Why is a Catholic church in my area spending $10 million on a new church rather than ... ?

Question

feeding hungry people or educating people to support and feed themselves or helping people in countless other ways like I thought was the Christian way?

I can find NO justification for this. PLEASE explain this and help me understand.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on this ... and please don't attack me - I'm not trying to do the same to church-goers - I just want to know why.

Charitable work for recruiting? hmm... interesting.
You gotta spend money to make money? Makes religion sound like a business. Maybe the money made is for charitable work (for recruiting - around and around we go) or maybe some people are living it up. The priest at the church makes $100,000 a year. Is that an unusually high salary for someone in the faith business?
How did they get that money? The priest donated 10% of his salary and parish members made donations by giving lump sums or making commitments to monthly payments. They had to reach $2 million before breaking ground (which started early this year). I don't know how close they are to the full $10 mil, but...
They sent out books of the things (statues, windows, etc) that were going to be put into the completed structure and parishioners can/will buy them as gifts for the church or family, friends, etc... the gifts ranged from the hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars.

...

I can see how one would want to give their God nice things or whatever, but that isn't practical and, thus, I don't agree with the practice.
There is a school next to the old church. Maybe they will keep it open for the kids. I think they should. It wouldn't be too far of a drive for the priest to have mass there for the kids on weekdays. Cost effective when not having mass for the kids? Likely not...
The old church MIGHT be too small, but when I attended masses (not too long ago) there was room enough for everyone to sit in pews for mass.
Why are there any churches at all? I wonder the same thing. I think spirituality is a personal matter. Why 'we' need massive structures to declare beliefs and congregate, I don't know.
Why would anyone here know? Perhaps I should have added a question to my post. Why would parishioners pay for it.

...

Thanks to those of you who didn't attack me. I know religion and defending one's faith is a sticky issue in our world. I greatly appreciate helping me understand this that has been mulled endlessly by me. I intend to investigate that which was suggested to be investigated. Sounds like internet fun! Yipee!

For Daver, who said, ... "it is wrong for you to vilify other's for their involvement in ministries that differ from the ones you feel strongly about" ... Did I actually speak ill of others? Oh, by the way, you didn't answer my question, but thanks for trying!

Answer 1

I know nothing about the church you're asking about. Do you have any sort of news article online I can read up on? It's not fair for me to answer without knowing more of the details of the story.

Matt

You posted more numbers, but am still curious about the details. What you posted, such as the priest's salary, etc., only brought up more questions in terms of it being legitimate. I'm not saying it is...I'm not saying it's not. But point us to sources to where we can find out.

My gut instinct was not to condemn the church...and I don't condemn your question either. My first thought was "Wow! They must be doing a lot of great things if they have enough support to build a new place." But...am willing to look at any evidence to the contrary. All I have seen are the numbers you posted in the question. So I do have to ask -

--how much are they spending on purely charitable work?

Answer 2

It's not just a Catholic thing. Far too many churches of EVERY denomination are spending far too much money on buildings. I think we should return as much as possible to the New Testament model of meeting in people's homes--no building program necessary. Check out the links below for some thoughts on churches and debt, especially debt incurred from building programs.

Bottom line, if God is growing a congregation and they need a new or bigger building, He will provide. Nowhere in the Bible did anyone doing His work ever need a loan or in any other way have to go into debt.

Answer 3

these days w/ inflation & everything putting up a public building for 10 million isn't that bad at all (research how much money it took to build other places in your community if you don't believe me). but anyway, there may be an underlying reason why they have to move. for example, like a lot of people on here have wrote, they might need more space for people. in many communities, the church serves as far more than just a place to go to mass. but even if not for that, this is a building that many people go to frequently with their children & families. there is nothing wrong with wanting it to be nice especially since the church is god's temple. they want to make it beautiful to honor him. donations and stuff is a whole separate thing. the church can only teach people to be charitable. they can't make them donate.

Answer 4

You should research the works of Catholic Charities.

The Catholic Church DOES feed the hungry. The Catholic Church DOES educate people. The Catholic Church DOES enable people to help themselves.

What you have to realize is that different people have different callings. Some are called to minister outside the Church. These are the ones that feed the hungry, cloth the naked, educate, etc.

However, there are also those who's callings concern ministering to and within the Church itself. These are the ones who maintain existing houses of worship and/or build new ones. These ministeries are not only as valid as the previously mentioned ones - they are essential to the Church's growth as well.

Clearly, feeding and educating the needy is a primary concern of yours. That's fine, nothing wrong with that.

Having said that, it is wrong for you to vilify other's for their involvement in ministries that differ from the ones you feel strongly about. While our callings are different, none of them are any more important than the other. All such callings, together, is what makes the Church function.

Whether one ministers by seeing to the welfare of the poor, or ministers by the construction of new houses of worship, there is justification in both - as long as such things are being done for the greater glory or God.

ADDITION:

Indeed I did answer your question. Perhaps you see things differently because your question contains a fallacious premise.

Your question assumes that the Church is not spending any money on the needy because it is spending 10 million on the construction of a parish church. This premise is INCORRECT.

The fact of the matter is, as much as the Church spends on constructing new houses of worship, the Church is also spending millions more on helping the needy.

Nice try.

Answer 5

As much as we don't like it, people need a place to gather to worship. Perhaps your church needs a larger place. A Church is a rallying place where people can come together to help the poor and educate people. Why don't you become a part of the Peace and Justice Committee in your new Church and see that those issues which are burning at your heart are addressed. A parish which is willing to spend money for a new church can be motivated to also do for others.

Answer 6

Maybe they are over crowed and need a new church to seat as many members they have now. MY church is small but our attendance has grown very much in the last seven years. And we are going to build a new church. It's hard on our church goers when they have to sit in the class room area to attend mass.

Answer 7

Then go ask the priest why, and find out what sort of projects they are planning, who knows why they're spending that much, but why do you expect anyone here knows? It could be the congregation needs a larger space, or it could be that there are other projects planned like halls for wedding receptions, or a school or something, but if you want to know why they are spending that much go ask them, that's up to the congregation to decide what thier needs are, if you aren't a member of the church, then go ask someone who is.... Alot of newer churches built in our area are built with alot more room with long term needs in mind, and with more in mind than just a place for people to sit and listen to a service, they also want things like classrooms, counseling offices, meeting rooms, and rec halls to have special events, plays, wedding receptions, and church dinners for socializing or fundraising, with the growth of the population in this area, they have to look down the road and try to assess what needs they will have besides just holding mass.... Alot of larger local churches also rent out some of that extra space to AA, NA, and whatever other A you want to think of, and even rent out rooms to smaller churches to hold thier own meetings in, I know a pastor of a small church who rents a room from a much larger church to house his little congregation until they can get thier own space.... For all I know they might be spending that much so they can provide a soup kitchen or something...

Answer 8

It's possible that some of the facility will be a school. Non-profit groups not associated directly with the church, such as boy/girl scouts, AA, etc...are often invited to use Church facilites. Bake sales, etc.. for various charities are often held there. I think I have just given you some justification along the lines you were thinking and, to be honest, I am agnostic.

Answer 9

I have seen this happen once in a while too.
Big huge buildings, "recreation facilities", "sports complexes", new and unneeded additions, the list goes on...
For some things, I image there are legitimate reasons. Too often though I think these things may simply be "justified" in a twisted sort of way.
I wonder, was that Catholic church's old building falling apart? There may be reasons you are unaware of.

Answer 10

You do not state the area in which this is happening.

But I bet if you did some investigating, the local Catholic Church is "feeding hungry people or educating people to support and feed themselves or helping people in countless other ways."

In 2005, Catholic Charities across the nation provided help for 7,449,119 (unduplicated) people regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds.

In all, 173 main Catholic Charities agencies and their 1,500 branches and affiliates provided a myriad of vital, community-based services 12,643,199 times.

Catholic Charities:
+ Provided Food Services to 5,677,257 people
+ Provided Housing Related Services to 591,757 people
+ Provided Other Basic Needs Services to 1,578,579 people

And this does not include the educating that goes on in thousands of Catholic elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities.

The people who volunteer to do this work and the people who donate their hard earned money to support this work also need places to gather as the Body of Christ and worship the one true God.

Catholicism has a "both" mentality, not "either" or "or"
+ Both flesh and spirit
+ Both God and man
+ Both Adam and Christ
+ Both works and faith
. + Corporate Works of Mercy to those in need
. + Worship of the one who taught us to love

With love in Christ.