Bukowski, Iām not doubting your experience, but I can also say that what you are saying to me is beyond anything I have ever experienced in my parish. Indeed, my pastor is one who emphatically CANNOT be bought, although some have tried and failed. Youāve done a good job of painting the Priest in a poor light, when were you thinking of asking him about his side of the story?
As for using the hall for free at the local Stake Center ~ whoopee, but I never thought it a very charming venue for a wedding reception, for example, to be held in a basketball court.
And using the example you gave of the family youāre in the process of converting, do you really find it persuasive that someoneās testimony is ātrueā when they convert to get a free room for a party? Letās see what the retention is when the kids are adults.
The bottom line is, none of this validates your theology.