CHIARA FINALDI: Who can apply to open a store and can people outside the U.S. sell on Peter’s Square Marketplace?
DAVID RUMMELHOFF: Anyone who is Catholic is welcome to open a shop on Peter’s Square. As I mentioned earlier, their products don’t need to be religious items. And, yes, people outside the U.S. are welcome. We have multiple international vendors.
CHIARA FINALDI: Does Peter’s Squares check the items sold by the shops to make sure they reflect the Catholic ethos?
DAVID RUMMELHOFF: Yes, we do moderate, but we have yet to find a single vendor who was selling something disallowed.
Our restrictions are minimal, but certainly nothing antithetical to the Catholic faith is allowed.
CHIARA FINALDI: How many shops are there at the moment?
DAVID RUMMELHOFF: We have a little over one hundred approved vendors and about 63 active shops.
CHIARA FINALDI: Why is it important to buy from Catholic Companies?
DAVID RUMMELHOFF: Solidarity. More than any other reason, I believe that supporting Catholic businesses, whether they are incorporated or just an individual mom working out of her house, is an essential part of living out the principle of solidarity.
We promote the common good and stand a little more united when we help our Catholic brothers and sisters in this way.
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