The Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Emeritus Bishop of Konongo-Mampong, has stated that the Catholic Church opposes the practice of “sowing financial seeds” with written petitions and assurances of answered prayers or material prosperity.
“The Catholic Church does not endorse the practice of ‘sowing financial seeds’ as a means of obtaining specific blessings, healing, or prosperity. This teaching, closely associated with the prosperity gospel, misrepresents the nature of divine grace and carries a significant risk of exploiting the faithful,” he said in his response to a question from Daniel Christian Dugan on Bishop Osei-Bonsu’s WhatsApp page “Ask Bishop Bonsu.”
According to Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, this practice “distorts the heart of the Gospel and misrepresents the true nature of God’s providence” and emphasized that authentic Christian giving must be motivated by love and gratitude, not self-interest or transactional expectations.
He noted, “The Church calls her children to a generosity that is an authentic act of faith and love—given freely, from a cheerful heart, without any expectation of material return.”
He also linked the practice of sowing financial seeds to the “prosperity gospel,” which he said reduces God to a “cosmic vending machine” and changes the Christian faith from a relationship of love and trust to a “mechanical system of exchange”.
Bishop Osei-Bonsu also clarified that the biblical “sowing” metaphors in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 refer to spiritual growth and almsgiving for the poor, not personal profit.
He added, “The ‘harvest’ Paul describes is spiritual in nature: an increase in thanksgiving to God, a deepening of faith, and the flourishing of charitable works.”
He noted that true “seed-sowing” involves acts of mercy, prayer, and service, mirroring Christ’s self-sacrifice.
“In God’s sight, every gift, whether modest or immense, is precious when offered with sincerity and humility. The true reward for such giving is not worldly success, but the growth in holiness, the quiet assurance of joy, and the peace that surpasses all understanding. In this spirit, the Church continues to proclaim the Gospel’s eternal wisdom”, he said.
By: Veronica Sena Amenya//Newswatchgh.com
