A <\/em>Pray Tell reader writes (lightly edited):<\/em><\/p>\n This Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Easter, churches throughout the diocese of\u00a0XXX will hear a CD recording of the bishop speaking on behalf of the Annual Catholic Appeal, a yearly campaign to raise money for diocesan needs and ministries. The cause is good.\u00a0However, I have long struggled with the experience of deleting a Gospel homily for the sake revenues. I belong to a well-to-do parish of educated, generous people. These good people would simply give the money if requested.\u00a0 It seems very\u00a0inappropriate to use such a \u201ctactic\u201d in order to persuade them into being good stewards.<\/p>\n This practice began with the former bishop. Initially, a letter was sent which the priests were required to read in lieu of the homily. Then, the practice shifted to cassettes, and now, CDs.\u00a0 Following the playing of the bishop\u2019s recording, the priest reads directions to the assembly, explaining to them how to fill out the forms which are on their seats.\u00a0 Everyone is asked to fill out the form, even if they choose not to donate (this, the directions read, \u201chelps defray the costs of a follow-up call from the diocese\u201d).<\/p>\n Any thoughts?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The\u00a0writer does not\u00a0indicate whether past such messages have been simply a call for money, or whether the message has also incorporated themes based on the Gospel and other readings of the day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Easter, churches throughout the diocese will hear a CD recording of the bishop speaking on behalf of the Annual Catholic Appeal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3118,1321,3813],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ars-celebrandi-new-ws","category-homilies","category-non-solum"],"yoast_head":"\n