ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on June 3, 2004

Dear Shelley: First, the "Polka" Mass is a violation of Church teaching. Such a folk Mass is condemned and is a gross irreverence to our Lord. The Mass is a sacred times and place. Only Sacred Music is allowed. Second, having Mass outside and not in the Church is allowed in some very limited circumstance, like on a battlefield, but a Church picnic is not one of those permissible circumstances. Third, I completely agree about the gambling. St. Francis de Sales, a doctor of the Church, says that gambling on games of chance is a violation against the virtue of reason. Wagering on things of which we have a direct influence on the outcome, like playing chess, running a foot race, and things like that St. de Sales says may be permissible, but not any game that does not require the use of reason, but is based on luck. Fourth, while gambling, even on games of luck, is not in-and-of-itself sinful, and while drinking in moderation is not in-and-of-sinful, these activities are not necessarily prudent or uplifting to the Church and can be a cause of scandal to others. I am personally scandalized at seeing Bingo in the Church Hall. I cannot stand the fact that many people see the neighborhood Catholic parish as a bingo hall. I am reminded of Jesus overturning the tables at the Temple. St. Paul tells us that while something may be permissible, it is not always prudent or beneficial. Just because we can do something does not mean we should do it. It is only the psychologically and spiritual immature that will insist that it is okay to do something merely because we technically are allowed. The littering of beer cans on Church property is certainly sinful and reprehensible. Who do these people think they are to liter God's Holy Ground? Where is God's minister at? As for not making it financially without these activities, I say BULL. Most all evangelical churches make it just fine without Bingo and carnivals and the like. How can they do it although our Catholic parishes are usually 3-10 times larger than the typical Baptist Church, for example? Well, because these Protestants actually give more tithes and offerings per capita more, and larger amounts per person on average, than does the Catholic parishes and people. They do this out of obedience to the teachings of the bible and out of common sense. Where is the common sense and the obedience to the Bible, and for that matter, among Catholics? In additional to Biblical teaching, one of the precepts of the Catholic Church is for its members to financially support the parish. This is binding upon all Catholics able to give. I call on everyone reading this to re-evaluate your donation practices and to begin to give "sacrificially" to the work of the parish and the work of God outside the parish. You will stand before God to account for your generosity or your stinginess. There is only ONE reason and ONE reason only that causes Catholic parishes feel compelled to have bingo, carnivals, and the like -- the SINFUL STINGINESS AND FAILURE of individual Catholics to support the parish and the work of God. Are Catholics more greedy than Baptists? Are Catholics more stingy than Baptists? Given the scandal of the lack of sacrificial giving among Catholics I would have to say that Catholics, in the United States at least, are among the stingiest Christians in the country. I am not sure, but I remember reading that the giving record of Catholics is BOTTOM of the list among the various denominations. People, we need to be NUMBER ONE on the sacrificial giving score. WE CATHOLICS have a fine-tuned theology of sacrifice that exceeds all other groups. Yet we are the least sacrificial of all the denominations when it comes to tithes and offerings. This is a shame and a gross scandal, and I believe, a grave sin. It becomes even more sinful when parishes think they must resort to fund-raising projects that are questionable at best and on the worse perhaps even scandalous. Sorry for the soapbox; this is one of my pet peeves. I am sickened at these parish fund-raising activities in general, and specifically when they involve questionable things. We are not normally to test God, but God in the Bible says that this is the one place we can test Him. God says to TEST ME AND SEE when it comes to tithing. What to do about this? 1) Well do as you are doing -- preaching through actions. To not come to these events is making a statement; 2) speak to the priest about these concerns in general and more importantly about the violations of Liturgical Law concerning the Polka Mass and the disgusting element of beer cans littered on the property. Talk to him about preaching about tithing. But in the long run, if they feel they must have these fund-raisers then do them with some semblance of decorum and maturity. 3) begin talking about this subject with other parishioners who will listen; 4) if the liturgical abuses do not stop, then report it to the Bishop; 5) pray, pray, and pray some more. We will be in prayer for you and your parish. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary