“Legitimate Donations” – a Catholic Tempest in a Teapot

A little online war has erupted over the propriety of contributing to certain lay-directed apostolates providing online news and commentary – as opposed to, say, Traditionalist religious orders. Now I myself have often wondered at the incessant fundraising that characterizes many of these sites and apostolates. We ourselves at the Society of St Hugh of Cluny  admittedly also appeal for funds – if only at somewhat erratic intervals.  This, however,  relates to the need of financing the lectures, Masses and conferences which we sponsor and to enable the  acquisition of vestments and other liturgical items that we make available  – not to support our internet presence.

I find it odd, however,  that this debate is erupting now. For if the activity of “conservative” Catholic media and internet entrepreneurs is a problem, it has been present for many years.  And, as we all know, the ranks of the (self) promoters have by no means been restricted to the laity.  If we are worried about misdirecting funds, what about the issues raised by contributing to diocesan and Vatican charities, Catholic fraternal orders and  “Catholic”  universities?

The activity of the Catholic internet, both lay and clerical, both sites that solicit donations and those which do not – has been essential in enabling the judicious reader to navigate a time of utmost crisis in  the Church. It is is largely thanks to this “Conservative”and Traditionalist  media presence – now concentrated in the internet –  that we know anything at all about what is going on locally and in Rome. (The other significant sources of  Catholic news are, intermittently, the progressive Catholic and secular media.) The “official” Catholic media do not report news. Neither are the Traditionalist orders engaged in providing incisive reporting on the life of the Catholic Church. After all, this is not their apostolate and they do need to maintain links with the ecclesiastical establishment. That leaves various publications and websites – some now decades old – to keep us informed.  In the Traditionalist, as opposed to the “Conservative” world, that requires knowledge of a number of foreign languages – French, German, Italian, Spanish – to get the full picture.   The majority of these apostolates have always been run by the laity.

I see all these apostolates not as alternatives, but as complementing each other. Yes, the establishment of Traditionalist Catholic orders is of primary importance for the survival of our faith today. But religious and laity engaged in works of charity and in education are also deserving of our support. As do those who seek to report the truth about what is going on in the Church and the world today.