Pokemon Go is bringing people to church...and other places

The news has been non-stop about the newest craze Pokemon-Go that is sweeping the nation.  Bizarre stories of people landing in emergency rooms with injuries because they aren't looking where they are going, dead bodies being found, people assaulted/robbed and sacred places like churches, cemeteries and holocaust museums being used as mobile gaming places with seemingly no thought or sign of respect for the private property these people are invading in their quest for entertainment. 

Saint Mary's Parish in Newington, CT has become a hot spot for Pokemon-Go gamers to battle monsters beside a statue of Saint Mary. 

The parish posted this notice on their Facebook page...

The parish priest posted this notice on the door of the parish...

...inviting people to pray a Hail Mary and "Ask her to help you and guide you! She's got your back!" 

The priest notice on the door seems a contradiction to the Facebook post promising to arrest anyone "youth or adult" who trespasses on parish property.

(For a live stream news of this story go HERE-at the 1:14 mark) 

Police are telling people the obvious...

But people don't seem to listen, they are too caught up in fictional reality and self entertainment that they care about little else.

But its not all bad news!  Some churches are happy to have the gamers chasing fictional monsters inside their churches and on their property. 

Quote from The Babylon Bee: U.S.—Hit mobile game Pokémon GO has taken the world by storm, and churches are benefiting handsomely from the augmented reality phenomenon.
According to a survey of America’s churches, 82% reported a substantial spike in attendance as Pokémon GO trainers wandered on and around their properties in order to take advantage of game-boosting Pokéstop buffs and rare Pokémon scattered about their campuses.
“We just open the doors and let them wander in unaware,” one pastor said. “Then, when they’re busy catching a Pokémon or taking advantage of our Pokéstop module, we lock the doors behind them and fire up the worship songs. Poor guys don’t know what hit ’em until it’s too late.”
Other churches reported using strategies like holding special community groups focused on helping players catch rare and high-level Pokémon in their area, promising in-game items and buffs for players who make a decision for Christ, and shutting down Sunday services to allow members and visitors more time to catch the virtual pocket monsters.
Another pastor was just happy the Christian message was being heard, no matter what the means. “We’re excited that people are encountering the gospel through—wait, hang on, there’s a Charmander over there—gotta go!”

Wow. I have no idea what the "Christian message" being heard was in that pastor's church, but I am guessing its nothing like the message Christ intended us to hear.

I have no idea what "survey" was taken (as no source was sited) that shows such a statistic. Who did the polling for that and where?  

Is this really how pastors want to get people to come to church?  To chase monsters then leave for the next stop on their monster scavenger hunt?  

I don't get it. I just don't get it. 


In Christ and not playing Pokemon-Go,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 


Links: 
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=600729186755226&id=175541472607335

https://www.facebook.com/Saint-Mary-Church-Newington-CT-103726839706793/

http://www.wfsb.com/category/216668/wfsb-eyewitness-news-livestream-1

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pokemon-go-virtual-real-worlds-collide-holocaust-museum-injuries-robberies/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/07/08/pokemon-gos-unexpected-side-effect-injuries/

http://county10.com/201021174044426240

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-co-pokemon-robbery-20160712-story.html

http://q13fox.com/2016/07/12/pokemon-go-players-unwelcome-at-arlington-holocaust-museums/

http://babylonbee.com/news/church-attendance-spikes-nationwide-influx-pokemon-players/