The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-10-28
THE RENTING OF PEWS
LETTER ISSUED BY THE RIGHT
REVEREND BISHOP CoRBETT OF
cRooKsToN ON THE MATERIAL
SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH.

CROOkSTON ON THE MATERIAL
SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH.
The renting of peWs is an absolute
obligation both of duty and honor.
Pew rent is considered a right princi-
pie of just taxation for the material
support of the Church, being one of
| the sources of income on which the
Church depends to meet the ordinary
and necessary expenditures for materi-
al maintenance. The positive duty
Of every Catholic, unless excused by
poverty is, TO contribute to the sup
port Of your pastor" according to the
| strict terms of the fifth commandment
of the Church. This sacred obliga-
| ton can be accomplished by the rent
ing of pews and the payment of levied
assessments or other dues. The lay
Catholic who fails to contribute to the
material support of the Church, &C.
| cording to his means, must be classed
as dishonest debtor, similar to the
failure of payment of any other legi-
innate debt. Church support, indeed
| for a Christian and a Catholic, is not
only a matter of charity, but a duty of
! justice. Good intentions and empty
promises are insufficient, but actual
contribution is necessary. What peo-
pie donate to the Church, they donate
to Cod from Whom they may justly
expect manifold blessings in return
for their contributions. Holy Scrip
| ture teaches, Give and it shall be
given unto you; good measure and
pressed down and shaken together,
and running over, shall they give into
your bosom. For with the same meas
ure that you shall mete withal, it
shall be measured to you again..
The material support of the Church,
moreover, is a grave duty of religion,
which man owes to God, the author
of life and the bestower of all things.
Catholics owe part of.their earnings
to the Church, the divine means of
salvation, to their brethren in tho
faith, members of the mystical body
of Christ, and to themselves, in view
Of the spiritual interests of their
souls.
Should all members Of a parish give
their just dues to the Church, none
would experience too heavily the bur-
den of Church support. Catholics
should bear in mind that only pew
holders can be rightly and honorably
counted as true parishioners and en-
titled, in justice, to the privileges of
the parish. Catholics, claiming no per-
manent residence or only intending
to remain temporarily in q parish,
have no less an obligation to contrib
ute to the support of the Church.
INon-peW-holders should not presume
to occupy the pews of owners, but hon
orably and justly pay their own way
in the Church. Some Catholics, not
withstanding all earnest celebrations
and legitimate demands, will continue
to live up to all the modern progress,
denying themselves no comfort, and
will give little or no financial assist
ance towards the erection and mainte-
nance of the church, school or other
Catholic institutions. Generally those
|who do the least for the Church, are
| the worst critics concerning tho
Church's administration and Outlines
make the most urgent and unreason-
able demands for its services. They
wish the Church to be well kept, well
ventilated, we'll heated, well lighted,
but all at the expense of their fellow
| parishioners. The rich should contrib
ute generously to the Church, in pro-
portion to their wealth. The rule CIV
en- by Tobias to his son in regard to
aims, applies more forcibly to obliga-
| tory contributions, IF thou have much,
give abundantly, if thou have little,
| take care even SO to bestoW willingly
a little" Once a division of the bur-
den of the parish is duly made, no one
can nationally and justly object to the
payment demanded for ordinary eX-
penses, the erection of a church, other
parish buildings and church debts.
Family Pew.
| The family pew possesses the pre-
cious advantage of assigning to par
| ents and children a definite place in
their own church, and thus promotes
beneficial home feeling. The pas
tors, friends and neighbors observe
pew holders in their own accustomed
location, and their presence therein at
the services plainly evidences that re-
ligion rightly predominates in their
hearts thoughts and affections The
time honored family pew aWakes the
sweetest memories, helps to keep our
holy faith active, and incites the salu-
tary remembrance of our dear depart
ed Our beloved fathers, cherished
mothers, kind sisters and brothers sat,
prayed and worshipped therein The
Church is the house of God and the
home of Catholics, and therein should
exist a blessed and particular spot
they can legitimately regard as their
own, and there experience greater
ease and joy in praying and hearing
to-, IL IF