Gregory the Great once said, "I hold the office of steward to the property of the poor." This means that the church has a duty to remind the rich that their wealth exists solely for the benefit of all.

"You are not making a gift of what is yours to the poor man, but you are giving him back what is his. You have been appropriating things that are meant to be for the common use of everyone. The earth belongs to everyone, not to the rich."

St. Ambrose

“Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.”

St. John Chrysostom

“Whatever certain people have in superabundance is due, by natural law, to the purpose of succoring the poor.”

St. Thomas Aquinas

“The right to private property is not absolute and unconditional. No one may appropriate surplus goods solely for his own private use when others lack the bare necessities of life.” (Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progressio 23)

When billionaires give money only to get their names on buildings, "Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." (cf. Matthew 6:1-2)

We must quit excusing inequality because of alleged "generosity." Generosity is fruit of mercy that comes as need arises, but Christian accounts of property and wealth are more determinatively ordered by the demands of justice. Generosity from the seat of injustice mocks mercy.