Can religious or priests have side business?

[ajfrab]

Ah, yes! Whenever I visit St. Meinrad Archabbey, I make a point to stop in Ferdinand and support the Sisters.

 

[whatistrue]

There is an Abbey in my Diocese that makes and sells such things as fruitcakes, truffles, and creamed honeys, making a significant portion of their income by so doing. They have also made a portion of their grounds into a consecrated cemetery and sell plots for natural (sometimes called “green”) burials. Lots of ways a religious community can use the tools of commerce to support their mission.

 

[InThePew]

It would not look edifying for any priest to be wearing an Armani suit, a rolex and driving a luxury car regardless of where there parish might be (as the old joke goes, religious priests take the vow of poverty but diocesan priests live it). As far as priests on the Net go, I’m not aware of any who I’d say are exactly in trade or running a business (as opposed to a not-for-profit) but there are certainly some with Amazon search boxes or who solicit donations of money and/or goods. While not strictly prohibited, IMHO this whole “give me stuff because I’m a priest” thing doesn’t exactly fit well with the clerical state.

 

[TomH1]

IMHO this whole “give me stuff because I’m a priest” thing doesn’t exactly fit well with the clerical state.

I wholeheartedly agree.