Selling things in church during a service

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Polak

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So I went to mass this evening and noticed a basket near the altar with some Christmas cards in it, and another one beside it where people could put money in to pay for the cards they take.

I was wondering if this is okay? I have generally not been particularly comfortable with things being sold at church (given Jesus’ reaction to the sellers by the temple) but in some churches, they at least do it in an area, whilst still in the building, outside the church doors that lead into where the mass is held. In this case the basket was right there by the altar. I know we make offerings during the collection as a standard part of the mass, but this just seems like the church doing a bit of business on Christmas cards and bringing it into the place where the holy mass actually takes place.
 
Erm yes there is a reason. It’s to get people’s opinions. I thought that was obvious.

And by the way, things being sold during mass in the church isn’t a strictly Polish church thing.
 
Polak said:
I thought that was obvious.
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What’s not obvious is how any of those opinions are going to be of any use to you in the situation you describe. If you have problems with it or questions about it, it seems pretty obvious to me that the opinion of you pastor is worth a lot more than any you will find on the internet.

By the way, I’m American, but I lived for twelve years in Poland and know the Polish Church well enough to know that there are differences between how things are done in Polish churches and how they are done in churches in most other countries, particularly the ones in English-speaking countries, where most of the posters here come from. Things that might be taboo in the US, for instance, might be totally normal standard operating procedure in Poland, and vice versa.
 
I have seen things for sale in non Polish Catholic churches (such as candles and various ornaments) as well and wasn’t sure about how ‘okay’ that was then. After a while I forgot about it though, but the mass this evening reminded me of it and that’s why I brought it up.

I am writing about it here because I am interested in getting people’s views on whether they agree or disagree with this practice. I can’t understand why you are being so difficult about it to be honest. If you do not wish to give your view on this, you don’t have to.
 
As long as the money is going to a charity cause and done in moderation, it really isn’t a problem. I see religious CDs and books available in the narthex (plural of narthex?) of many churches. My church has an entire gift shop where money goes toward support of the church. As long as people keeping putting embarassingly low % of their income in the offering plate, churches will have to be creative about raising money.
 
I assume the gift shop isn’t in the area where the mass takes place though?
 
The typical practices I see in USA are as follows:
  1. If the church or shrine has a gift shop (either in some part of the church building, or in a separate building on the church property) then it almost always closes during Masses. The only time there might be an exception is for some shrines that have Mass going on continuously all day long, usually because different pilgrimage groups are arriving for their scheduled Mass times all day long, and in those cases the gift shop is in a separate building, not in the church.
  2. It’s common for churches in USA to have a self-service rack or table for people to buy some small things like books, holy cards, pictures of the church, rosaries by selecting an item and dropping money in a box or the collection basket at Mass. Often it is in the vestibule of the church, so it’s outside the worship space. People who are at Mass are not going out to the vestibule to buy. Some churches do not have a vestibule and therefore have the rack or table usually in the rear of the church or off to the side. Again, people who are at Mass are generally not buying during the Mass; they do it before or after.
I have also seen similar arrangements in various churches all over Europe.
 
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I would assume that folks were doing this either before or after Mass and not during the actual Mass. Perhaps the basket was placed there for security reasons and highly visible? In my U.S. parish, the money collected during offering is placed at the base of the altar. Maybe the same idea?
 
I feel uneasy about this practice, too. I don’t care what country is doing this. I thought we were supposed to recollect ourselves entering the church and leaving, as we have usually just taken Communion. In my parish you have to wade through people selling raffle tickets and carrying clipboards for you to sign up for various activities. It feels irreverent to me, and I wish they would keep all that away from the church building.
 
Polak said:
I have generally not been particularly comfortable with things being sold at church (given Jesus’ reaction to the sellers by the temple)
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Jesus’ reaction to the moneychangers was based on the fact that they were extorting those who came to worship: they forced them to exchange their money into special currency that was the only currency that they could use to buy the animals for the sacrifices they wanted to have made. It was this unfair taking-advantage-of that Jesus was angry about.

It wasn’t the sale that was the problem (after all, they had to buy the animals in order to have the sacrifice!)… it was the way they were going about it.
 
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The original query involved selling things during church services or in the church proper.

It’s different when things are being sold after Mass, where it is part of the normal social interaction that goes on after Mass. Usually the items being sold are a fundraiser for the church, the school, a charity etc. I don’t feel that these sales distract me from prayer, and no one is forcing me to browse or buy.
Most churches have multiple exits, so if you feel bothered by having to walk past a sale table, you can go out a different door.
 
I read the question differently. I’m sorry. In my current parish all the doors have this going on at them, so I don’t have that option. If @Polak means inside the church proper, then I must admit that goes on too. But at least there is no one manning a table and making change.

My old parish just had pamphlets and free Rosaries placed out on a table in the back with a voluntary donation basket - not distracting at all. Nothing was sold or had a price tag. Items for sale, along with free coffee and donuts, were available in another building. You had the option of participating or not. Guess I’m homesick for that more peaceful and reverent experience.
 
Our Parish will announce that a youth group or other group is having a doughnut sale to sponsor a religious trip or something similar after Mass outside. Never do they sell in the church proper. I find nothing wrong with this.
 
It seems like usually the decision about where to place the sale is made based on where space and access are available. I have been in churches where there is literally no room for any sort of selling going on either in the church or in the vestibule. One such church always uses the basement of the school building right next door to the church for fundraiser sales. Other churches were built with a giant, multi-use vestibule or a multi-use room that is not in the worship space but part of the same building (sometimes downstairs). Clearly they anticipated having various activities including fundraisers in these very large spaces. Some churches will also have the sale just outside the church door in good weather, but in parts of the country where it snows, obviously that’s only an option during the warm months.
 
Wherever I’ve been, that’s always been part of the announcements at the end of Mass. I see nothing wrong with it either.
 
Our parish has no “other building.” Now, our building is large, with a parish hall, offices and classrooms. But there isn’t another building to hide away anything someone might find objectionable, like raising money for good causes or trying to find volunteers.
 
I’ve seen that sort of thing too. And little shops. I don’t know the protocol but like you I don’t like it it doesn’t sit right for the same reason. The church is a house of God, I don’t think any thing but the worship of God should take place in there. But then I don’t like this modern habit of chitter chatter in the pews or as people leaving/coming either. I think the reverence of God is missing. Its like people don’t know who they are standing before. I think the shop should be outside the church area. Inside people should talk to God only unless there is exceptional need and then keep it quick quiet and respectful. You are after all in the presence of the Most High.
I don’t think people would chatter or sell things on the side in the presence of some mere earthly king or queen. So why should they in the presence of the King of all Kings just because he is kind enough not to behead you or throw you out?
 
MaryFrances said:
I read the question differently. I’m sorry. In my current parish all the doors have this going on at them, so I don’t have that option. If @Wojciech means inside the church proper, then I must admit that goes on too. But at least there is no one manning a table and making change.
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Well I was referring specifically to the church proper, but I’m not over the moon about stuff being sold by people on entering the church building, in the ‘porch’ area before you go in. It’s a bit like when you have to go through shops in order to get to the waiting area in many airports, or how they put the till at a gas station right on the other side of the entrance, so you have to walk by all the products before you can pay.

Yes of course, no one is forcing us to buy anything, but I’m not keen on anything being sold in a church. I understand however, that the church may want to sell some things to help with its upkeep (for instance my local one has a weekly Christian magazine in the porch before you enter, that you can pick up, and there is a box you can drop money into for it). Once this stuff gets into the church though, where you can literally see what is for sale (even if people don’t buy during the service) as you look towards the altar and try and pray, that’s too far for me.
 
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