Is it a sin for churches to sell religious items on Sunday?

[StRita3]

I notice most Catholic bookstores are conveniently open after mass but unless they’re giving stuff away for free isnt it still a sin? Did not Christ throw out the money changers, who were selling sacrifices FOR temple offerings like doves? Isnt this the exact same thing as selling religious items to Church goers on Sunday?

Did this happen before Vatican 2 having Sunday bookstores or with the onset of communism in the US and all the Catholic bookstores going out of business we are reduced to “having” to buy everything from parish Sunday bookstores? Cant we just buy online on Monday? Cant the store just be open during the week instead, as the church still has to keep some sort of business hours. If we are too busy buying and selling how are we supposed to keep the Sabbath day Holy?

I just feel like Holy Mother Church has become hypocritical and wants the moo-lah from the sales as they know their target audience is in massive attendance on Sundays and thats how they can make the most dough. All while they say you cant buy anything on Sunday, EXCEPT FROM THEM. if they just waited until Monday maybe more Catholic bookstores would be in existence because if we are all buying our Catholic goods on Sunday we cant blame God for shutting us down the rest of the week in regards to Catholic stores, which are almost completely gone and reduced to buying online or from a cult (a schismatic like sspx).

Note I do not consider buying religious items a form of “tithing” so I do not think it would fit into that category.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I notice most Catholic bookstores are conveniently open after mass but unless they’re giving stuff away for free isnt it still a sin? Did not Christ throw out the money changers, who were selling sacrifices FOR temple offerings like doves? Isnt this the exact same thing as selling religious items to Church goers on Sunday?

No. First, the Church does not forbid Catholics from shopping on Sunday, presuming they also meet their obligations to attend Mass and spend family time. Second, as you note, bookstores and gift shops attached to churches will almost always close during Mass and open only afterwards.

In most cases, the sales at these shops provide a source of income benefiting the church or shrine, and Sunday is the day of the week they typically get the biggest crowds, unless there’s a special feast day or event during the week. So it makes sense to open the shops for a couple hours on the day people are there to visit them.

I also don’t think the vendors in Scripture were selling stuff for the benefit or upkeep of the Temple. They were selling stuff and changing money to benefit themselves.

 

[redcatholic]

Is this really an issue that is deserving of our attention. In Rome and the Vatican many places are open selling items for pilgrimages. And most people only come onto Church property on Sundays It isn’t money changing and scamming it’s providing A service that many people find spiritually necessary.

 

[AlNg]

First, the Church does not forbid Catholics from shopping on Sunday, presuming they also meet their obligations to attend Mass and spend family time.

Fr. Marco Scattolon of Camposampiero, Italy, says that Sunday shopping is a sin and called on his parishioners to do penance for it. Bishop Antonio Mattiazzo of Padua said he agreed with Fr. Marco Scattolon. I am not sure if they are referring to unnecessary major shopping which should be done on other days of the week.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The opinions of two clergy do not make it a Church teaching, any more than Fr Ripperger saying it’s sinful for married women to work outside the home makes that a Church teaching. I’m also pretty sure you’re aware of this fact.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

Did this happen before Vatican 2 having Sunday bookstores or with the onset of communism in the US

The US is not a communist state. What on earth are you talking about?

I just feel like Holy Mother Church has become hypocritical and wants the moo-lah from the sales as they know their target audience is in massive attendance on Sundays and thats how they can make the most dough.

The sale of a few devotional books, rosaries, and crucifixes hardly means massive amounts of “moo-lah.” You’re not talking about a huge commercial enterprise here.

 

[1ke]

I notice most Catholic bookstores are conveniently open after mass but unless they’re giving stuff away for free isnt it still a sin?

No.

Most Catholic bookstores I am aware of are closed on Sunday unless they are directly on parish grounds— like the shrine bookstore and gift shop a few hours from here.

But if they are open on Sunday, it is not a sin.

Did not Christ throw out the money changers, who were selling sacrifices FOR temple offerings like doves?

He did.

These two things— money changers in the temple and bookstore selling items on Sunday— are completely unrelated.

Isnt this the exact same thing as selling religious items to Church goers on Sunday?

No.

or with the onset of communism in the US and all the Catholic bookstores going out of business we are reduced to “having” to buy everything from parish Sunday bookstores?

Uh… what??

Cant we just buy online on Monday?

You are welcome to do whatever you’d like.

All while they say you cant buy anything on Sunday,

The Church doesn’t say that.

 

[Genesis315]

It’s not like they’ve got a an Apple Store or something on the premises. These shops tend to provide things that are directly related to keeping the day holy–like sacramentals and spiritual reading. I used to live near a cathedral and would browse their bookstore occasionally after Mass there–that place was a great boon to my faith and if it were closed Sundays I would never have benefited from it.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The OP might be from outside USA. In some European countries, shops were closed on Sundays traditionally, but that was changed under Communist influence or rule. Obviously that wasn’t the case in USA.

Some European countries are now trying to get back to having shops closed on Sunday on the grounds that its burdensome for mom and pop shops to have to stay open on that day in order to compete with chains and big box stores. They sometimes frame this in religious terms, but it’s also largely a matter of local economies.

 

[BT3241]

So someones rosary broke and they bought one at church on a Sunday or they purchased a miraculous medal or religious reading material - is that a sin? I don’t see them selling anything else - maybe a raffle after mass but its also usually to provide funds to a charity.

You have to remember in Jesus times there were money ex changers for foreigners so they could buy a pigeon or dove for sacrifice - these were businesses running right in the middle of the synagogue going all day long - a little bit different.

 

[TheLittleLady]

No 1234567

 

[EmilyAlexandra]

Did this happen before Vatican 2 having Sunday bookstores or with the onset of communism in the US

Contrary to what you may have heard, communism has never really been “a thing” in the US.

 

[Aulef]

Not, it isn’t (direct answer to the question)

 

[po18guy]

If we would support the Church, they would not have to beg for money.