My Greedy Church Cares Nothing for its People

by Letters Editor · January 15, 2019

Reading your front-page article “Sacraments not for sale, bishop warns”, my heart hurt.

My church used to go out and give clothes to the poor and sweets to kids, and help people with things they could not do themselves.

I can’t remember when I last saw a woman with old clothes or shoes in church.

My church has changed to the point where no poor person would wants to be a part of it.

We are told that if you don’t pay your flashcard, you will not be helped by the church.

I thought that was just a joke until we had a funeral at home and were told we would not be helped until we settled an amount of R38000 for stole fees my aunt owed the church. The priest told my family that he would not help us.

I had always heard people talking about how the church treated them when it came to funerals, but I didn’t want to believe them because it is this very Church that talks of how the riches of the world will not take us to heaven but our kind deeds and that we did right by God.

The Church talks of the seven sacraments, of giving to the poor, visiting those in jail, and so on, but then its priest, when the sick need him, says a family member must have R200 and more to put into his hands just after praying for them.

If you don’t have money to pay for the funeral, you can go and ask other Churches to do your service.

In our parish, we have two collections, and the amount is specified because we must buy a door costing over R50000.

In my church they don’t care any longer about the people who are most in need.

They take your money and if you don’t have it, you can go to hell, for all they care.

We must pay R50 and up for being blessed on our birthdays!

I hate this church now; I go only because of my family.

I wish things were not the way they are because this church used to be for the people — and now it’s against those very same people.

Name withheld