Religion: On Passing the Basket

In his long lifetime, tall, gentle-voiced Msgr. John L. Belford, who at 86 is pastor of Brooklyn’s Roman Catholic Church of the Nativity, has founded two parishes, built two churches and a convent, enlarged a school, and paid off debts in a manner which astounded his superiors. Other priests have often urged him to put down on paper the methods they had very good reason to respect. In the American Ecclesiastical Review last week, Msgr. Belford finally discussed his fund-raising techniques. Excerpts:

“The famous Father Orr of Cambridge, Mass. . . . who was always called ‘Billy,’ [was once] asked, ‘What is your specialty?’ Billy hesitated an instant and then, in the rich brogue which made him famous, replied: ‘My specialty is raising money for church purposes without giving scandal.’

“The man who can do that ought to have a chair at the University. All the deacons should be sent to him for training …

“Collection baskets are not an inspiring sight. The average basket contains a few bills, a dozen quarters, maybe a hundred dimes and several hundred nickels—a total of maybe $40 or $50 contributed by 500 or 700 people . . . Hence, the detestable practice which leads some priests to go around with the basket. They do it because they obtain more money. But they lose something more precious than money —the respect of the people . . .

“Do not make the fatal mistake of talking money often . . . Absorption in merely material things undermines the priestly spirit. It disposes us to appraise our people in dollars and cents [and] has made many a priest cold and cruel. It has made others vulgar and abusive . . . Many a time good Catholics would like to bring a non-Catholic friend to church, but they refrain from inviting him because they fear the effect of one of the tirades to which they are frequently subjected . . .

“Tell [the people] the truth. If you make a promise, keep it. When you need money, tell them how much you need and why you need it. Try to fix upon a quota and give them time to pay it. The people appreciate considerate treatment. They will follow the pastor who shows them that he deserves their regard and their support. But do not make the mistake of putting money before doctrine. The Lord sent us to teach, not to pass the basket.”