CV NEWS FEED // Catholics need to begin supporting businesses that promote Christian values over secular lifestyles, according to a recent op-ed from The Catholic Stand.
Writing under the name “Genesius,” one Catholic argued in an op-ed that well-known supporters of abortion and same-sex “marriage” like Target and Starbucks—and others like them—aren’t just promoting products anymore with their advertisements.
“Advertising shifted from selling the function of the product to emphasizing moods, feelings, and status. And today’s commercials are going even further,” Genesius wrote. “Today, it seems, companies are no longer selling products. They are trying to sell lifestyles. And often the lifestyles are not ones aligned with Catholic doctrine or Christ’s teachings.”
To combat this, Genesius suggested a variety of alternatives to buying from major corporations. First, he suggested buying products from Catholic businesses, such as Mystic Monk Coffee from the Carmelite monks in Wyoming. Other Catholic businesses and religious communities also provide shoppers with everything they need, from clothes and toys to food and beverages.
“Supporting Catholic businesses is a way of extending our tithings,” Genesius continued. “All businesses need to make a profit and by supporting Catholic business, we influence how those profits are spent.”
Genesius also recommended identifying local businesses through reading the list of sponsors in parish bulletin, saying that it’s an easy way to support both fellow parishioners and small businesses.
“All of us should be aware of how our choices affect the world,” he said. “It is difficult for us to know how the profits [of] the companies we buy from are used. Nevertheless, sometimes those we buy from are proud to tell us.”
He continued:
If they are proud of their sin, perhaps it is time to make a change. Why not shift our habits, even if it takes a little more effort to support fellow Catholics. Perhaps the extra effort is the point.
