Montreal's Basilica of Notre Dame, with price list for admission.
Note to all: it is not okay to charge people an entrance fee to enter a Catholic church.
Sad we actually have to explain this to people. Who knew?
This entrance fee is a scandal and a shame.
People have a human and religious right to enter a church without being accosted for money.
"Nutty," is what one lady had to say. And my experience, you ask? As I entered, a guard sneered at me to pay a fee while I was left standing there, in a Catholic church, as a Catholic, having to explain and defend my intentions that I only wished as a nobody to enter and pray, without looking up at the art.
The basilica website explains that this fee is "necessary."
And contrary to Canon Law, why is the bottom line too often money when it ought to be the salvation of souls?
Montreal is one of the wealthiest cities on the continent, located in one of the wealthiest provinces of Canada.
Note to all: it is not okay to charge people an entrance fee to enter a Catholic church.
Sad we actually have to explain this to people. Who knew?
This entrance fee is a scandal and a shame.
People have a human and religious right to enter a church without being accosted for money.
"Nutty," is what one lady had to say. And my experience, you ask? As I entered, a guard sneered at me to pay a fee while I was left standing there, in a Catholic church, as a Catholic, having to explain and defend my intentions that I only wished as a nobody to enter and pray, without looking up at the art.
The basilica website explains that this fee is "necessary."
And contrary to Canon Law, why is the bottom line too often money when it ought to be the salvation of souls?
Montreal is one of the wealthiest cities on the continent, located in one of the wealthiest provinces of Canada.
Who is behind the controls? Johann Tetzel?
ReplyDeletePaying for your pew in East Coast Catholic churches was very standard years ago and it was a very French thing. I grew up on the West Coast of Canada and had never heard of this practice. I think it's horrible and shouldn't happen.
ReplyDeleteSad. Belgium, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same all across Europe- it costs 2 euro to approach the tomb of St. Mark in St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. There's a 6 euro admission fee for St. John's Co-Cathedral in Malta, and Notre Dame in Paris is something like 10 euro. When we were in Paris we told the guard we were at the church for mass and he let us in without paying or standing in line. Maybe there's a clause or something?
ReplyDeleteREcently this behaviour has also happened in Madrid in the crypt of MAdrid's cathedral. Since the Opus Dei have come to dominate this Holy ground and temple, there is someone at the entrance attempting to charge you an entrance fee of 1 Euro. So there I went last tuesday the 6th December with a friend of mine. On beeing asked to pay I said "you dear... ...Do I have to pay to see one of my relatives buried here?" and walked straight through. A sadly passed friend of mine, possibly the best policeman I have met so far in my life and a very dear person, said Jesus Christ was the Patron Saint of riot policemen because he banished the merchants out the Temple. This bussiness really puts people out of the beauty that inspires Faith, because the more modern, upper part of the cathedral, is ugly and they don't charge you an entrance fee. It's the one 95% of the people know. The crypt was built much earlier in neo-romanic (visigotic) style and is much more worth the visit to pray in real comfort, contemplation and also to see with due respect.
ReplyDeleteThese great churches cost a fortune to maintain. I am sure that most of the people who visit these churches do so as tourists and not as pilgrims. They should pay a fee. However, there should not be and in fact there is not a fee to attend Mass or to pray in the Blessed Sacrament chapels. But, I have no problem with non-praying visitors paying a fee. Churches with fees in Europe I notice allow entry to a certain point for all people -- always there is a chapel available for "free prayer". But, after a point you pay to see. We need to support these great monuments to the Faith and a entry fee can go a long way in doing this.
ReplyDeleteIn Canada there is a donation box for visitors who wish to see the fine architecture, which does make contributes to the high expenses voluntary.
ReplyDeleteIf you go to mass, there is no fee. Then it a church. Tourists are discouraged to go.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, it is treated as a museum, complete with fee. Worshippers, however are not charged. A simple statement is all that is needed. Worshippers do not wear cameras.
This makes sense, no?