Homily plagiarism?

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Gianna_Too

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We have noticed that our parish priest has been using prepared homilies taken from other priests. Is this a common practice? Or would this be considered plagiarism?
 
Does he credit the orignal writers? Does he copy them ‘word for word’ or just take the ideas and repackage them?
 
Its a very common practice, among Protestant ministers as well as Catholic priests.In fact there are books of homilies and sermons which are published and easily available.

It isn’t unethical, and actually an absolute necessity.

Writer’s block and time constraints make it impossible for many priests to compose an original message each and every week.
 
I don’t suppose it’s technically plagiarism unless the homily is copyrighted. I know it’s relatively common among Protestant preachers to do such things, but I’m not sure about priests. It’s pretty weak of them, if you ask me, if nothing else.
 
It’s pretty weak of them, if you ask me, if nothing else.
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I disagree, not every priest (or preacher for that matter) is a talented writer and speaker.

Unless the faithful is content to hear a few minutes of pious rambling, pre-fabbed homilies are here to stay for better or worse. Many, perhaps most, priest just can’t deliver what you’re demanding, if you expect new and original every seven days.
 
There are many books on the sermons of the Church Fathers, and by connecting to the Catholic Tradition throughout time, the priest displays the continuity of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church in homilies drawing on the those who have gone before him. As for a seperate matter, the priest should given at least passing reference when writing letters to parishoners that are commonly found in the bulletin. Thanks and God Bless.
 
He might not be copying from the other priests. Perhaps the parish subscribes to a homily service, or receives a monthly magazine such as “Homiletic and Pastoral Review” (an excellent magazine, I might add), which carries suggested homilies for each Sunday. Priests don’t necessarily use them word for word, but adapt them to their own style and parish circumstances.
 
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JimG:
Priests don’t necessarily use them word for word, but adapt them to their own style and parish circumstances.
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The homily that my priest gave was taken word for word from the website of another priest in the diocese.
 
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Gianna_Too:
The homily that my priest gave was taken word for word from the website of another priest in the diocese.
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Aha! Downloading! But maybe he’s got permission.
 
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Gianna_Too:
The homily that my priest gave was taken word for word from the website of another priest in the diocese.
Click to expand...
Was it a good sermon?
Excuse my being unchritable but I’ve seen priests who SHOULD have cribbed their homilies rather than depending on their own efforts.

As for plagiarism, since the author is in the same diocese, your pastor certainly knows him – I’d assume he called or e-mailed him and got permission.
 
Unless there’s something from the Bishop/Vatican that has to be read on a particular day our own priest always writes his own homily for Sunday. And he does a good job. (although I did think the gain on the microphone needed turning up until a visiting priest preached!)

Weekdays are a different matter. Usually there is no homily (I personally wish there was) and if there is then it is taken, pretty much word for word, from the homily page of a popular Catholic website.

I don’t think less of our Priest for that - not too many (not enough) people get to mass during the week and most of them don’t really care if there is a weekday homily or not. In any case our Priest is a busy man - we have no deacon and he is the only priest in good health in the parish with several hundred people in church each Sunday. He is also the area dean - parishes within about a 50-60 mile radius of here. He is also on committees for the diocese. A very busy man who doesn’t get a lot of time to rest.
 
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Gianna_Too:
The homily that my priest gave was taken word for word from the website of another priest in the diocese.
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If he didn’t give credit, then technically speaking it was plagiarism. Whether or not this is a bad thing is a completely different question. If the other priest had given permission, then there is nothing wrong with it.

If I may voice an opinion, I would much rather hear someone read a really good sermon written by someone else than deliver a bad sermon of his own writing. Most priests are by definition not the best sermon writers simply because the definition of “best” is “better than everybody else.” Also, I value a priest more for the sacraments than for preaching ability. After all, nobody else can forgive sins or confect the Body and Blood of Christ. I can get theology and Bible study elsewhere.
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