Letter to the editor: Show mercy and kindness toward the homeless

In response to the March 22 article about panhandling in Canton, I am a lay minister in the Catholic Church, I have been ministering to the homeless in and around the Canton area for about four years.

I drive around Canton looking for the homeless and less fortunate. I give them water and a sandwich as well as a rosary, Sacred Heart of Jesus badge, miraculous medal, Divine Mercy prayer card, and a letter of encouragement from me. I started this ministry when I saw a homeless man at the corner of 12th Street and McKinley Avenue, after being inspired by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I feel by putting these signs around town and after hearing all the heartless comments thereafter, it shows how Canton has forgotten the gospel, in particular the Story of Jesus passion where he said we will always have the poor. I also feel for any kind of Christian to go along with this terrible act is getting tired of the gospel.

It is not only my duty as an unworthy lay minister to minister to the homeless, but it is each and every Christian's duty to take care of the less fortunate. To say that the homeless person will use the donations for a drug habit is judgmental. People have asked me, how do I know that those I minister to are truly homeless? The answer is plainly simple: I don’t. However, it is not my job to judge them but to serve them.

I would ask the city of Canton and its residents to be more kind and merciful toward the homeless. We all make mistakes, but the mercy of God is endless. Jesus said we will always have the poor among us. Let us show the poor and homeless his Divine Mercy.

Paul A. Crowley, Waynesburg

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Letter to the editor: Show mercy and kindness toward the homeless