People often say as Catholics we shouldn't spend money building a beautiful church.

"You can worship anywhere" but never seem to put that standard to other major purchases that everyday Catholics make.

Lets compare what people pay for houses and cars with chuches,

A thread:
1/

Consider a church which should cost about $3 - 4 million to build.

When we consider that the average price of a home in America is about $250k = 16 houses
When we look at one of the top selling vehicles in America, the F250 costs up to $80k = 50 trucks

The church seats 700.
2/

This little church is going to be built this fall, cost is $1.25 million.

That's 1 church = 5 houses or 15 trucks

3/

Even this church, which seats 500 would cost $10-20 million to build would equal:

40 -80 houses
125 - 250 trucks
4/

When we consider too that many MANY houses in America are oversized and have spaces that aren't even used, that we buy houses for the sake of showing off wealth, and trucks to match, it shows where our priorities are, we splurge on ourselves and scrimp on the church.

5/

Now someone might object, well maybe we should be building houses for the poor instead.

This is true, but it can also be true that people NEED to have a spiritual home, and a place for beauty for all, even the poorest of us.

6/

Consider too that a church, when it is invested in properly in order to be built well will not just be a home for the people today, but for generations. Our favorite churches are those which people decades and centuries before invested in, a true gift to us today.

7/

We have a choice in how we spend, we can either give ourselves a bit more luxury and convenience, or we can give a little bit more to the church and to God by building beautiful churches for our generation and those to come.

FIN