{"id":328276,"date":"2025-10-24T04:53:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T04:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/328276\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T04:53:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T04:53:11","slug":"san-antonio-priest-demands-gofundme-remove-church-page-from-companys-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/328276\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio priest demands GoFundMe remove church page from company\u2019s website"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 A local priest is speaking out against GoFundMe. <\/p>\n

The popular online fundraising platform recently created more than 1.4 million donation pages for organizations that are registered nonprofits in the U.S. <\/p>\n

One of those pages lists St. Pius X Catholic Church, much to the chagrin of Father Pat O\u2019Brien, who said he never asked for the page to go up. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt just isn\u2019t fair. It\u2019s dishonest and it\u2019s creating a lot of extra work for us,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. <\/p>\n

When O\u2019Brien saw his parish\u2019s page on GoFundMe, he was concerned. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t do that,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

The parish does, however, receive funds directly through its website. O\u2019Brien said it\u2019s easier to track money coming in that way, and simpler for people to understand, especially those who aren\u2019t comfortable donating online. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe work very hard to get all of our people … to trust online giving,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. \u201cSo then when a trusted \u2014 what used to be a trusted company … then does this, it sort of takes away that trust factor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Member donations and contributions are what keep parishes like his afloat. <\/p>\n

As of Thursday evening, St. Pius\u2019s GoFundMe page has received one $10 donation. But O\u2019Brien said that\u2019s $10 too many. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that hard,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. (I want them to) take it down, we didn\u2019t ask for it. We don\u2019t want it, it\u2019s confusing people. Take it down.\u201d<\/p>\n

St. Pius\u2019s GoFundMe page remained on GoFundMe\u2019s website as of Thursday night. <\/p>\n

In response to the backlash from nonprofits across the U.S., GoFundMe issued an apology<\/a> on Thursday. <\/p>\n

It acknowledged when it set up nonprofit pages on its website, that caused \u201cconfusion, concern, and distraction.\u201d The company said from now on, only nonprofits that opt in will have a public nonprofit page that\u2019s searchable on GoFundMe. <\/p>\n

The Archdiocese of San Antonio reminded the public that if anyone wants to donate to its ministries, parishes or schools, they can do so by visiting its website<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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