Why does this Church do this????

Question

The place I worked at last was in a building district right in the Middle of a VERY poor area. I mean POOR.

There were some great organizations there, like the salvation army, and any other kind of place you can think of set up shop because there is so much need.

Now, in the POOREST part of the place, there was a HUGE CATHOLIC SHOP, that did not give out ANY food, but sold like religous Nic Nacs and trinkets.

Why would you pay rent, or buy real estate in an area like this just to place your Idols there for sale? What can a poor homeless person do with an Idol, if they could afford one in the first place?

If you want to go look, it is in Norristown PA one street over from West Airy.

This shop IS run by the Church, a nun was even at the cash register in full gear.

Catholic Shop
www.catholicshoponline.com

201 E Main St
Norristown, PA 19401
[phone]

Answer 1

Catholics are not saved Christians. They are idolaters, so that's why they sell stupid trinkets instead of preaching the true Gospel and helping the poor.

The genocidal Vatican is the richest "nation" on earth, and has killed more people than any group in history.

Answer 2

I dont think that is a representing a church. If it was, it would be on church grounds. I would have to see inside the store myself. Maybe they also sold bibles, rosaries and ceremonial dresses. Maybe its their way of giving people motivation to keep up the faith by having these things available. Personally I think that holy water is a bunch of B.S. I know that if I had very little money, I think about rent, food, electric, school supplies and clothes for the kids, etc...first before buying a toy or a figurine of a person because a figurine of a person or a cross is not going to protect you from someone or something. I know there would be a better ways to go about having a religious store. I would just let it go.
~peace

♥Muslim

Answer 3

I kinda asked the same question just today, and one guy said something about "Catholics are not saved by Christians," I dub that man an idiot and a moron, but thats besides the point, the point is that by putting something like that in an area such as that, the church believes it gives hope and faith to those who need it most, which is a bunch of stupid logic. You're absolutely right, and to be honest, I have been through there, didn't see any store like that, but I've been through the area, I'd rather pay my rent then buy a figurine to kneel in front of and pray to for help.

Answer 4

It's just an example of people cashing in on other people's faith. I don't know if the store owners are actually catholic... chances are they probably are.... but they probably feel that bringing their ridiculously priced "nic nacs" to this poor community will somehow help these people make better lives for themselves.

They don't need a religious shop to sell the jesus statues or rosary beads. They need organizations who help them get back on their feet.

I saw this woman on TV who spent A LOT of money on this stuff called "devil oil" that was meant to keep demons away.

People make a sh*t load of money taking advantage of the gullibility of people. It just so happens that people of faith are much MUCH more gullible than the rest of the world.

Answer 5

First off, those who pointed out that the store was probably not run by "The Church" per se were probably right. There are many religious stores that are not run by any church. The reason they exist is much the same reason that any other store exists in a capitalist country -- because of the fluctuations of supplu and demand.

If you look carefully, poor neighborhoods in America generally have a larger than normal percentage of a number of businesses than well to do neighborhoods, including religious establishments (churches and businesses), liquor and porn sales, and mini-marts. The minimarts are there because poorer people are more likely to need to walk to the store rather than be able to drive to someplace like walmart. They usually charge inflated prices for their convenience. Liqour and porn stores are there because (a) poor people are less likely than rich people to have the power to keep "undesirable" stores out of their neighborhoods, and more likely to welcome any kidn of property tax revenue to pay for their schools, and (b) because porn/liquor may be one of the few recreational escapes available to people in poorer districts. Misery in life leads to a need to escape.... which brings me to churches.

Churches also fulfill the need of people in poverty stricken conditions to find escape, hope, meaning, etc, etc. Even if they do not give any physical charity, they give the valuable commodity of hope, whicch in turn can give people the strength to continue on in difficult situations. This church store isn't selling a 'meaningless idol,' -- it is selling hope. The religious nicknacks and trinkets that it sells give people something physical that they can literally hold on to when their life falls apart, and a focus for their fears and dreams. A rich person pays for a shrink to listen to them (and just in listening to help them), and buys prozac or other antidepressants if it gets too bad. A less rich person may pay for a statue of a saint to listen to them, and buy alcohol if it gets too bad. There's no functional difference. If anything, a saint is less likely than a shrink to give you really bad advice..... (my apologies to any shrinks out there)

Even if you are an atheist, you shouldn't have to ask this question seriously. Instead, think about it. Don't ask, "why are people stupid/why is the church corrupt?" first. First ask, "What is the functionality of this situation? What about poverty....what about humans.... makes it likely to arise?"

EVEN IF these were "idols" (which btw is a very prejudicial term and blatantly offensive to Catholics), don't you realize that for thousands of years people have sought out idols in times of trouble? Throughout the ancient world even the most poverty stricken of homes had small shrines to their gods within them..... philosophical atheism has generally been a trait of the upper, educated classes who had the power and luxury to be able to do without gods, in one way or another. (Compare the agrarian commitment to Dionysus/Liber around 183 BCE to Rome's aggressive destruction of his ancient rites)

Additionally, a good Christian would say that of COURSE religon would be most evident in a poor neighborhood -- Christ came for the poor. While Christ didn't want moneychangers and sacrifice-sellers *in his temple*, there is no indication that he wanted no religious objects to be sold at all, anywhere.

Answer 6

So, are you wondering why they are not handing out food and beds, or why they are not giving free salvation to the needy, or why they are bringing in a little improvement to the dilapidated area ???

Answer 7

You want to look more...think of the Pope and his masses sitting in one of the richest buildings in the world with their collection of renaissance art and sculptures. They could wipe out world hunger in a flash but again they don't seem to care once they have their riches and control do they?

Answer 8

Thoes items are great to have in your house, they help remind us of God's glory. All the saints struggled with sin and the same problems we do, yet that know the glories of heaven- they help remind us that we too can know the glories of heaven.

The catholic church has many charities, and that shop might not have even been run by the church- it could have been run by others.

Answer 9

Miss me with that BS. I'm tired of your anti-Catholic crap. You sound like a sniveller, nothing more. Why don't you go ask the shop owner why he is there? Those kinds of stores are not run by the Church, they are run by individuals like any other store.
While you're at it: What have YOU done for those poor people lately?

Answer 10

pretty sad, if you ask me. they probably sell their magical idols and rosary beads and tell people that mary will appear and bring them food.

sorry - catholic stuff just gets under my skin