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JSchaaf
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 12:06am | IP Logged
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I own many books published by SIP and love them. I received an email from them outlining their financial crisis and soliciting donations.
This afternoon, it matters not that Mother Teresa once told me she was "convinced of the good the books published by Sophia Institute Press can do in helping people grow closer to God."
It matters not that John Paul II said about one of our books, "I pray that the Lord grants this book the success it deserves!"
And it matters not that Scott Hahn said about us that "Sophia Institute Press is one of the most exciting publishing ventures in Christendom."
After 25 grueling years that
produced 2.3 million faithful
Catholic books by many great saints
and holy laymen,
I can no longer
keep this great Catholic
apostolate in business.
Last week, our overdue bills soared past $100,000 and I had to borrow money to pay salaries.
Our creditors don't care that we're the only source in the world for Fulton Sheen's Wartime Prayerbook, which has already served over 100,000 soldiers facing bullets, bombs, and death in Afghanistan and Iraq.
They don't care that if we close, the world will never see our about-to-be-published edition of the long-forgotten and never-before-translated book beloved by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life.
In her autobiography, Thérèse says: "Reading this book was one of the greatest graces of my life!" (Had we managed to get it in print before closing, it would be one of the greatest graces of your life, too!)
Our creditors don't care about Thérèse; they don't care about prayer books for Catholic soldiers in combat; and they don't care about the scores of other holy books we've published to help you know, love, and serve God in these difficult times.
But God has just shown
that He cares . . .
else he wouldn't have intervened this past few weeks, giving us a strong new lease on life just as I began closing our doors.
It happened so quickly and unexpectedly that it has about it the perfume of a miracle.
Hearing of our struggles, the president of an orthodox Catholic college approached me, seeking to combine his resources with ours so that together we can serve the Church more effectively than we can serve Her apart.
After intense discussions, we agreed that the best thing would be for the college to acquire the Press . . . so this good man of faith secured a large loan commitment that will enable the college to do so.
This merger will not merely stave off our pending bankruptcy; it will bring us the funds we need to get quickly into print enough Catholic books that we'll be solvent within three months!
Joining forces this way will give Sophia Institute Press the long-term strength and stability that has eluded us for 25 years.
It’s going to take about six weeks to get all the legal work done to bring about the acquisition, which means that we will not receive the desperately-needed influx of cash until late July . . . by which time, without your help, we could be gone.
Between now and then, I’ve got to keep the rent paid and the lights on, pay the most aggressive of our creditors, and bring in enough extra to pay three payrolls.
Worse, last evening our printer called to say that until we pay off all $50,000 of our outstanding debt to him, he won't print any more of our books.
That stops dead
the publication of the
Thérèse of Lisieux book
and two others.
And it keeps out-of-print a dozen or so more of our books that we just ran out of --- slashing our sales income just when we need it to survive until the merger.
To save Sophia Institute Press,
I need to raise $50,000 . . . and I need to do it in the next two weeks, or we'll be gone before we complete the paperwork necessary to make the merger happen.
So that's where things stand this afternoon: bankruptcy in two weeks or long-term stability and growth because of this providential
--- dare I say miraculous? ---
chance to combine with a strong,
orthodox Catholic college ---
if only I can raise $50,000
in the next two weeks.
You know, despite what I said
at the beginning of this letter,
it does matter that Mother Teresa,
Pope John Paul II, Scott Hahn,
and scores of other faithful
Catholics love the work we do
and want our apostolate
to continue.
To ensure that we do not close before this providential merger happens, I need your help as never before. So can you use this Paypal button to donate $50 today, or even more if that is at all possible?
If only a thousand people do that, Sophia Institute Press will be saved, and generations of Catholics will continue to be nurtured by the holy Catholic books we publish --- books by St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Francis de Sales, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and countless others souls who knew God well, loved Him, and can bring you and me to know, love, and serve Him, too.
You've helped us before in our times of need, and for that I remain eternally grateful. Can you please help one more time?
If you can't donate $50,
could you give $25?
Or even just $10?
You know, just a week or so ago, like the Prodigal Son we were lost, but now we are found. God has reached out to save us.
Can you help us ensure that
in this matter His will may be done,
not ours?
Think about it:
how often does He give you
the chance to do something this big?
To save a large Catholic press?
Please donate at Paypal right now.
There is no time to waste.
Thank you, God bless you,
and please pray for me
as I pray for you.
John L. Barger
Publisher
Sophia Institute Press
I don't want to distrust anybody-but do you know if their crisis is legitimate? Will they be merging with a Catholic college? SIP's website doesn't give much information about the situation.
Thanks in advance!
Jennifer
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mathmama
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 6:09am | IP Logged
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Their books are great. I would love to see the press continue. As I read this plea, I have to say I was wondering about it's legitimacy (this was before I realized you were asking the same thing). I don't know anything about business so I could be totally misguided, but it seems odd to me that if they don't raise the $$ in the next couple of weeks that the merger couldn't go through. Companies take on other companies all the time that are in bankruptcy. I don't know. Also, the tone of his email reminds me of the tone of emails that we often receive from a less than truthful family member  I hope that my gut is wrong.
Beth
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Mackfam
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 6:23am | IP Logged
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I got the same email, and I had the same red flags going off. I love Sopia! But, I was hoping to look into it today to see if I could find anything on it. I suppose I could always call them. I didn't know anything about Sophia's bankruptcy problems. I know TAN has been struggling for a long time.
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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Betsy
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 6:31am | IP Logged
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I seem to recall that about 1.5 years ago Sophia was struggling and sent a letter encouraging everyone to buy books. It might be legitimate.
Betsy
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Lisbet
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 6:52am | IP Logged
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Hmmm, I recall them doing this a few years ago too.
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
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Mary G
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 7:45am | IP Logged
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It seems that Sophia "always" has financial problems. While their books are lovely, I can't help but think that they need major surgery to stop the financial hemorrhaging which seems to occur periodically. TAN is another that always seems to be sending out pleas.
I hate to be cynical ... but ....
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3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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missionfamily
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 7:57am | IP Logged
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I did a quick google and found the text of the letter available here which seems to be part of their web site.
Here's a blog post from Against the Grain from a simliar pleadated Nov. 2007.
And a letter from Karl Keatingdated Nov. 2006.
I did not intend to make a particular point with this post, I just googled "Sophia Institute Press donations" to see if I could find a verifiable source for the letter.
I am providing the links so others can make an informed decision. We have some friends who just had to close the door on their amazing Catholic bookstore and family ministry. They too operated in near constant financial crisis and were always in critical condition. I would have given them all I had to keep them open. Sometimes God chooses people for a mighty work who may not have all the business or marketing savvy they need or who may make some bad decisions. I can live with that.
However, for me personally, the fact that the plea and its tone or almost identical in each of these gives me pause.
I'm going to hand this one over to dh and let him decide whether to help or not. One less thing for me to think about.
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Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
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aussieannie
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 8:55am | IP Logged
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Yes, they had troubles late last year and then they have had episodes before then as well, I do hope that the merger will sort everything for them as I love their books.
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Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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JSchaaf
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 9:21am | IP Logged
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Thank you all for your input and thoughts. We did donate to them a year or so ago. I think this time I will try to purchase a few books from them, and pray for their situation.
Thanks again
Jennifer
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LisaR
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 9:51am | IP Logged
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Mary G wrote:
| It seems that Sophia "always" has financial problems. While their books are lovely, I can't help but think that they need major surgery to stop the financial hemorrhaging which seems to occur periodically. ... |
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you know, we think the same. we have good friends who left a (stable at least) Diocescan job to make "big money" at Sophia. It really did seem too good to be true, and it was. I still can't help but wonder if the salaries were a bit less? or if they had consulted outside advice they might not always be floundering??
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dh Tim '92
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sewcrazy
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| Posted: June 27 2008 at 9:41pm | IP Logged
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I too have become wary (and a touch weary) of Sophia Press' frequent donation requests. They are a business, not a charity. I know they are a ministry, but they need to realize that they are a business.
The messages always have a tone to them that reminds me too much of acquaintances that are always borrowing for a person. "Just a bit to tide me over...I wouldn't ask if it wasn't an emergency...this will be the last time 'promise' "
Sigh, I hope they can continue to provide quality products, and that they get some help with their business practices.
LeeAnn
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Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: June 28 2008 at 2:17pm | IP Logged
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The college in question is Thomas More College. Why this isn't in the letter, I'm not sure. I did however e-mail regarding the college in question due to my desire to help out, but NOT to provide any support to a particular not-so-Catholic college. I just responded to the e-mail, but the response came from Mr. Barger himself.
For whatever help that information is....
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Mary G
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| Posted: June 28 2008 at 2:44pm | IP Logged
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CatholicMommy wrote:
| The college in question is Thomas More College. |
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Well that's a pretty rock-solid college isn't it? That would be a great way for TMC to get a "printing press" like others have (Ave Maria, Christendom).
Hopefully that will help with their financial lack of expertise ...
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
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folklaur
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Okay, good, I am glad to read others replies and of their hesitantcy. I felt the same as I read it, but thought I was just being too cynical. I guess what really bothered my was the part where he says:
" Worse, last evening our printer called to say that until we pay off all $50,000 of our outstanding debt to him, he won't print any more of our books."
Like the printer was being mean or unreasonable. And I don't think the printer is. The printer needs to pay his bills, staff, electricity too - and he is already let them go $50K worth.
It seems slightly unreasonable to me to keep taking on more projects and just going farther into debt when you already can't pay your bills.
I hope that the college is able to help them out and that all goes smoothly - I do like their books.
I will pray for them.
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Topic: Sophia Institute Press
