"CHARITY CHALLENGED"

The banning of beggars - by the Mayor - in a famous city in Italy has caused much comment worldwide. The fact that the ban has been imposed in Assisi, Umbria, the original home of and for centuries, a continuing place of pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, the world’s most celebrated beggar, makes it all the more worthy of interest and comment. St. Francis (1182-1226) converted to a life of piety after a short military experience led to imprisonment and illness.

During the past decade, in many world capitals, municipal officials have attempted to bring in policies designed to curb the congregating of beggars and the practice of begging. In London, where Westminster Council has called for the cessation of nightly soup-runs being provided on the streets, the Charities involved in this service, have been advised to direct the service to people who are already in some form of visible shelter, however temporary, or face having their grant aid restricted. Similar ploys have been attempted in Paris.

Elsewhere, in Oxford for example, a homeless man convicted of begging has been served with an ASBO - anti-social behaviour order - which, if breached, can mean summary imprisonment. The beggars, as if they ever were, are now no longer welcome. In many ways, their current situation has been determined by those among their number who have earned the repute of being super-beggars. These interlopers, having infiltrated the vagrancy scene, studied the range of artful dodges that begging requires, and converted those skills into a science. So much so, according to newspaper reports, individuals have been identified and admitted to making a handsome and regular income from begging.

It is possible that the Conservative Mayor of Assisi is courting a reaction and attempting no more than what may prove to be a politically expedient temporary clearance. His action has quickly attracted Vatican comment:
"Saint Francis is the saint of the poor and his teachings are still relevant. As a Christian, I don't understand it," said Renato Martino, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Begging is not a crime. I don't understand why it has to be banned by adopting a law. Even if some people take advantage, helping those who are in need is always a good thing to do."

The head of Assisi’s Franciscan monastery, Vincenzo Coli, said in a statement carried by - La Republica - the city’s principal newspaper:

St. Francis "Recommended recourse to begging only when it was not possible to sustain oneself through work".

When I worked with homeless people in London during the 1960’s a rogue element in the Metropolitan Police - quite unofficially - took to nightly round ups of homeless beggars in central London and transporting them in vans to Epping Forest on the fringe of the metropolis where they were left stranded. A similar practice is being pursued currently in China as a branch of “street cleaning” in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Periodic clearances of beggars have been undertaken by civil and civic authorities for centuries. In the plays of William Shakespeare instances of beggars being chased beyond the city walls occur frequently when a King or Emperor arrives in a city. In medieval times, concessions were made when a token beggar was retained to have Christian charity publicly bestowed upon him by the monarch. This act was usually performed as a ceremonial event carried out publicly on the steps of the Cathedral or principal church.

Perhaps the time has come for all municipalities to designate a “token beggar.” They could be situated on a Town Hall Steps, on a rota basis and their income carefully monitored. Any excess beyond a day’s Income Support would be placed in a designated fund and used for general relief by local charities providing re-habilitation, re-settlement and long-term housing support. This statutorily approved “beggar” could be suitably clothed to attract visibility and generously badged with supporting business logos and those of charitable organizations.

I, in my charity raising days was no less a beggar than those I acted for, as I petitioned for homelessness funding causes in the sumptuous board-rooms and indulged the hospitality of the City Livery Companies. The thoughts of George Orwell are worth recalling from

Down and Out in Paris and London:

Date:

30/4/2008, 13:55, GMT +1

Name:

Tony Brady

Number:

25