From the Gospel of Mark    31 

Even if the money they receive goes to a good cause and not to themselves, 

even if they make no profit, it is a sin. Clergy and religious should set a good 

example by praying in the sanctuary. Priests and religious should be praying 

before, during, and after Holy Mass. Instead, they are seen asking for money 

in exchange for material things, such as religious items. 

    During Holy Mass, a basket is often passed for donations for the support 

of the church or for a charitable collection. This is entirely acceptable, for it 

is not a form of buying or selling. However, it not right to pass the basket 

repeatedly for the same purpose. In some churches they have a second and 

even a third collection. If there is a second collection, it should be for a 

charity, not for the parish again. And passing the basket three times in one 

Mass, with all three collections going to the parish, is like turning the people 

upside down by their ankles and shaking them to obtain the loose change 

that might fall out of their pockets. 

    It is also wrong to buy things in any sanctuary. Even if these are religious 

items given in exchange for a donation to a good cause, it is a sin. All of 

those whom Jesus drove out of the temple were buying and selling things 

needed to make religious sacrifices in the temple in accordance with the 

requirements of the Law. But a sanctuary is a place to worship God, it is not 

a store for buying things. 

    Church bake sales, raffles, and other fundraising efforts must take place 

outside of the sanctuary. Those who sell must not only place attending Holy 

Mass first above all else, they also must not sell while the Mass is going on. 

During Holy Mass, there must not be people in any part of the church 

buying, selling, or asking for donations in exchange for goods. 

    Jesus also prevented people from carrying things through the temple. 

Jesus was objecting to people who walk through the sanctuary for the 

purpose of carrying out some task, not to worship God. They are using 

God's sanctuary like a thoroughfare. 

    This happens sometimes in Christian churches. A person who has some 

task to perform walks in and out of the sanctuary as if they were in their 

home or in a place of business. They don't pray when they first enter the 

church. They talk to whomever they are with as if they were walking down 

the street. They walk about the sanctuary without taking notice of the 

tabernacle where the Holy Eucharist is. Their purpose may be to prepare for 

Holy Mass or some activity of prayer and religious instruction, but even so, 

their behavior offends God. They are placing the task which they have to 

perform above the worship of God. 

    People ought to pray first when entering the sanctuary. If they have any 

necessary task to perform, they should do so quietly, without any 

unnecessary conversation, and as simply as possible. Any part of the task