They have a heavy burden to bear.
Trill says it's because folks don't want them coming back on Sunday and trying to talk to people. About the Word. Where they can get saved. And turn their life around.
Yes, it can get ugly, and it's often not tidy. Life is like that. I would vote to feed the needy.
/john
Our church has a pantry which gives out food on a daily basis to those in need. Most of the recipients are not members of the parish.The lines are often long.
Contributions come from the parish and from other churches in the city.
At the Thanksgiving Day liturgy, instead of just putting money in the collection plate during the Offertory, people process up the aisle with bags of food and leave it around the altar, to be brought down to the pantry later for distribution.