Is the Church becoming a business?

[John_Goncalves]

I listen to some christian radio networks, and at th end of most of the programs the are always pushing a book that the have written. If not that they ask for a donation to recieve a gift. Gift are supposed to be free. even on this website above what I am typing there is a dvd that is being marketed. I do understand about giving to the church. To give an offering in mass or for charity, but selling books and dvd’s that is something different. Just hoping you could shed a light on why all of this is necessary

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

First of all, remember that, with the exception of a few instances, catholic radio stations are not owned by the Church; nor are the networks; nor is Catholic Answers. Catholic Answers is a lay organization of forty-five people or so and it is a business. It is non-profit in that it does not have stockholders. Half of its income comes from donations. The other half comes from the sale of books, CDs, DVDs and what money our seminars speakers bring in. I can see how people might think that we are owned by the Church because of our orthodoxy. As for the “gift” thing; this is a part of the culture. No one really thinks such items are really gifts. They are enticements. Public radio and tv have used such “gifts” for years. Hope this sheds some light on the subject.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.