Isn't the Church too opulent? Why doesn't the Church sell its riches and give it to the poor?

“Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul,

                                                         and with all your MIND”--Matt 22:37

It seems that this question was asked 2000 years ago, and has been with us ever since the beginnings of Christianity.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,  “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.--John 12:1-6

As with most Catholic answers, the response to the above objection is not either/or but both/and.  We do not have ornate Basilicas or serve the poor--with all due respect, the Catholic Church is big enough and catholic (meaning UNIVERSAL) enough to do both.  We give glory and worship to God through our magnificent and sacred cathedrals, basilicas and churches, AND we provide corporal works of mercy:  feeding the poor, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, etc, etc.

The Catholic Church is the largest charitable organization in the world.  It educates, houses, medicates, clothes, feeds, shepherds, nurtures and nourishes more people than any other organization on the planet. 

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/02_15/b3778004.htm

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/14/Revenue_1.html

And, if we were to sell off our beautiful works of art, who would buy them?  Who could pay what they're worth?  And if someone could indeed afford to buy what the Catholic Church sells, the question, naturally arises, then why doesn't THIS INDIVIDUAL sell his property and help the poor?  

Now, this may be a matter of preference, but I cannot help but look at the picture below and see the glory and grandeur of God:

Upon entering a sacred space like the above, it is almost impossible not to be in awe at the Presence of God.  This type of magnificent, rich architecture simply elevates us and inspires prayer, don't you think?  It awakens in us a profound sense of the divine.

We are called to be HOLY--to be set apart--and creating a sacred space that is SET APART for worship only, which separates us from our mundane activities, is a worthy human endeavor.

Now, contrast the above to the photo below of a Quaker church. 

Please note:  certainly God can be present in the above worship space; indeed, He is present in all places of worship, where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name.  And I am making no statement about whether spartan architecture is never warranted--in fact, there are many Catholic orders that eschew the ornate and embrace a life of apostolic poverty. 

Again, the Catholic Church is a both/and, not either/or.

And I welcome those who feel that, for them, the Quaker worship space is more inspiring of prayer than the resplendent basilica. 

My point:  beautiful worship spaces do have a place in our Church, for they do inspire and elevate us.  We are a Sacramental people, both spirit and body, who express and absorb through our senses.   Worship in a sensual way (meaning:  through our senses), through architecture, art, music, incense is both human and necessary. 

The books of Scripture, in particular Exodus (Exodus 25:1) and Revelation (Revelation 19), detail the construction of ornate offerings, using precious gold and silver, fine linens, inlaid stones to give honor and glory to God.  The book of Psalms proclaims:  How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of the Lord--Ps. 84:1–2.

In fact, the book of Revelation provides rich and splendid imagery of liturgy:  Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

When I read the above passages, as well as the many, many passages in Ezekiel, Isaiah, Psalms, Hebrews, the image that comes to mind from Scripture of a sacred space suitable to worship the Divine Godhead is more in line with what we Catholics have, than the austere, muted styles of some Protestant congregations. 

For more in-depth study visit these websites:

Shouldn't the Church Sell Off Its Artifacts?

Why does the pope wear decorated robes and ornate headwear? If he is a Christian, he should be Christ-like. Jesus never dressed that way. He was very humble in his dress.
  
Catholic Bible online

Catechism of the Catholic Church online