The letter of the law says take the money, charity, (the spirit of the law) says “Are you kidding?”

Here at St. Benedict Parish we did not hand out Christmas bonuses, the reason: “Are you kidding?” Congress has not brought up the issue of charity in the current AIG debacle and the response of the House of Representatives is to tax the bonuses at 90% setting what many say is a dangerous precedent. However the question also has to be addressed. Did people have to take the bonuses. That would be, however, a personal decision. As Christians we are called to be not followers of the law, but those who live at a standard higher than the minimum standard the law sets.

If you worked for AIG what would congress say to you? Why did you take that bonus? or Please tell the members of congress what was behind your decision to not take the bonus.