Question for church-goers
 

My buddy lives in Rochester, and he told me that the Catholic church where his wife and daughter go recently sent out a letter to the congregation outlining the financial woes of the parish and they asked them members to open a 100k insurance policy naming the church as the beneficiary.

Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I feel this would really alienate an already shrinking congregation, and I can't see how this plea makes any sense.

And how is that going to help the parish's financial situation in the near future anyways? Unless they have a rather elderly congregation..

Either that or they will find out who actually took the policy out and put a price on their head.

Wow. I'm pretty dumbfounded, but I bet some people do it.

Will an insurer allow that?

I've heard of some churches in the south doing this. It's nothing but a way for unscrupulous pastors to milk yet more money out of their parishioners.

Mmmm. Milk money.

How much per week does a 100K insurance policy cost? Would you feel differently if they said that since they need funds, they're asking everyone to give a certain amount of money? Or if they asked them to will part of their estates to the church?

I'm sure in some cases the motives are unscupulous, but a church only exists through support from members, correct? So it's not unreasonable to hit them up for cash.

It's not uncommon for fund development departments to pursue estate donations -- everyone from churches to universities do so. Even if it sounds a little strange. :)

I remember watching that movie. Milk Money.

I guess I just figured that people asking for your inheritance were limited to the more affluent segment of the population, rather then a general population of a Rochester.

In the Catholic Church the pastors get their money from the Diocese, not from collections or the congregation like other churches.

Doesn't surprise me at all to be honest - the catholic church always seems to have an eye for 'business' (charging for remembrance candles and suchlike in England which to me seemed extremely tasteless, a donation is one thing .... but).

That being said the bible it is impossible to interpret parts of the bible to indicate that its harder for a rich man to reach heaven, as such they might just consider themselves ensuring their congregation are saved :D

Aren't the catholic churches more 'franchise' based? - ie. the land etc. is owned by the catholic church themselves and the body allocate priests & pay their wages etc. to the churches as they see appropriate ...

(sorry just seen that Warhammer answered this - thanks for the info)

But if it's impossible to interpret parts of the bible to indicate that, doesn't this just amount to petty extortion? :D

Yeah ok - I mis-typed should have been 'possible' obviously ... lucky my job doesn't rely on my typing accuracy .... errr .... ;)

(embarressed)

Exactly why I do my own church devotionals at home. I've never found a church that wasn't a money grubber.

WAG - it could allow them to leverage some low-interest loans. Or something like that.

Also I think on certain life insurance policies you can draw reduced payoffs early. Not sure, exactly.

The Masons ask us to do the same sort of thing (though usually just depending on bequests). Same thing with my alma mater.

If anyone wishes to take out an insurance policy naming me as the benefactor, PM me.


:D

I too have heard of this method of fund raising promoted. All sorts of non-profits are up to this. I don't really see a problem with an individual naming a non-profit as a beneficiary, so I guess it is hard to find too much fault in a church soliciting it. That said, I don't believe I'd be behind my church doing any such thing.

That's true, but if a policy is pretty new, you won't be able to get much of a payoff.