... on Clergy and Poverty

Q

What is the meaning of a Catholic priest’s vow of poverty, considering that many such priests live in absolute luxury?
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-meaning-of-a-Catholic-priest-s-vow-of-poverty-considering-that-many-such-priests-live-in-absolute-luxury/answer/Hans-Georg-Lundahl

Answer requested

by Matthew Miller

Hans-Georg Lundahl

Studied religions as curious parallels and contrasts to Xtian faith since 9, 10?

Answered just now

• 1) Catholic priests in general do not make a vow of poverty. Franciscans do, Father Bryan Houghton did not (he lived his priestly life on his own fortune, inherited and as a writer).
• 2) That many Catholic priests live in “absolute luxury” is not very likely. Perhaps many more than you could pack into a room or two or three, but not many compared to the rest.
  
  You may have committed the mistake of believing certain luxury materials in liturgic dress belong to the priest’s private life.
  
  Or even looked at cassocks and libraries (especially those of bishops and cardinals) in envy. A priest may have two cassocks which are worth more each than two or even four of your coats together, but he is obliged to make do with two cassocks until one wears out and needs to be replaced. Some may at times have done with just one cassock, but that makes washing difficult.
  
  For a priest as even more for a bishop or cardinal, a library is work tools.