Fees for Sacraments

[1ke]

Why do parishes/priests tell people this is the stole fee (or whatever language), you must pay it unless you are too poor? Why would they present it that way?

I cannot answer that quesetion for anyone other than myself (not a priest, but in charge of sacramental prep). In this parish, we do not tell people that. Our parish gives the offering for Confirmation to the bishop, not the confirmandii. For other sacraments, and for funerals, we tell people what the standard offering is. Most people give an offering, some do not. All receive the sacraments.

 

[1ke]

How utterly judgmental.

The word judgmental gets thrown around a lot. These days it is typically used to deflect when someone strikes a nerve. There is nothing wrong with being judgmental. In fact, there is no way to not make judgments.

I don’t understand how one can decide that someone has a spiritual poverty about them or a minimalist approach if they are wondering why one needs to pay a fee for a sacrament.

Don’t put words in my mouth.

I was not speaking about the poster, or about one “wondering” about giving offerings (they are not fees).

You have misunderstood what I am saying here. I said people in general seem to have a minimalist and entitlement attitude. It permeates our culture.

So then the sacrament fee, like someone suggested is a fundraising plan?

It is neither a fee nor a fundraising plan.

One should pay to get catechized?

We must, as a people of God, support the Church in a way sufficient for her to carry out her mission.

So, yes, someone must pay so that all can be catechized. Whether or not an individual pays anything depends upon that person’s circumstances. Whether the funds come from the general collection or from the parents is a local decision. In our parish, the parish pays for all religious education supplies through our parish bazaar proceeds and general collection. But, of course, we depend upon the parishioners (including the CCD parents) to contribute

It doesn’t happen magically.

And, Christ did tell us that the laborers are worth their wages.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

How utterly judgmental.

I don’t understand how one can decide that someone has a spiritual poverty about them or a minimalist approach if they are wondering why one needs to pay a fee for a sacrament.

So then the sacrament fee, like someone suggested is a fundraising plan?

One should pay to get catechized?

TrueLight-
I am wondering, do you have a solution for this problem?

The parish I talk about in my previous post is our Cathedral. It is not in the greatest/most affulent neighborhood, and we do have many people who are living at or below the “poverty line”. And you know what, they are the ones who never complain about “fees” (or offerings or what ever you want to call them!) As a matter of fact, they seem to be the ones who always want to give more- whether is’s time, talent or treasure.
The problem lies more with those who have the “means”. I can’t tell you how many complaints I have heard about the parish not doing this, or charging a nominal fee for that, yet many of these same people think nothing about spending $30 on brunch after Mass on Sunday.

In a “perfect world” every parish would have more than enough money to not have to chage “fees”, but the only way that will happen is if I open up my pocket-book a little more.