In St. Robert Bellarmine's "The Art of Dying Well" he reiterates the ancient Christian view that superfluous wealth, that is, wealth beyond one's reasonable needs, morally belongs to the poor: https://archive.org/details/TheArtOfDyingWell

It is thus a sin of theft to retain such wealth. It is admitted however that what is defined as being "excessive", is subjective, although some practical examples are given, which suggest that what is to be considered sufficient wealth is relatively modest. Certainly it would be reasonable for example for the father of a large family to have a certain amount of money above that of the unmarried, in order to provide for the family.

The political left frequently complains about "exploitation" of the poor and accuses the wealthy of only being wealthy due to "exploiting" the poor, or extracting value from workers that the workers ought to in justice be paid themselves. Personally, I believe this critique may be justified at times, but the teaching seems to exceed this issue and even argues that voluntarily acquired "excessive" wealth is wrong to retain, even otherwise "justly" acquired. A wealthy person has been given such wealth by God in order that they may aid the poor, is the reasoning.

We know also the Bible warns that it is more difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle rather than for a rich man to enter heaven (Mark 10:25). This does not exclude the rich absolutely from being able to be saved, but does indicate that superfluous wealth seems to make it much more difficult to be saved.

Thus given the preceding teachings, are not the rich ignorant of how their wealth is a danger to their soul? Ought they not to be pitied, for the difficulty they are exposed to, rather than envied? Who wishes for a more difficult life, which spiritually the rich must have?

Therefore, instead of, as the left says, that we ought to "eat the rich", perhaps we ought to pray for the rich and to inform them of the moral teaching on superfluous wealth.

How do you think this teaching applies today?

Do you think the rich ought to be pitied, rather than envied, spiritually speaking?