Money and Church Stances

This week I was chatting with a retired priest after we had visited a couple patients together. He commented on the state of the Catholic church, and said it seemed like it was going backwards at times. I asked what he meant, and he said in regards to social issues it just wasn't as vocal as it used to be. Sure, it used to speak out a lot about social injustice and poverty, but lately it was pretty silent. Except here in Louisville, lately the archbishop (I think) has decided to come out strongly against homosexual marriage. And the priest said, "Of all the things, why that?"

I said, "There's no money involved in it." He agreed. The church's stance on abortion is pretty well known, so it doesn't need to get all up in arms about that because it already is. But if we were to start getting vocal about climate change, fair trade, healthcare, humanitarian support, food programs, welfare... well, there's LOTS of capitalist interests in those. I'm not against capitalism, I think it can work (Better World Shopper and Firms of Endearment being some models I like). But when it comes to politics, I think a lot of what people are willing to talk about depends on where the money is. And when it comes to church voices, politics matter.

But what major businesses care about homosexual marriage? What multinational corporations will feel a pinch if suddenly we all put our money where are values are with this issue? As far as I know, pretty much none. So hey, let's yell about gay marriage! We can sound like we're active as a church, like we're in on the latest issues, like we care about morality! And other than ostracizing and hating a minority population, no one will get upset at us!

If on the other hand we start yammering loudly about the injustice of most trade systems and demand that we start support fairer trade, well, tons of people with tons of money will get mad. And then who will put the money in the offering plate?

I would have hoped after our current financial debacle blasted the economy of this country, we would have learned to not let money determine our morals and values. But maybe we haven't learned that lesson yet.

In Case of Emergency

Three times this week I called a church in order to get in touch with a minister. Each time, it was after hours. Three times this week, I was answered by machines. Three times, I was given an emergency number for just the situations I was in. Three times I called those emergency numbers, only to reach more answering machines. One time, I was called back the next day (nice, but a bit late given the surgery had long since been over). The other two, never called back.

Maybe the message should have been "In case of emergency, just leave a message here. We probably won't get to it until tomorrow when it's way too late to do you any good, but calling our emergency number has the exact same result, so please don't waste your time. We don't really care that much about your emergencies, so just calm down, and if you or your loved one dies before we get there, sorry. Hope purgatory isn't as bad as we've led you to believe! Guess you're screwed."

IF I ever am a pastor in a church (and that is a BIG "if"), I hope to leave an emergency contact number. And if I do, I plan on actually answering it.