Please help me with these stumbling blocks

[Cory_G]

I am actively finding my way back to God and I have been working with my pastor. I have some issues with several things and I am hoping some of you will be able to help me. These are huge stumbling blocks for me and I desperately want to overcome them. None of my concerns are with Theology, I truly believe that the Church teaches the fullness of the Gospel but instead my problems are with the Church’s, or at least my dioceses and parish’s, practices.

1. My parish charges for sacraments. Whether or not this is biblical I personally find this reprehensible. (sjnc.org/sacraments/bap.htm)

St. John Neumann Catholic Church:

The suggested donation associated with the handling of all these things is $50.00 and should be taken care of at the time of scheduling. Please note that if the preparations are made and you do not show up for the scheduled time of the baptism, the fee is non-refundable. (emphasis added)

1. A person, my pastor, has complete authority to withhold the Holy Spirit by denying me Confirmation and the Holy Spirit’s gifts until I jump through his required hoops. The main part that bothers me is that the Church is not unified and allows each parish and pastor to set their own agenda.
2. Requiring tithes so that the parish can keep track of attendance and then use your attendance record to grant you certain favors. (edline.net/files/41d3299d86b649aa3745a49013852ec4/Copy_of_Admission-Registration_Policy_III.pdf)
3. Passing the collection plate (or in my parish wicker basket) twice. I have a problem with the entire collection plate system in general so twice really bothers me. It’s not enough to trust God to take care of the Church but peer pressure tactics must be instituted in order to create guilt when a parishioner doesn’t have money in their pocket.

I have more but I cannot think right now. It’s lunch time, I’ll be back in a little bit.

 

[Allen537]

I am actively finding my way back to God and I have been working with my pastor. I have some issues with several things and I am hoping some of you will be able to help me. These are huge stumbling blocks for me and I desperately want to overcome them. None of my concerns are with Theology, I truly believe that the Church teaches the fullness of the Gospel but instead my problems are with the Church’s, or at least my dioceses and parish’s, practices.

1. My parish charges for sacraments. Whether or not this is biblical I personally find this reprehensible. (sjnc.org/sacraments/bap.htm)
2. A person, my pastor, has complete authority to withhold the Holy Spirit by denying me Confirmation and the Holy Spirit’s gifts until I jump through his required hoops. The main part that bothers me is that the Church is not unified and allows each parish and pastor to set their own agenda.
3. Requiring tithes so that the parish can keep track of attendance and then use your attendance record to grant you certain favors. (edline.net/files/41d3299d86b649aa3745a49013852ec4/Copy_of_Admission-Registration_Policy_III.pdf)
4. Passing the collection plate (or in my parish wicker basket) twice. I have a problem with the entire collection plate system in general so twice really bothers me. It’s not enough to trust God to take care of the Church but peer pressure tactics must be instituted in order to create guilt when a parishioner doesn’t have money in their pocket.

I have more but I cannot think right now. It’s lunch time, I’ll be back in a little bit.

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. I will try to explain why these things are done.

1. Charging for sacraments.

It is custom to pay a fee for special sacraments and masses (marriage, baptisms, funeral masses). As Christ said “the laborer deserves his wage”. While administering the sacraments is a part of the priest’s duties, those special sacraments are considered “extra work” for the priest and thus he is given a stipend for them. These sacraments are by no means ever denied to a person who cannot afford to pay the stipend. If you are having trouble getting the money for the stipend, then talk to the priest, I know that they will work with you.

1. Required hoops.

I am not sure what you mean by this. Are you saying that the pastor requires you to do more than the Church requires? If so would you please give us an example so it may be addressed?

1. Tithing

Tithing has always been a requirement. Tithing is how the church supports itself. Most parishes that I am affiliated with these days do not use envelopes to keep track of the parish registry, they have have people come by the office to register as a member of the Parish. The envelopes are more used to keep track of how much people give for tax purposes(for those who wish to claim as a deduction the money they gave to the parish). Also, I have never heard of anyone being granted “special favors” by the church because they gave money. Can you give an example of when and how this has happened?

1. Passing of the collection basket.

As Stated above, tithing is how a parish takes care of itself. God is not going to drop a big bag of money at the Parish doorstep when it comes time for the bills to be paid (though I know many pastors who wished this was the case ). The Church relies on it’s members to support it. A priest is paid not by the diocese, but by the parish he serves, though the diocese does set the amount each priest is paid. As far as the second collection is concerned, that is typically a collection for a special cause, sometimes for something with the parish, many times for things outside of the parish community. I am sorry you feel embarrassed by the plate/basket system. I don’t know what to tell you. Give what you can give. Most people I know have no problem passing the basket without having contributed. Everyone is different. If it makes you feel better, give to the parish outside of Mass. I am sure the parish will not refuse you giving it to them during the week at the parish office.

I hope that this helps to clear things up.

In Carmel,

Br. Allen

 

[RMRilke]

I am actively finding my way back to God and I have been working with my pastor. I have some issues with several things and I am hoping some of you will be able to help me. These are huge stumbling blocks for me and I desperately want to overcome them. None of my concerns are with Theology, I truly believe that the Church teaches the fullness of the Gospel but instead my problems are with the Church’s, or at least my dioceses and parish’s, practices.

1. My parish charges for sacraments. Whether or not this is biblical I personally find this reprehensible. (sjnc.org/sacraments/bap.htm)
2. A person, my pastor, has complete authority to withhold the Holy Spirit by denying me Confirmation and the Holy Spirit’s gifts until I jump through his required hoops. The main part that bothers me is that the Church is not unified and allows each parish and pastor to set their own agenda.
3. Requiring tithes so that the parish can keep track of attendance and then use your attendance record to grant you certain favors. (edline.net/files/41d3299d86b649aa3745a49013852ec4/Copy_of_Admission-Registration_Policy_III.pdf)
4. Passing the collection plate (or in my parish wicker basket) twice. I have a problem with the entire collection plate system in general so twice really bothers me. It’s not enough to trust God to take care of the Church but peer pressure tactics must be instituted in order to create guilt when a parishioner doesn’t have money in their pocket.

I have more but I cannot think right now. It’s lunch time, I’ll be back in a little bit.

Hi, Cory! It seems as though we are on this path together. I am a “lapsed Catholic” who is seeking to rejoin the fold.

I have read some of your postings and questions and have faced many of the same over the last 35 years since I left the Church-- or as I said at the time, “the Church left me.”

I grew up in the Sixties in an Irish Catholic family, only one of whom is a practicing Catholic. She had 12 years of Catholic education and 12 years of teaching in Catholic schools before she left the church in the 1990’s. The rest of my immediate family are vehemently anti-religion of any sort, but especially toward Catholicism. I left in the 1970’s and never expected to be back.

But before that, I had experienced a rich, liberal Catholic life of going to Mass and Confession, working for the poor, encouraging justice and praying for peace. I knew priests that marched for peace and social justice and knew about Catholics like Caesar Chavez, Dorothy Day, and Sr. Corita. As a child, I thought that all Catholic were liberal Democrats-- in the vein of Jesus Christ himself.

The Catholic Church that I am rejoining, at first glance appears to be quite different. Apparently, a lot of them are conservative Republicans. It has lots of rules and “hoops” for one to jump through, if you consider them “hoops.” Hopefully, YOUR PRIEST does not consider them “hoops,” and is carefully considering YOUR OWN, PERSONAL SALVATION in his requirements, whether they be for money, time or penitance.

This is just what I am feeling and believing right now, as I haven’t yet gone to Confession and I have no idea what to expect from my priest since I have only seen him a few times in Mass. He may not be as open to me rejoining the Church as I hope, and, in fact, may make it nearly impossible for me to do so. But it seems as though all roads are leading in that direction, so I will just go where I am being led.

God bless,
Maria

 

[Cory_G]

Thank you very much for helping me Allen.

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. I will try to explain why these things are done.

1. Charging for sacraments.

It is custom to pay a fee for special sacraments and masses (marriage, baptisms, funeral masses). As Christ said “the laborer deserves his wage”. While administering the sacraments is a part of the priest’s duties, those special sacraments are considered “extra work” for the priest and thus he is given a stipend for them. These sacraments are by no means ever denied to a person who cannot afford to pay the stipend. If you are having trouble getting the money for the stipend, then talk to the priest, I know that they will work with you.

I agree with you that a laborer deserves his pay. I am under the impression that our parish priests have room and board covered by the Church and receive a salary of around 15 - 20k for the extras in life.

I understand that it is tradition to pay a stipend and that a baptism may be viewed as extra work by some people, however, I do not view it that way. A priest presides over the sacraments and Mass, in my opinion that’s the job description.

Traditionally tithing is 10%, the medium US household income is 50k, so a parishioner could technically be giving $5k per year to the Church. When the parishioner has a child and asks for an extra 5 minutes at Mass to perform the baptism, I find it appalling to hit them up for a $50 non-refundable fee.

Isn’t that why a parishioner gives the$5k this year. To support priests who are to administer the sacraments and spread the Gospel?

1. Required hoops.

I am not sure what you mean by this. Are you saying that the pastor requires you to do more than the Church requires? If so would you please give us an example so it may be addressed?

2 year RCIA class, every Thursday for 2 hours and be dismissed from Mass every Sunday to “break open the Word”. In other parishes, but still in my diocese, allow a person to consult with a priest for a short while and receive instruction and still others have a program from September to Easter.

As I stated, my problem is not solely with the hoops, but the fact that the Church isn’t unified in its approach. If the CC want’s all to go to a RCIA class for 2 years than that is what would be required. Currently, each pastor makes his own rules.

1. Tithing

Tithing has always been a requirement. Tithing is how the church supports itself. Most parishes that I am affiliated with these days do not use envelopes to keep track of the parish registry, they have have people come by the office to register as a member of the Parish. The envelopes are more used to keep track of how much people give for tax purposes(for those who wish to claim as a deduction the money they gave to the parish). Also, I have never heard of anyone being granted “special favors” by the church because they gave money. Can you give an example of when and how this has happened?

According to the AAA - tithing is not a requirement.

The link in my original posts goes to a document from a parish in my dioceses which grants special treatment to those who put in envelopes every week.

1. Passing of the collection basket.

As Stated above, tithing is how a parish takes care of itself. God is not going to drop a big bag of money at the Parish doorstep when it comes time for the bills to be paid (though I know many pastors who wished this was the case ). The Church relies on it’s members to support it. A priest is paid not by the diocese, but by the parish he serves, though the diocese does set the amount each priest is paid. As far as the second collection is concerned, that is typically a collection for a special cause, sometimes for something with the parish, many times for things outside of the parish community. I am sorry you feel embarrassed by the plate/basket system. I don’t know what to tell you. Give what you can give. Most people I know have no problem passing the basket without having contributed. Everyone is different. If it makes you feel better, give to the parish outside of Mass. I am sure the parish will not refuse you giving it to them during the week at the parish office.

I agree with you, and it was not brought up, that tithing is how the Church supports itself or a magic bag falls from the sky. The point was missed.

The topic for debate is how the Church collects money from the lay faithful and not the fact that the money comes from the lay faithful.

 

[Cory_G]

Hello Maria, I have read some of your posts as well and I am very happy to hear that you are returning the Lord, same as I.

This is just what I am feeling and believing right now, as I haven’t yet gone to Confession and I have no idea what to expect from my priest since I have only seen him a few times in Mass. He may not be as open to me rejoining the Church as I hope, and, in fact, may make it nearly impossible for me to do so. But it seems as though all roads are leading in that direction, so I will just go where I am being led.

You make a good point here and I think it is a big concern. One of the things that separate the Catholic Church from the many denominations spawned by the reformation, is that the Church is unified and not a bunch of individuals running around doing their own thing.

From what I can tell so far, each parish does do their own thing and makes their own policies and rules. So in this respect I see no difference from the CC and the bickering denominations.

 

[kage_ar]

1. My parish charges for sacraments. Whether or not this is biblical I personally find this reprehensible. (sjnc.org/sacraments/bap.htm)

The website says “suggested donation”. If a person or family cannot afford the donation, the fees would be waived (call your Parish office and ask about this).

I’ll use Baptism as an example. As you know, the Church considers Baptism a vital sacrament. At many other ecclesiastical communities, the requirement for Baptism is that you walk down the isle and ask to be baptized.

At your Catholic Parish, unless there is an emergency/chance of immediate death, the family will attend a Baptism preparation - a series of short classes or one long retreat-type class. The fees will cover the books, materials and overhead cost of those classes.

The Parish will provide a Baptismal Candle, some provide a garmet. Baptisms are often done at times other than Mass, the Church will have to be open, heated, etc.

A small donation to cover these costs is reasonable

1. A person, my pastor, has complete authority to withhold the Holy Spirit by denying me Confirmation and the Holy Spirit’s gifts until I jump through his required hoops. The main part that bothers me is that the Church is not unified and allows each parish and pastor to set their own agenda.

The guidelines for Confirmation are determined by the Bishop for the Diocese. The Bishop is the minister of Confirmation (due to logistics, most Bishops will give a dispensation to the Pastor to Confirm at Easter Vigil).

The Pastor is responsible to see that those to be confirmed have met the Diocesian guidelines. If the Pastor is adding his own requirements, contact your Diocese.

Remember, Confirmation and all Sacraments belong to the Church and she is responsible to dispense them to those who are prepared to recieve.

1. Requiring tithes so that the parish can keep track of attendance and then use your attendance record to grant you certain favors. (edline.net/files/41d3299d86b649aa3745a49013852ec4/Copy_of_Admission-Registration_Policy_III.pdf)
2. Passing the collection plate (or in my parish wicker basket) twice. I have a problem with the entire collection plate system in general so twice really bothers me. It’s not enough to trust God to take care of the Church but peer pressure tactics must be instituted in order to create guilt when a parishioner doesn’t have money in their pocket. .

Support of the Church is commanded by Scripture.

Your link to alleged “favors” does not work, maybe you can explain what you mean?

 

[Cory_G]

The website says “suggested donation”. If a person or family cannot afford the donation, the fees would be waived (call your Parish office and ask about this).

…

A small donation to cover these costs is reasonable

Good point here. But you make the same mistake the my parish does. With your left hand you say “donation” and with your right you say “fee”.

A donation is a gift, if it is in exchange for something it is a fee (charge). Morally and legally.

But in my argument you can say a Catholic making an average of $50k per year, tithes $5k per year, over the course of 40 years that is $200k. That amount can’t cover a $0.10 candle and the priest’s time for a couple of kids?

The parish is very up front about the fees involved and that they are non-refundable. You are only speculating that the fees can be waived. The parish has no concern for assuring the poor that they too can have their children baptized.

The guidelines for Confirmation are determined by the Bishop for the Diocese. The Bishop is the minister of Confirmation (due to logistics, most Bishops will give a dispensation to the Pastor to Confirm at Easter Vigil).

The Pastor is responsible to see that those to be confirmed have met the Diocesian guidelines. If the Pastor is adding his own requirements, contact your Diocese.

Remember, Confirmation and all Sacraments belong to the Church and she is responsible to dispense them to those who are prepared to recieve.

This may or may not be true. But in my diocese it has been delegated to each parish. If it is true, it still doesn’t address why the Church, who you say is responsible to dispense the sacraments, cannot come up with a unified system for all dioceses.

Support of the Church is commanded by Scripture.

Again, this is not in dispute. The method of obtaining support is.

Your link to alleged “favors” does not work, maybe you can explain what you mean?

Your choice for “Alleged” seems to be an attempt to create hostility and not friendly conversation. This thread is to address concerns not hurt anyone’s feelings.

The link works on my end, I am copying it out of my browser. Try clicking this. Refer to section “I” approx 4th paragraph down, under priorities.

 

[kage_ar]

The link works on my end, I am copying it out of my browser. Try clicking this. Refer to section “I” approx 4th paragraph down, under priorities.

Your link goes to a secure page that wants a login/password account number.

Could you copy and paste what you are referencing?

 

[Cory_G]

Your link goes to a secure page that wants a login/password account number.

Could you copy and paste what you are referencing?

Try this: edline.net/GroupHome.page

Then click: Admissions/Registration Policy (second option)

 

[kage_ar]

The parish has no concern for assuring the poor that they too can have their children baptized.
.

I will phone your Parish tomorrow and find out if they waive the fee for those who cannot afford it.

This may or may not be true. But in my diocese it has been delegated to each parish. .

I will phone your Diocese tomorrow and get a copy of the Confirmation reqs for you (or you could ask the DRE at your Parish for a copy.

Again, this is not in dispute. The method of obtaining support is…

The “passing the plate” has been part of the tradition for many many years - you will find it in almost every Christian faith community. If you have a better method in mind, speak to your Bishop about it.

 

[jmcrae]

But in my argument you can say a Catholic making an average of $50k per year, tithes $5k per year, over the course of 40 years that is $200k. That amount can’t cover a $0.10 candle and the priest’s time for a couple of kids?

This is the first I’ve heard of Catholics actually tithing.

I think it’s great that the majority of people at your parish give a full 10% of their earnings to the Church. When I first started going to Mass, I used to worry, because it seemed to me that those who were sitting near to me at Mass were only making about $20.00 a week.

Again, this is not in dispute. The method of obtaining support is.

What would you suggest instead?

 

[kage_ar]

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Still no go.

 

[snhs]

Good point here. But you make the same mistake the my parish does. With your left hand you say “donation” and with your right you say “fee”.

A donation is a gift, if it is in exchange for something it is a fee (charge). Morally and legally.

But in my argument you can say a Catholic making an average of $50k per year, tithes $5k per year, over the course of 40 years that is $200k. That amount can’t cover a $0.10 candle and the priest’s time for a couple of kids?

The parish is very up front about the fees involved and that they are non-refundable. You are only speculating that the fees can be waived. The parish has no concern for assuring the poor that they too can have their children baptized.

This may or may not be true. But in my diocese it has been delegated to each parish. If it is true, it still doesn’t address why the Church, who you say is responsible to dispense the sacraments, cannot come up with a unified system for all dioceses.

Again, this is not in dispute. The method of obtaining support is.

Your choice for “Alleged” seems to be an attempt to create hostility and not friendly conversation. This thread is to address concerns not hurt anyone’s feelings.

The link works on my end, I am copying it out of my browser. Try clicking this. Refer to section “I” approx 4th paragraph down, under priorities.

What you don’t realise though is that a lot of people wouldn’t know what kind of donation to make. The vast majority of Catholics realise that the Priests have costs and that the Parish have costs. If as you suggest a donation should be a gift you could end up with two families with exactly the same income and outgoings giving vastly different sums. In this case having a suggested donation to cover costs is helpful to a lot of people even if it may seem wrong to you.

I’m fairly sure that both the Parish and the Priest does, and I’m certain that the Church does.

Because the Church is universal. It’s all very well saying the Church should have a rule and stick to it, but if we make the rule two years weekly attendance at RCIA classes and weekly attendance at Mass then what about Missionary Parishes and other areas where they may only see a Priest a few times every year or once a month or so? It could easily end up taking their whole lifetime before they could receive the Sacrament whereas someone in a Western nation might manage it in a year or so. Is that really what you want two tier Catholicism where proximity to a Parish with a Priest is the be all and end all? The other thing you ignore is that in this universal Church the level of understanding can be vastly different. Some people with specific disabilities may need more tuition than another before they get an appropriate level of understanding to start receiving Communion, for example, whereas others may simply not have the maturity for Confession or Confirmation by whatever age we decide.

The other thing is a Bishop, for the most part, doesn’t know everyone in his Diocese. Often it makes sense for a Parish Priest to have some discretion.

Passing round a collection plate costs next to nothing. The collection plates may need renewed once a decade or so but that’s it. What system would you suggest lettering all the Parishioners with SAEs to return their cheques? That’s rather more expensive by comparison. And what about the Priest, does he just get his entire salary at the beginning/end of the year? Then there’s the question of Peter’s Pence, Bishops’ charities, Bishops’ conferences etc. Do they need to letter the whole Diocese/Country/World to get a donation? The most cost effective and efficient system is handing round a plate at Mass, would you rather they wasted the money donated on letter asking people to donate or spend it for the purpose it was intended?

Would you prefer we instantly assume the worst of the Church? You can defend yourself and your position in this thread, your Priest and Parish can’t.

Most of us don’t have an edline subscription, that’s probably why it isn’t working.

 

[kage_ar]

Try this: edline.net/GroupHome.page

Then click: Admissions/Registration Policy (second option)

The login stuff is still an issue, but, this company appears to be a service for schools.

You have a problem with a school as well?

 

[Cory_G]

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Still no go.

Could try the long way. Go here: lasvegas-diocese.org/schools_st_elizabeth.html

Click the link to the school website.

On the right click: School Information

On the right click: Admissions / Fees /Handbooks / Forms/ Information

In the middle click: Admissions/Registration Policy

 

[Cory_G]

This is the first I’ve heard of Catholics actually tithing.

I think it’s great that the majority of people at your parish give a full 10% of their earnings to the Church. When I first started going to Mass, I used to worry, because it seemed to me that those who were sitting near to me at Mass were only making about $20.00 a week.

You make my point very clear here. The fact that you are noticing what others are giving causes unnecessary anxiety for some people.

I have a family of four. I make $1,300/month. I don’t have a lot of money, and currently I am in college obtaining a BA.

I have two options, drop a meager amount into the plate, or donate later, in which case it appears to those around that I donated nothing.

I don’t like being put into a situation where I am required to feel inadequate because of my current financial situation.

What would you suggest instead?

Anything that doesn’t require people to be put on the spot and made to feel inferior to others. I suggest removing donations from Mass and providing convenient ways to donate, such as: Donation boxes, mailing address for donations, etc.

 

[jmcrae]

Could try the long way. Go here: lasvegas-diocese.org/schools_st_elizabeth.html

Click the link to the school website.

On the right click: School Information

On the right click: Admissions / Fees /Handbooks / Forms/ Information

In the middle click: Admissions/Registration Policy

Okay, It says,

Active registered parishioners at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church who are attending Mass
regularly. (Mass attendance is measured by the “frequency” of envelopes deposited during weekend Masses, not by the dollar amount of donations.) You must have been registered in the parish for at least one year and have frequent participation at Mass as measured by envelopes submitted to be
considered as an active parishioner for admission to the school.

So, you submit an empty envelope every week at Mass to record your attendance at Mass. How is this “paying for a special privilege”?

It’s a private school; if they want to limit their students to only those students who go to Mass every Sunday, that is their privilege. It probably makes for a superior learning environment, which is what private schools are actually charging for (you can get a mediocre education for free, after all), which is why they would want to be able to deliver on that, by insisting that everyone conform to their higher standards.

 

[jmcrae]

You make my point very clear here. The fact that you are noticing what others are giving causes unnecessary anxiety for some people.

I have a family of four. I make $1,300/month. I don’t have a lot of money, and currently I am in college obtaining a BA.

I have two options, drop a meager amount into the plate, or donate later, in which case it appears to those around that I donated nothing.

I don’t like being put into a situation where I am required to feel inadequate because of my current financial situation.

Anything that doesn’t require people to be put on the spot and made to feel inferior to others. I suggest removing donations from Mass and providing convenient ways to donate, such as: Donation boxes, mailing address for donations, etc.

You could also use an envelope, and that way no one would know how much you were giving.

 

[Cory_G]

What you don’t realise though is that a lot of people wouldn’t know what kind of donation to make. The vast majority of Catholics realise that the Priests have costs and that the Parish have costs. If as you suggest a donation should be a gift you could end up with two families with exactly the same income and outgoings giving vastly different sums. In this case having a suggested donation to cover costs is helpful to a lot of people even if it may seem wrong to you.

This same logic would also authorize the Church to charge a “suggested donation” at the door before entering Mass.

Would you think it proper to sell tickets for the Eucharist? (which is a Sacrament same as Baptism)

Because the Church is universal. It’s all very well saying the Church should have a rule and stick to it, but if we make the rule two years weekly attendance at RCIA classes and weekly attendance at Mass then what about Missionary Parishes and other areas where they may only see a Priest a few times every year or once a month or so? It could easily end up taking their whole lifetime before they could receive the Sacrament whereas someone in a Western nation might manage it in a year or so. Is that really what you want two tier Catholicism where proximity to a Parish with a Priest is the be all and end all? The other thing you ignore is that in this universal Church the level of understanding can be vastly different. Some people with specific disabilities may need more tuition than another before they get an appropriate level of understanding to start receiving Communion, for example, whereas others may simply not have the maturity for Confession or Confirmation by whatever age we decide.

The other thing is a Bishop, for the most part, doesn’t know everyone in his Diocese. Often it makes sense for a Parish Priest to have some discretion.

You make a very good case here. Will you help me with this question?

One of my concerns is that if I drive to a Parish across town I can be confirmed by Easter. If I stay with my closest Parish it will take 2 years.

Is it the intention of the CC to encourage Parish shopping just as protestant church shop?

And what about the Priest, does he just get his entire salary at the beginning/end of the year?

Think about all your other responsibilities. Utility bills for example. Just because you pay your utility bill once a month doesn’t mean utility employees are unable to receive their weekly paycheck.

This argument is invalid.

The most cost effective and efficient system is handing round a plate at Mass, would you rather they wasted the money donated on letter asking people to donate or spend it for the purpose it was intended?

It would be the same to have a donation box at the entrances that a priest, or church administrator, can open and withdraw the money from.

 

[Catholic90]

Could try the long way. Go here: lasvegas-diocese.org/schools_st_elizabeth.html

Click the link to the school website.

On the right click: School Information

On the right click: Admissions / Fees /Handbooks / Forms/ Information

In the middle click: Admissions/Registration Policy

This is the registration policy for the school…it has nothing to do with the sacraments. This is a very standard procedure. What is your issue with this?

The school I teach at has a $300 non-refundable deposit.
The high school where my kids go has a $250 non-refundable deposit PER STUDENT in each family every year.

Both schools have waiting lists.

What is your real issue?