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According to the Associated Press, religions have been hit pretty hard by the recession. The story came out yesterday, and my first reaction was, “What else is new?”

Betty Gil and Eric Kim, local dentists, work under the supervision of Dr. Rick Langren to provide free treatment to a young patient at a dental clinic. (Ambria Hammel/CATHOLIC SUN)

To be fair, the main point of the story is that religion was having a hard time before the recession, and things are just worse now. We’ve certainly felt the impact of the recession down at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, with leadership being forced to make some tough decisions in the realignment (read story here). Parishes across the diocese have felt the pinch of the sputtering economy. The annual Charity and Development Appeal didn’t quite make it to it’s goal* this year and other charities — like St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, Foundation for Senior Living, to name a few — have been feeling the effects of the recession. And that didn’t start yesterday.

So the timing of this article is a little odd. There isn’t a whole lot that’s “new” in this “news” piece. It concludes:

“Religious leaders say the next year or so will be key in determining which organizations survive the downturn intact. Even if the recession ends soon, religious fundraisers say the angst donors feel will not lift immediately, prolonging the difficulties for congregations, schools and ministries.”

So, basically, things are no better for churches and faith communities than they are for the rest of the country — at least no better financially.

The story does report that, “Clergy in different communities say worship attendance has increased with people seeking comfort through difficult times, although no one is predicting a nationwide religious revival.”

So, and I don’t to pick this story to pieces or anything, but it seems to me that an increase in attendance is bigger news than a hit in the pocketbook. Religion isn’t meant to be about money. It’s about loving and relying on God and on each other. The money raised is supposed to be used to that end, so if more people are showing up on Sunday during harsh economic times, well, I think that’s pretty good news. The needs or our communities are dire, to be sure, and there have been many reports of increased demand for charitable services. People have very real needs and the Church constantly responds to those needs with love. You see, the recession proves we need religion and charitable organizations — not the opposite.

I could also see the headline reading something like: “Recession boosts religious attendance.” Having less money doesn’t have to lead you to despair. It can also lead you to rethink much more important things, namely, your relationship with God — someone to keep in mind when the economy picks up again.

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*Regarding the CDA: Thanks to the excellent work of the Office of Stewardship, the Charity and Development Appeal fared far better than did most non-profit organizations. See our story.