Should Churches Charge for Religious Education?

[whichwaytogo47]

I definitely have no issue for them charging for summer instruction, non-required retreats (not related to the sacraments), and maybe even CCD classes if a family can afford them.

I do take issue with them charging for the sacraments, however, whether it be for first communion, first reconciliation, or confirmation. Yes, there can even be expensive retreats with confirmation, but I do not believe that someone should be charged for being received into the church - it’s a little different for the materials in regular religious instruction. I am glad they don’t charge for RCIA either as that might discourage attendance even if those who couldn’t afford it didn’t have to pay. To receive the sacraments, they should be free and either should come out of the general fund to receive people into the Church or to charge more for other religious classes or events or fundraisers or a 2nd collection.

That said, in our area I was looking at three churches. One church charges $100 per child. One a little further north in a less expensive area charges $90 up to 3 kids and than free for any other kids. And than one charges $150 for the first child and $220 for 2 or more kids.

 

[TheLittleLady]

I can understand a fee for the book (for those who can afford it), but, some of these fees are outlandish.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

I can understand a fee for the book (for those who can afford it), but, some of these fees are outlandish.

I agree. Especially since it’s volunteers (or at least should be volunteers), everyone should have to give a little. The church should have to throw in a portion of their overhead to religious instruction like they do for RCIA or marriage preparation (we were only charged $60 instead of $225 and were multi diocese in our Pre-Cana). It’s sad if the weekly collection is insufficient to help children receive religious instruction.

That said, if I can afford the $100, it’s not that big of an issue but it’s a HUGE issue to have to pay for confirmation. I wish they’d spend less on the materials ($25) and apply more of that money to the sacramental preparation.

 

[Cruciferi]

My Parish CCD was so bad I’d think it a sin to pay for it. Thankfully, the place CLOSED

 

[pianistclare]

I don’t know of any parish that charges for the Sacraments.
The fees are for regular instruction and cover the materials, the cost of incidentals for class, and the salary of the Director.
Yes
Salary.

We did have a fee for the Confirmation retreat. It was $100. It was a three day over-nighter which cost $150 per student. Father picked up the extra out of the budget for the families. Have never had anyone complain.The kids came back on fire for the faith.

It’s clear people have no idea what costs are involved in ministry. Our parish had to rent the Catholic school classrooms for k-5th Sunday school. $20 grand a year.

Step up and volunteer if you are properly catechized and certified.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

I don’t know of any parish that charges for the Sacraments.

The fees are for regular instruction and cover the materials, the cost of incidentals for class, and the salary of the Director.

Yes

Salary.

We did have a fee for the Confirmation retreat. It was $100. It was a three day over-nighter which cost $150 per student. Father picked up the extra out of the budget for the families. Have never had anyone complain.The kids came back on fire for the faith.

It’s clear people have no idea what costs are involved in ministry. Our parish had to rent the Catholic school classrooms for k-5th Sunday school. $20 grand a year.

I can understand that. But at parishes in the DC area, it’s listed for Confirmation not for the retreat for the Confirmation and is due at the beginning of the year not when you register for the retreat.

According to EWTN, it’s supposed to be a forbidden practice to charge for the sacraments.

 

[pianistclare]

Same here. Just because you don’t understand how it works doesn’t mean there is anything fishy going on. Buses and lodging have to be paid WELL in advance.
Fees are fees. I don’t say to people "it’s for the Retreat because we wnat the kids to go TOGETHER. I don’t want parents driving, in fact, the Archdiocese prohibits them from driving anyone but their own children. This becomes a logistics nightmare, with lots more paperwork than simply hiring a professional company.
You need to understand that the parishes do seek to save money, but will spend money on the things that need to be done right.
Cheaper is not always better.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

Same here. Just because you don’t understand how it works doesn’t mean there is anything fishy going on. Buses and lodging have to be paid WELL in advance.

Fees are fees. I don’t say to people "it’s for the Retreat because we want the kids to go TOGETHER. I don’t want parents driving, in fact, the Archdiocese prohibits them from driving anyone but their own children. This becomes a logistics nightmare, with lots more paperwork than simply hiring a professional company.

The problem is I understand how things work but disagree with the way you’re doing it and that you don’t give parents the choice to choose something cheaper (aka to go back and forth from the retreat) and you take it upon yourselves to reserve everything up front. Oh I have such a problem with that! I probably would pull my kids out of my CCD classes which would mean I’d need to find another church and they could lose an entire year of classes looking for less expensive, cheaper options. Also, I’m not ignoring that there are costs, but am arguing that the way it is collected is anti-biblical as the money-changers in the Church. Also you are denying people the opportunity who disagree with it being done together, aka an inter-faith family like mine. You also have kids with ADHD or autism that don’t benefit from staying overnight, but can otherwise participate in the retreat (may need parents to volunteer to provide break accommodations).

 

[pianistclare]

It is not anti-Biblical. that is just not true. No one is SELLING anything. They are teaching your children. BIG difference.
Parent DO have a choice, They can homeschool with permission from the Bishop.
But he’ll ask you why you don’t trust the people hired to do the work. Teens respond better to fresh faces and varied experiences.
Anyone who cannot afford it gets a waiver form the Pastor. All you have to do is ask.

 

[pianistclare]

When you think about the money spent on sports or video games or cell phones it’s a great value.
Benefits for a lifetime.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

It is not anti-Biblical. that is just not true. No one is SELLING anything.

They’re selling the sacraments. According to EWTN, this is a forbidden practice. Even for RCIA retreats, there’s no charge.

I agree that teaching the children through catechism is okay, but to charge for the sacraments is the anti-biblical part. Again, it’s reasonable to charge for the instruction, including the rental fee, the books, and a portion of the director’s salary. Though I do have to look into this whether this is an acceptable practice.

 

[pianistclare]

THEY ARE NOT SELLING SACRAMENTS,
They are charging for materials and covering costs, Stop saying that.
Does the Bishop give you a receipt at the end of mass? NO

 

[whichwaytogo47]

Costs that you have predetermined for everyone instead of allowing parents to go thru what works for their family. Having to bus all the students so they can be together and having to book overnight is really expensive.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

Definitely prefer that cost. The church I grew up in now only charges $50 which is a lot cheaper than the DC area even though the cost of living in both areas is identical.

 

[pianistclare]

And worth it. Safety. Fellowship. Being part of a parish family.
Homeschool of you want, but it won’t necessarily be better, but if you have enrolled in a Parish Formation program, you are not signing on for DIY instruction.

 

[pianistclare]

It sounds like the money is more important to you. You can ask for the fee to be waived. I’ve said that many times and you continue to argue that something is an abuse, and it is not.
I’m out.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

And worth it. Safety. Fellowship. Being part of a parish family.

Homeschool of you want, but it won’t necessarily be better, but if you have enrolled in a Parish Formation program, you are not signing on for DIY instruction. It sounds like the money is more important to you. You can ask for the fee to be waived. I’ve said that many times and you continue to argue that something is an abuse, and it is not.
I’m out

I guess I heard about it on EWTN and they may have been mistaken.

 

[starlady]

Probably what it was is that if a person requests a sacrament, the parish cannot say “you can’t receive this sacrament until you pay.” When I worked in a parish office, I was largely in charge of scheduling the baptisms, and we would have a suggested donation amount for baptisms (which is customary), but it was really up to the family if they were able to give a donation and how much that donation would be. As long as the family fulfilled all the other requirements for baptism (attend baptism class, have valid godparents for child, etc.), the sacrament could not be denied merely because they had no money for a donation. This was the same for other sacraments as well.

RE Classes are different, as pianistclare has explained. They often include costs of books and other materials, DRE salary, retreat costs, etc. At the parish where I worked, if a family really could not pay everything that was certainly negotiable. But that parish was also in a poorer neighborhood and did not have the same income as some of the larger, suburban parishes. The parish simply could not pay for everything for everyone.

 

[Blessedwithfive]

Our church charges a separate “sacramental fee” for first communion and confirmation. Everyone has to pay even the catechists (the catechists don’t have to pay the classroom fee). Classroom fee each year is over one hundred dollars per child. Marriage fee for parishioners is 800.00.

 

[whichwaytogo47]

And I thought my wife’s non-denominational churches fees were expensive ($200 for the prep and $1,400 for the ceremony). We spent in total on the ceremony and the marriage prep about $795.00 and that was getting prep at two separate churches (Catholic & non-denominational) and our wedding at a 3rd church (Methodist).