Should Churches Charge?
 

Moral Dilemna? Should churches charge tourists to get in?
Though i realize Europe's historic churches cost a pretty euro to keep up there's something that galls me when i have to pay to get into God's house! St Paul's Cathedral in London for example costs over $10 just to get in - i don't mind voluntary donation booths at entrances, but at times these seem less than voluntary the way they're set up. I usually give a suggested donation if it's really voluntary but balk at mandatory fees.
What do you think?

>...galls me when i have to pay to get into God's house! <

Since you are not there to worship, but only to gawk, I don't see why you should complain.

((I))

Another slow day at the office, PalQ? ;)

As to a church being "God's house," here's a little joke. It's an oldie, so there's a good chance you've heard it before.

The parrish priest is walking through the village, and he comes upon Pierre working in his garden. The priest says, "My, Pierre, what a fine job you and God have done in that garden." Pierre responds, "Thank you, father, but you should have seen it when God had it to himself."

Ditto to what ira said.

Why should churches run tourist sites and venues for free? That's what they are under those circumstances. I'm sure voluntary donations are not adequate as a lot of people like you think they shouldn't have to pay because --- because why? YOu aren't going to a religious service.

Then let's not call it a church but label it a museum and deconsecrate it.

ditto to what ira says -it does not gall you to go gawp at God's house, but irks you to pay for the gawking?

It varies from country to country. Generally churches are open and free in France (and the property is controlled by the State), while churches in Spain were frequently closed, but free when open (the treasuries often have a museum charge in both countries). Churches in Venice charge a fee, except for St. Mark's, but not the one in Murano, while the churches in Bologna are free. It appears to depend on what the market will bear. I don't see it as a moral dilemma but I subscribe to Mitterand's reply when asked about his judgment day.

I assume they don't charge for attending a religious service so I don't see the big deal. If you want to view it as a museum, pay for it like a museum. If you want to attend a service, then go during a service and the view is secondary and free.

Heaven help me! I sound like some ogre but my point is that i do give a voluntary donation that is suggested and that i don't like mandatory - it's not that i don't believe in paying for what i see. See? Si?
Cow-girl Judy: It was a slow day at the office! Fodors should let folks retract postings - if there is a way let me know!

PalQ, it was naughty of me to make that remark about a slow day. Heck, it's a slow day for me too, otherwise why would I even open what was so obviously was a "slow day" thread?

Peace.

I believe some churchs charge "10%" to the members!!!

I'm going to channel one of my theology teachers from high school - Brother Jerome. (A very wise, very brilliant man who I didn't appreciate until talking with him at an alumni event a few years ago.)

Brother Jerome took a very practical view of Christianity and the Bible. His favorite theme was mixing religion with the reality of everyday life. I'm paraphrasing but he said something like "Just because the Lord will provide don't expect him to deliver takeout if you're hungry."

My point is this, a Church may be God's house, but God doesn't pay the light bill and the upkeep. If a church requires payment to help meet expenses and to fulfill its mission, then so be it.

A church charging people who view it like a musuem recognizes the reality of maintaining a high-traffic musuem. I doubt any reputable church would charge when it comes to a relgious service.

BTW, a church is simply a building. It isn't the religion it isn't the Parish. The community of people worshipping is a Church, the building is real estate.

I do not recall ever paying an entry fee for the sanctuary of a Catholic church (Notre Dame, St. Peter's, San Marco and countless others in Italy, Toledo cathedral), but only for extras such as an attached cloister, bell tower, or treasury. I was surprised, therefore, to be required to pay at the door of the protestant cathedrals in Dublin. I think the historic churches in Delft and Haarlem also required payment. However, since I am visiting them not as a worshipper I do not object to paying as I would at a museum.

A great deal of the major artwork in all of Europe stems from the churches. They were the ones with the money and could commission the work, so in a sense these churches certainly are museums. The easiest way out of all this is, if the church charges admission for you to go in and view and you object to that, then don't go in...or....go to the service, then it will be free.

The churches that charge will usually use at least some of that money for lighting, hiring attendants, and possibly heating, to make the art accessible. If you're lucky and they can afford it, they'll also use it for preservation and cleaning of the works of art. I don't have any problem with that, and I visit a LOT of churches for the art and architecture.

>>>>>>I do not recall ever paying an entry fee for the sanctuary of a Catholic church (Notre Dame, St. Peter's, San Marco and countless others in Italy, Toledo cathedral)<<<<<<

Matthias Church in Budapest charged an entrance fee for the main sanctuary in September 2004. It's a Roman Catholic church.

Another church that charged an entrance fee to the main sanctuary was one that faced onto the Old Town Square in Prague. I can't remember if it was Orthodox or Roman Catholic.

The Benedictine Abbey at Pannonhalma in Hungary charges for the excellent tour that it provides of its church and stupendous library. That perhaps is comparing apples with oranges, because one is not only seeing a church. However, one cannot gain access to the church without buying the whole package.

I don't mind in the least when churches charge entrance fees. I'm just observing that I have seen Catholic churches doing it.

Why not if you are treating the building as another museum? If you are not there to pray, hear Mass or use the building as a temple, but as a museum, then, by all means Church, charge away.

Thank you Ryan, and through you, Brother Jerome.

Re charging to enter the sanctuary at Catholic churches. The Frari in Venice has charged for quite a few years, and now a number of Venetian churches have begun charging a small amount.

If I were part of the diocese facing a dilemma like this, I'd favro a solution something like:

Free 6 to 8 am
Modest fee 8 to 9 am
Big fee, 9 am to sunset

Closed after sunset, except for events of a specific nature.

Best wishes,

Rex