The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-03-09

is evident that what is forbidden
is the taking of money at church
doors under any pretext whatso-
ever, whether as prerequisite for
entrance into the church to attend
services or in payment for a slit
ing therein. Under no circum-
stances is it permissible to place
collectors at the church doors for
the purpose of exacting from those
who are about to enter money or
even tickets which had been pre-
viously disposed of for money.
Entrance into the church must be
entirely and absolutely free to all
without exception; and no de-
mand for money, even when col
lected for a sitting in church, must
be made upon those who seek adj
mission for the purpose of attend
ing Mass or any other service. 1t
is evident that this is no new re-
gulation; nor does His Excellency
claim that it is. The practice here
in complained Of was utterly con-
demned for years and the Dele
gate merely reiterates that con-
demnation. Accordingly, people
must be freely admitted to the
church whether they pay or not
and this should always be so.
The case is different, however,
when there is question of collect
ing money for sittings in church.
The renting Of seats for a service
| is just as legitimate as the renting
Of pews. 1t is source of revenue
for defraying the expense of pub
lie worship and the up-keep Of
churches. It is not now, and it
never was, forbidden to collect
money for seats in church. Those
who attend the services are free
to take seats or not just as they
wish. If they prefer to stand or
kneel outside the pews well and
good. No demand must be made
on them. But if they wish to
occupy seat is it unreasonable
to ask that, in such case, they
contribute something additional
for the support of the Church 2
They are not entitled to a seat
unless they pay for it. Provision
is made in churches for those who
are unable to pay for sittings.
Places are reserved for them
where they can attend services
without any obligation Of paying
seat money. Such an arrangement
is necessary for. the benefit of
those who cannot afford to pay
even the small amount asked for
the privilege Of occupying seat.
Whenever seat money is exacted
it must be taken up in such a way
as to leave no doubt in the minds
of the people that the money is
paid for the privilege Of ocs
cupying a seat and not as condi-
t ton for entrance into the church.
Hence, it is not allowed to take
up seat money at the door Of, the
church. The collector must take
his stand inside the church, at a
distance from the door, either be-
hind the last row Of pews or in
the aisle. Under these conditions
the letter of the Apostolic Dele
gate does not prohibit the collect
ing Of money for sittings in
church.
It was not the intention of His
Excellency to interfere in any way
with this legitimate source of rev
enue IF cut off entirely, it would
work a real hardship on many
parishes. 1t comes within the
meaning of "the proper revenue
from the pews" which, as the
Delegate rightly comedies in his
letter, must not be lost.
Those who complain, therefore,
that the letter of the Apostolic
Delegate is not being observed
either forget it's tenor or misun-
derstand its provisions. The fore
going explanation may serve to
throw light upon the situation. It
was given by Archbishop Fal-
COMO himself when he was asked
for an authoritative declaration
on points that some might posi-
bly, consider obscure in his letter
to the Hierarchy Of the United
States.