Pope Francis Condemns Priests Who Turn Churches Into Businesses

Pope Francis denounced priests who are "attached to money" and who mistreat people, saying the people of God cannot forgive them for turning churches into businesses.

During his homily on Friday, Nov. 21, at a mass in the Vatican's Saint Martha guesthouse, the Holy Father did not mince words in condemning priests and laity who impose unreasonable charges for weddings, baptisms, blessings and other services.

"It is interesting: the people of God can forgive their priests, when they are weak; when they slip on a sin, the people know how to forgive them," the Pope told the mass attendees.

"But there are two things that the people of God cannot forgive: a priest attached to money and a priest who mistreats people. This they cannot forgive! It is scandalous..."

The Pope based his homily on the day's Gospel from Luke in which Jesus turns over tables and drives out those who were selling things inside the temple, saying it is a sacred place meant for prayer and not for business.

The Pope noted that many parishes worldwide are involved in the "scandal of doing business, the scandal of worldliness," citing the price list in parishes shown to people who want to get married, have their children baptized, or seek blessings and other services.

The Holy Father recounted the story of a young couple who went to their parish to seek a wedding ceremony for them during a Mass. The couple were told that the parish could grant their wish if they pay for two time slots – one for the wedding ceremony and the other for the Mass. They were told that the Mass could not be included in the ceremony since the latter was limited to just 20 minutes; that's why they have to pay for two time slots.

If both priests and lay people become businessmen, "this is the sin of scandal," Pope Francis said.

"It is scandalous when the Temple, the House of God, becomes a place of business, as in the case of that wedding: the church was being rented out," he said.

Pope Francis noted that Jesus was filled with the wrath of God when he saw the temple converted into a marketplace. He said this is rightful indignation because redemption is supposed to be free; "it is God's free gift."

So when a church or a parish start doing business, it's like saying that salvation is no longer free, the Pope said. That's why Jesus drove the traders out of the temple, he added.

Just Distribution Of Wealth

On Thursday, Nov. 20, Pope Francis demanded a more just distribution of the world's wealth for the poor and hungry, telling a U.N. conference on nutrition that access to food is a basic human right that shouldn't be subject to market speculation and quests for profit.

"We ask for dignity, not for charity," Francis told the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

He made the speech a day after more than 170 countries represented in the conference adopted new voluntary guidelines to prevent malnutrition, promote healthy diets and reduce levels of obesity worldwide.

Meeting Autistic Children

On Saturday, Nov. 22, Pope Francis tenderly embraced children with autism spectrum disorders in the Vatican as he called for an end to the isolation and stigma of people living with this condition, which is characterized by varying levels of social impairment and communication difficulties.

The audience capped an international conference on autism hosted by the Vatican.

Pope's Fiat Car In Raffle For The Poor

Meanwhile, the Vatican said it is raffling off gifts that the Pontiff has received, including a four-wheel-drive Panda Fiat, to raise money for charity.

The raffle will also include his Homero Ortega brand hat, bicycles, and an espresso coffee machine, among 13 objects and 30 unspecified "consolation prizes."

Tickets on sale at the Vatican will cost $12.50, and the winner will be announced on Jan. 8.

Last week, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis was building bathrooms for the homeless near St. Peter's Basilica.