Our Father's house a marketplace?

[fide]

The Bible Study I participate in is listening, this week, to “the Cleansing of the Temple” (Jn 2:13-25). This new mandatory imposition here, on CAF, of either 1) become a sponsor or 2) allow advertisements, came at the very time I am praying over the ways “the marketplace” finds ways to be brought into ministries - into the houses of the Lord. The Lord, throwing out the sellers of merchandise and the moneychangers, said,

“Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

It is one thing to ask Christians for support of worthy ministries - but another, it seems to me, to require it for admission onto the property.

Thoughts?

 

[TheLittleLady]

Catholic Answers is not a parish, not a Diocese, it is a private ministry. It costs money to operate a forum.

 

[TheIttyBitty]

In Spain, one of the Cathedrals I like to visit when I’m in vicinity has begun charging an entrance fee “donation”…

It’s unconscionable imo. (Seems like something parallel to usury)

 

[Tis_Bearself]

All the Cathedrals I’ve ever seen in Spain and elsewhere in Europe would let people in for free to pray, but usually sends them to a designated prayer area.

 

[TheIttyBitty]

The last time I went outside of Mass time, they charged a fee to everyone, member or not. It was very bizarre, December 2019.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

That’s unfortunate. Perhaps you should ask if there is a way to just go in and pray without paying the donation.

 

[TheIttyBitty]

I think we did. I was rather upset on it.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If you can still get in free for Mass, which I presume is the case, I guess that’s the time to get one’s prayers in.

 

[Beryllos]

Is CAF a holy place? Usually not.

Be that as it may, I think the advertisements could be better done. Screen them better for inappropriate content, and have ad-free categories (e.g., Prayer Intentions and perhaps others).

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

The money changers of the Bible were there to convert the legal tender currency of Rome into Jewish money acceptable in the temple.

There wasn’t anything intrinsically wrong with it.

The money changers’ sin was that they weren’t doing a fair exchange rate. They were cheating the pious Jews who wanted to make offerings to God.

That’s what made Jesus angry is they were committing fraud right in the Temple!

 

[fide]

Catholic Answers is not a parish, not a Diocese, it is a private ministry. It costs money to operate a forum.

A “private ministry”? A minister - who lives a ministry - is a servant, one who serves another. I believe that all ministries seeking to serve Jesus, all are under His headship. Following His teachings. What does “private ministry” mean, exactly?

 

[porthos11]

The Bible Study I participate in is listening, this week, to “the Cleansing of the Temple” (Jn 2:13-25). This new mandatory imposition here, on CAF, of either 1) become a sponsor or 2) allow advertisements, came at the very time I am praying over the ways “the marketplace” finds ways to be brought into ministries - into the houses of the Lord. The Lord, throwing out the sellers of merchandise and the moneychangers, said,

“Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

Yes. CAF is not Our Father’s House. It is not a church, it is not a temple, it is not a sacred space. It is an Internet discussion site that takes money to run.

CAF tries to be a worthy ministry. Whether it still is has become a matter of debate in recent years, but regardless, CAF needs to be funded, or it needs to close. It’s as simple as that.

We come to CAF as guests. And the rules of the host apply.

V. Remember, my house is my house.
R. As are its contents.
Amen.

 

[porthos11]

TheLittleLady:

Catholic Answers is not a parish, not a Diocese, it is a private ministry. It costs money to operate a forum.

A “private ministry”? A minister - who lives a ministry - is a servant, one who serves another. I believe that all ministries seeking to serve Jesus, all are under His headship. Following His teachings. What does “private ministry” mean, exactly?

A ministry run by private individuals or juridical persons (e.g. companies, foundations) without taxpayer (for civil efforts) or ecclesiastical (for religious) support.

CAF is a private ministry because it is owned and operated by Catholic Answers, a private corporation. Catholic Answers is not run by the Church, and as such, is not “public”.

 

[fide]

The money changers of the Bible were there to convert the legal tender currency of Rome into Jewish money acceptable in the temple.

There wasn’t anything intrinsically wrong with it.

There WAS something intrinsically wrong with it. It was operating within the Temple itself! It was set up within the House of God, which was made to be a House of Prayer for all the nations. All those services could have been set up outside of the Temple - but they were not. They were in operation in the Court devoted to the nations of the world - the Court of the Gentiles - THERE these "businesses were set up.

The place that ought to have been sacred, a holy place of prayer for the Gentiles to approach the One God. Instead, there the clutter and noise and animal smells and clanking of coins and counting of money, polluted the witness of God’s love and call to the Gentiles. It was an insult to the seekers of God among the Gentiles, and thus an insult to God Himself.

This betrayal of God’s intention revealed to Israel - that through the descendants of Abraham men from all the nations would be gathered to Him - this was the gravest transgression, regardless of the fairness or lack of it, in the finances involved. The House of Prayer for the nations was compromised.

 

[fide]

I would hope that all Catholic ministries are “run” by God, in His will, following His Spirit. “Private” suggests an autonomy that sounds to be “of the world”.

 

[porthos11]

0Scarlett_nidiyilii:

The money changers of the Bible were there to convert the legal tender currency of Rome into Jewish money acceptable in the temple.

There wasn’t anything intrinsically wrong with it.

There WAS something intrinsically wrong with it. It was operating within the Temple itself! It was set up within the House of God, which was made to be a House of Prayer for all the nations. All those services could have been set up outside of the Temple - but they were not. They were in operation in the Court devoted to the nations of the world - the Court of the Gentiles - THERE these "businesses were set up.

The place that ought to have been sacred, a holy place of prayer for the Gentiles to approach the One God. Instead, there the clutter and noise and animal smells and clanking of coins and counting of money, polluted the witness of God’s love and call to the Gentiles. It was an insult to the seekers of God among the Gentiles, and thus an insult to God Himself.

This betrayal of God’s intention revealed to Israel - that through the descendants of Abraham men from all the nations would be gathered to Him - this was the gravest transgression, regardless of the fairness or lack of it, in the finances involved. The House of Prayer for the nations was compromised.

Yes, agreed. Nowhere is it stated in the Gospel accounts that the moneychangers were cheating; only that they were there. Jesus overturned them for conducting their business within the court of the Gentiles, a worship space. There is no need to read “cheating” into it.

The court of the Gentiles was a holy space. CAF is not; there is no comparison.

 

[fide]

Yes. CAF is not Our Father’s House. It is not a church, it is not a temple, it is not a sacred space. It is an Internet discussion site that takes money to run.

CAF tries to be a worthy ministry. Whether it still is has become a matter of debate in recent years, but regardless, CAF needs to be funded, or it needs to close. It’s as simple as that.

We come to CAF as guests. And the rules of the host apply.

V. Remember, my house is my house.
R. As are its contents.
Amen.

All of this reasoning fits in the secular world - no argument there. But I hope we are NOT “there.”

 

[porthos11]

I would hope that all Catholic ministries are “run” by God, in His will, following His Spirit. “Private” suggests an autonomy that sounds to be “of the world”.

Don’t.

Catholic ministries are not run by God. They are run by men. One would hope they do so in the service of God, but it’s best to disabuse yourself of this ideal here and now.

Catholic Answers, for all the good it does, is still a business. “Private” here is PRECISELY as you just described. An autonomy that part of the world’s operation. That’s just the way it is. Because Catholic Answers is not run by the Church. It is run by men who have invested time, effort, talent, and yes, money to set up what they hope is a worthy ministry for Catholics, but they have to do all this within the framework of the world’s system. This makes it private.

There is no other way to look at it. It’s not a bad or evil thing, but you may have to get your head out of some clouds. What you’re asking for is not realistic. Catholic Answers is.

 

[porthos11]

porthos11:

Yes. CAF is not Our Father’s House. It is not a church, it is not a temple, it is not a sacred space. It is an Internet discussion site that takes money to run.

CAF tries to be a worthy ministry. Whether it still is has become a matter of debate in recent years, but regardless, CAF needs to be funded, or it needs to close. It’s as simple as that.

We come to CAF as guests. And the rules of the host apply.

V. Remember, my house is my house.
R. As are its contents.
Amen.

All of this reasoning fits in the secular world - no argument there. But I hope we are NOT “there.”

Sorry, but this is a fantasy.

Jesus did not leave us a life of dwelling with our heads in clouds. He told us to be not just meek as doves but also as cunning as serpents. Catholic Answers, is, surprise, IN the secular world. It exists, is incorporated, and ministers TO the secular world.

 

[fide]

Yes, agreed. Nowhere is it stated in the Gospel accounts that the moneychangers were cheating; only that they were there. Jesus overturned them for conducting their business within the court of the Gentiles, a worship space. There is no need to read “cheating” into it.

The court of the Gentiles was a holy space. CAF is not; there is no comparison.

Perhaps CAF does not intend to be a consecrated forum, devoted to the mission of evangelization. Perhaps such a forum should exist, but not here? The non-believers who come here - seeking, I hope, the Truth worth living for and perhaps dying for - are as deserving of a holy witness, as were the Gentiles of Jesus’s time. Do you agree?