[Terriergal]

I agree with your post entirely.

The thing is, even if the church 'loses' -- the true church will always win. We don't need material things, and if they are taken away it will only serve as a witness of the fact that God's kingdom is not made of the things humans generally value. (money, power, material possessions).

[twigs]

You are right that they probably shouldn't be that wealthy. ... We don't need material things

I believe that concentration of wealth (and power too) in any form by anyone is always a prelude to disaster for the society. Even the church. Man is inherently sinful and we are called on by St. Paul to hold one another to account. We can't do that when such wealth and power is held at the top. I have always believed that one reason the Vikings were so successful in their raids of Europe in the 8th and 9th centuries is that they discovered that the monasteries held so much of Europe's wealth. It made raiding relatively easy... just head for the cross and voila, there's the riches.

I also think sometimes God uses these situations to bring his Church back to Him. While I don't like the thought of evil groups getting ahold of these resources, I am encouraged that God is very much in control and uses these things to purge us.