Homily Plagiarism

[Nohome]

Our local priest read a homily this weekend that included a “true” story that was so incedible that I searched the internet to try and find a corroborating story. In stead, I found that his entire homily was lifted, word for word, off the internet.

Isn’t this unethical? Shouldn’t he at least tell us that he is reading someone else’s work? I would think anything less was plagiarism.

Nohome

 

[1ke]

There are many resources for homilies-- there are books of homilies that priests can buy with ready-made homilies, websites with homilies that are for purchase or free for the taking, and websites and books with homily outlines and resources.

No, it’s not plagarism.

 

[Nohome]

There are many resources for homilies-- there are books of homilies that priests can buy with ready-made homilies, websites with homilies that are for purchase or free for the taking, and websites and books with homily outlines and resources.

No, it’s not plagarism.

So, at school, at work and in publication this is a problem. Just not at church. Seems to me he should credit the author.

Nohome

 

[lak611]

There are many resources for homilies-- there are books of homilies that priests can buy with ready-made homilies, websites with homilies that are for purchase or free for the taking, and websites and books with homily outlines and resources.

No, it’s not plagarism.

How it is not plagarism if he did not state that the writing was done by someone else? This has killed politicians’ careers (giving a speech and saying something that was written by someone else without quoting the original author). When I was in college taking speech class, I would have failed the class if I did not cite my sources in my speeches. Shouldn’t a priest be held to a higher standard than a politician or a student? In my parish, if my priest reads something that was written by a Saint or an author, he always tells us who the original author was.

 

[Nohome]

In my parish, if my priest reads something that was written by a Saint or an author, he always tells us who the original author was.

I would think this as being prudent. I have no problem with the use of others work, but it should be made clear that the homily is not original work.

So what do I do? Confront him? Tell his Bishop?

Nohome

 

[Eileen_T]

Perhaps you could charitably let him know that you are aware of the homily being from some other priest. “Father, I enjoyed your homily last week, Fr “so-and-so” writes a good sermon, doesn’t he?”

Our priest also used a bit from someone else’s homily, but he admitted he had “pinched” it to use because he liked it so much.

I agree with those who said the original homilist should be acknowledged.

 

[ThuribleGuy45]

How it is not plagarism if he did not state that the writing was done by someone else? This has killed politicians’ careers (giving a speech and saying something that was written by someone else without quoting the original author). When I was in college taking speech class, I would have failed the class if I did not cite my sources in my speeches. Shouldn’t a priest be held to a higher standard than a politician or a student? In my parish, if my priest reads something that was written by a Saint or an author, he always tells us who the original author was.

I think one significant difference would be that in subscription “homily services,” of which there are several, a priest has PAID for the use of those words. The analogy in politics would be a staff speech writer; when JFK gave a speech, he didn’t credit Ted Sorensen, who crafted many of JFK’s most memorable speeches; Sorensen was paid to do that. The folks running for president now clearly have speech writers working for them. Paid homily services would seem to be the rough equivalent. This is a different issue entirely from the fact that one is expected to do one’s own work in school.

Note, too, that I’m addressing the issue of alleged plagiarism involving subscription homily services. Lifting a homily whole from one freely “out there” on the 'Net would seem to be a different issue. A further issue would be how and why someone charged with the responsibility of giving a homily, and trained to do that, might become overly-dependent on the work of others. Occasional time pressures, of course, but hopefully not an every-Sunday habit.

 

[IrishAm]

I write. I get paid. That’s how I earn my living. And if someone uses my words, I want to get the credit. And I want to get paid.

(If my pastor wants to use something I have written, I am happy to let him do so pro bono, but I still want to be sourced.)

 

[rlevant]

I believe we have a few different issues here–legal, ethical and religious.

The legal issue comes up if copied from someone else’s homily or a book rather than a service AND ALSO if the homily is reprinted in print (most of these services give permission ONLY verbal use in a parish and NOT to publish the copy on their website, send by email etc as if it is their work. To do so violates the law.

Ethically there are much bigger issues. Part of a congregations respect for the Pastor comes from their reaction to his homilies. He is misrepresenting himself, his knowledge and his spirituality to the congregation. He is also violating the sacred trust given him as a Priest

But the most important in my mind is the religious issue.

Homilies are given by Priests who are entrusted to prayerfully reflect of the scripture brining the needs of his particular congregation to God and delivering the most appropriate message from God to his community.

While it is possible that another’s homily may do this occasionally…and this is OK IF the Priest states that this is another’s homily giving proper credit

Of course on a college campus or a campus ministry setting this would be an extremely serious violation on all three levels and a terrible model!

 

[OraLabora]

I had a problem with a priest that had stories so fantastic in his homily I was tempted to look them up on Snopes or Mythbusters. He has since moved on though.

 

[Lutheranteach]

So, at school, at work and in publication this is a problem. Just not at church. Seems to me he should credit the author.

Nohome

If the author hasn’t given permission for the material to be used it’s both plagiarism and unethical, and I think it is a problem. It’s theft.

 

[Joannm]

I work in a parish office and some of our foreign priests use a homily service. They pay for the rights to use the homily as is or to use parts of it. There is no stipulation that it should be announced that they did not write it. In fact, I don’t believe the name of the writer of the homily is even mentioned. They are meant to be read. Some priests use the service just to find a homily starter, the story that catches the attention of the assembly. Not every priest is a good homilist, despite taking homily courses. I would not embarrass the priest by talking to him about using “canned” homilies, as we call them.

 

[FrCorey]

How it is not plagarism if he did not state that the writing was done by someone else? This has killed politicians’ careers (giving a speech and saying something that was written by someone else without quoting the original author). When I was in college taking speech class, I would have failed the class if I did not cite my sources in my speeches. Shouldn’t a priest be held to a higher standard than a politician or a student? In my parish, if my priest reads something that was written by a Saint or an author, he always tells us who the original author was.

so, all the decendants of the pirate Long John Silver can sue for use of thier great gtreat great great great grandfather’s name?

 

[MarkThompson]

so, all the decendants of the pirate Long John Silver can sue for use of thier great gtreat great great great grandfather’s name?

Long John Silver is a fictional character.

 

[FrCorey]

Long John Silver is a fictional character.

well, that was just a example. you get the idea.

“wow, that water is sure getting high. (c) Moses”

 

[thomasf]

As long as it’s a good homily, I don’t care.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

There’s differing issues at stake here. In the academic world, certain standards apply. In the political world, certain standards apply. And in the Catholic clerical world, certain standards apply. However the standards aren’t the same in all areas.

While Protestant clergy may be much more into “original homilies”, the Catholic clergy most certainly are not. We all borrow and steal from each other all the time. As long as no one is making money off of it, we don’t care about it. I’m part of a group of priests that shares our homilies and homily ideas via email almost every week. Some weeks I “steal” someone else’s homily and some weeks they “steal” mine. Its considered par for the course.
Though I will say that when we steal we usually rewrite/reword the homily to a certain degree.

There’s also books and internet sites out there with “ready made” homilies in them. Clearly the author(s) intends them to be used as such.

To those who ask why those “trainned in homilies” would need to “steal” one: some guys just aren’t good at preaching, some guys have busy weeks, and some guys just get stuck every now and then. Sometimes there’s only so much you can think to say about a particular reading and you’ve already said it to that particular congregation.

Like I said, if someone wants to use my homily as their own then I don’t care. If they want to make money off my homily then I do care. We tend to take the view that we’re all out there trying to inspire people to be better Catholics so ego should not get in the way of getting the best message possible out to the people…

 

[rlevant]

No this is not a matter of opinion when it comes to law and legal penalties

“There’s differing issues at stake here. In the academic world, certain standards apply. In the political world, certain standards apply. And in the Catholic clerical world, certain standards apply. However the standards aren’t the same in all areas.”

**Legally there are not different standards. If you use someone else s words without permission you are legally liable . PERIOD **

You may think there should not be such a law --but your opinion, my opinion and the opinion of others doesn’t change the reality.

Copy another persons work without their permission and you are putting yourself and if a member of clergy or church staff --your diocese or religious order in danger/ Non-Felonious copyright violations can result in legal penalties of up to $100,000 and a year of jail time per incident

(To be a felony and subject to 10 years jail time there must be significant financial gain ==although it might be possible in a mega church for a Pastor to qualify based on illegal use of h0melitic material the odds are very remote)

Sharing homilies among priests is not a LEGAL copyright violation. Again this is separate from any religious and ethical concerns one may have.

However, taking material from someone’s website or otehr writings without permission IS illegal pure and simple. And taking from a “sermon service” may or may not have legal implications depending on the terms of use

For instance voicings and sermon warehouse have the following in their terms and conditions:

Sunday Sermons, and SermonWarehouse, Copyright © 2010, Harmony House Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. 1-800-827-9401. Sunday Sermons, POB 3102, Margate, NJ 08402.

“The material offered for sale and contained herein is intended for oral expression only. Except for the exclusive, personal use by user in the preparation of sermons, this material may not be copied or otherwise duplicated, nor may it be distributed by the user in print or electronic form by any method including, but not limited to, transmission via web sites, blogs, FACSIMILE, computer modem, Internet, E-Mail, Newsgroups, Mailing lists or any other electronic forums without the express, written consent of the publisher. Any such unauthorized distribution is a violation of law.”

So if you reprint the homily as your own, print it out as your own and give it to congregants, put it up as your own on a church website-- You are in violation of the law.

And I do not believe the local bishop would be pleased regardless of intent and the Priests view of whether or not it was "ethically or religiously acceptable.

 

[rlevant]

"While Protestant clergy may be much more into “original homilies”, the Catholic clergy most certainly are not. We all borrow and steal from each other all the time. As long as no one is making money off of it, we don’t care about it. "

Actually many Priests CAN and do write their own homilies and do care a great deal. In Poland the Church has taken a rather harsh approach with clergy on this issue for religious and ethical reasons as well as legal.

Painting the Priesthood with one brush on this is inaccurate and unfair to those Priests and Clergy who care deeply and allow the spirit to work with and through them to produce a homily that is truly meant for their congregation

 

[ThereseOfRoses]

Oh For Pete’s Sake…

We have a serious decline in vocations, there is a shortage of priests in most dioceses, and now, in addition to being a priest, for often several parishes, celebrating Mass, dealing with business matters, getting called to hospitals, counseling parishioners, and every thing else that comes with being a priest, he now has to make sure he has footnotes that cite every source he has used in his homilies?

If making sure that every homily that references someone else’s works is that important to people and you’d actually consider “filing charges” with the Bishop over it…perhaps you are missing the true meaning of being a follower of Christ. (Before someone gets themselves in a twist and suggests I’m encouraging “unlawful” behavior…I’m not, I’m simply saying there are some things not worth splitting hairs over…if he’s not publishing them in a book and trying to say they are his…

DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT!!! Just enjoy the sermon and be careful that you are not quoting anyone else when you speak without citing the source if someone else has spoken those words before you did!