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KrazyKat
Guest
I certainly don’t see how it would be immoral !
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Jennifoo
Guest
I wonder if the people in question don’t know that the basket is only for donations. They may be truly in need and are thinking it’s for them and others in need to take when offered? I’m only saying this as I don’t want to assume bad motives on their part. Not knowing their background, what other faith communities they’ve been part of, etc.
As for handbags being stolen, I’ve heard of that happening, though I don’t think it’s happened in my area. I wonder if the thieves are Catholic, or just coming to Mass in order to prey on Catholics.
As for handbags being stolen, I’ve heard of that happening, though I don’t think it’s happened in my area. I wonder if the thieves are Catholic, or just coming to Mass in order to prey on Catholics.
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George_Stegmeir
Guest
I remember when I was a boy, over 65 years ago in Miami, Fla. priests regularly warning the women after the Serman on Sunday to keep their purses closed and to take them with them whe coming up for Communion.
Periodically I hear the same warning from the pulpit in my parish in New York City today.
Periodically I hear the same warning from the pulpit in my parish in New York City today.
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Brendan_64
Guest
Not at all. If someone commits a crime then (so long as the crime is deemed sinful by the Church, as theft clearly is) it is perfectly reasonable to report it to the police.
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Gordon_Sims
Guest
Our priests has never made announcements about theft in the church but there have been occasions when something had obviously been said to the ushers. They were clearly being more vigilant and even leaning into the pews to keep an eye on the baskets. Another time, I’m thinking 7-8 years ago, there was a rash of thefts from purses in the pews. At least a few wallets and cell phones were taken. I was pretty upset that they never said anything about it in the bulletin or from the altar. I did go to a weekday Mass at a different local parish with a school. Before Mass started they asked people to be careful of their belongings and explained that there had been thefts from purses and the collection basket, especially during the school Masses. They then had four students doing the collection, after which they went into the narthex unsupervised to collect the baskets into a single, larger basket. I thought that practice was somewhat incongruous.
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Cricket2
Guest
Of course not. I can’t see why. People need to be held accountable for what they have done. We may forgive them, as we are called to do, but that does not mean they should spend time in jail or pay fines for illegal activities. Jail time could be the penance they need to serve.
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Mrs_Sally
Guest
We had a problem with theft once. Our pastor was so upset. He came to every Mass the next week and told everyone that we’d had a theft from the collection plates and then explained new collection procedures - and told people to take purses/wallets up with them during communion. ( I am an EMHC, so I left my purse locked in my car and out of sight during Mass.)
We now pass collection baskets from pew to pew starting in the back. An usher stays “level” with the basket as it it passed. The baskets are taken to the sacrasity (front of the church) and put in the tamper proof bags and locked in the safe immediately.
Previously, the baskets had gone from front to back and the money transfer had happened in the back of the church. Apparently, the thief had simply taken baskets from an usher (impersonating as another usher) and walked straight out of the church with the money.
We now pass collection baskets from pew to pew starting in the back. An usher stays “level” with the basket as it it passed. The baskets are taken to the sacrasity (front of the church) and put in the tamper proof bags and locked in the safe immediately.
Previously, the baskets had gone from front to back and the money transfer had happened in the back of the church. Apparently, the thief had simply taken baskets from an usher (impersonating as another usher) and walked straight out of the church with the money.
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coachdennis
Guest
In our parish, there is no collection, ever.
Parishoners are asked pledge a certain amount every year and our encouraged to write out checks or use online giving.
Checks are either mailed to the church or dropped off in locked boxes at the entrance to the Church. Visitors or people who do not want to pledge are instructed to donate their money in the locked boxes. After Mass the ushers unlock the boxes and bring the checks and cash to the parish office.
We have been using this method for over 50 years. This way, at the offertory only the bread and wine are presented to the priest.
Parishoners are asked pledge a certain amount every year and our encouraged to write out checks or use online giving.
Checks are either mailed to the church or dropped off in locked boxes at the entrance to the Church. Visitors or people who do not want to pledge are instructed to donate their money in the locked boxes. After Mass the ushers unlock the boxes and bring the checks and cash to the parish office.
We have been using this method for over 50 years. This way, at the offertory only the bread and wine are presented to the priest.
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Mrs_Sally
Guest
I really like the locked-box method your parish uses. However, even with a collection, we don’t bring the money up during the offertory. After the collection the money is taken straight to the safe in the sacristy by the ushers. That seems to be the norm around here. I don’t know any Catholic parish that bring the collection up to the altar.
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coachdennis
Guest
the parish I grew up in used to do it. In fact, many of the parishes in our area do so. It can be kind of “funny” when you have a priest stand at the foot of the sanctuary like he is making sure the lay people carrying the bread and wine don’t enter the sanctuary but the usher carrying the collection basket can walk by him and place it literally at the foot of the altar!
When the grandchildren visit from the Midwest they get “cheated” because there is no collection basket that passes by for them to put money in.
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marytk
Guest
This is sad. I remember being warned about this when I was in college (the purses being taken ). It is sad that the ushers have to watch I can understand why we used the long armed baskets when I was young.
Maybe the women who serve as ex. ministers can invest in a small purse that wouldn’t be hard to strap on (and not too noticibabl( just big enough for a wallet)
I remember visiting New Orleans looking for the slot to put money in and light a candle and the slots were blocked and no unlit candles. I guess it was broken into so much you had to buy a candle at the gift shop to light it. That is sad.
Maybe the women who serve as ex. ministers can invest in a small purse that wouldn’t be hard to strap on (and not too noticibabl( just big enough for a wallet)
I remember visiting New Orleans looking for the slot to put money in and light a candle and the slots were blocked and no unlit candles. I guess it was broken into so much you had to buy a candle at the gift shop to light it. That is sad.
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Cricket2
Guest
As I said earlier, we too have a locked box/safe were the money goes directly after collection. I have seen parishes that bring the collection up to the altar, but also think it is not that wise. Better to have the money locked up immediately. Sad, but better.
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maryjk
Guest
Often?
How about, “Cash can be pocketed.”
Our parish has 5 - 7 people counting the money. They would all have to be in on the theft, otherwise someone would notice.
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Chatter163
Guest
I am guessing that you have not seen these, which surprised me, as they have been used in most parishes that I have ever visited, in three states. No need to make anything with wood; church supply houses sell these with wicker baskets and handles. Example is here.
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asia53
Guest
We, too, have had a theft problem with the collection basket. Father did away with adolescent ushers collecting the money. He didn’t want them placed in a situation, where they might have to confront someone. Adult ushers were asked to be more vigilant.
We’ve also had a problem with candle money, and the Lighthouse CD display. The candle money is collected more often, and locked in a safe in the Ushers’ room. We’re blessed with a church open 24/7. The thief took the screws off the hinges of the money box on the display to get to the cash/checks. We no longer have any CD’s for sale.
Our latest problem: someone is stealing unconsecrated hosts!
We’ve also had a problem with candle money, and the Lighthouse CD display. The candle money is collected more often, and locked in a safe in the Ushers’ room. We’re blessed with a church open 24/7. The thief took the screws off the hinges of the money box on the display to get to the cash/checks. We no longer have any CD’s for sale.
Our latest problem: someone is stealing unconsecrated hosts!
Same with us. Everyone on the counting team would have to be in on the theft.
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Cricket2
Guest
Don’t think it can’t happen though. Having witnessed these kind of counts it is very easy for someone to simply let a check or cash drop to their lap and then it never gets counted in the first place. Were there is money to be taken, and people with the bent to try it, this will always be a problem. I do think folks should restrict their giving to checks and forget the cash all together. At least this way there is some sort of stop gap via stopped checks.
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Gordon_Sims
Guest
I don’t see why more people, and more parishes for that matter, don’t opt for electronic giving. It’s caught on a little more at our parish but I remember several weeks after we first got it that there were at best only 3-4 people other than myself utilizing it. Even now, no more than 10% of our weekly collection comes in electronically.
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Cricket2
Guest
I don’t think electronic methods are any safer. The hackers out there would love it, as they could potentially empty someones entire account and use the information within to steal their identity. I for one will stick with writing checks. Thieves abound and electronics is not going to stop them.
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ProVobis
Guest
Checks also provide valuable information to anyone handling them. Don’t be surprised if you get a flock of -]-]junk/-]/-] direct mailings from charities and the like afterwards. There is a big market for mailing lists of all kinds and your local church doesn’t necessarily profit from them either.
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Cricket2
Guest
Yes, the marketing junk mail syndrome. I am totally opposed to all marketing done this way. It is a huge waste of resources (trees). In the case of credit card companies and department stores I have called the numbers provided on the mail and had them take my name of their mailing lists. As far as I am concerned this type of advertising should be done away with, especially since the arrival of the internet. Just my opinion.
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