Given the Great Commandment and any corollary indicating the equal worth of ALL humans,  why is this even considered an either/or proposition? 

There is plenty of Catholic need, and Christian work to be done, to justify both. 

The introduction of financial reasons should not trump general Christian tenets. If it does, then it isn't the Christianity I understand.

And if the specific Catholic beliefs of the worth of ALL individuals differ from general Christian practices of that subject, well -- it is another reason for the  disillusionment that is leading to more and more Catholics becoming "nones", "dones", or members of other denominations.