Effective: March 10, 2026 | Last updated: March 10, 2026
By accessing or using SmartPews ("Service"), you agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, do not use the Service. SmartPews is operated by Ocean Edgewater LLC ("we", "us", "our").
You must be at least 16 years old to create an account or post content. If you are between 16 and 18, you represent that you have your parent or guardian's permission to use the Service. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13 in compliance with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).
SmartPews is a community bulletin board for Catholic parishes. We provide a platform for parishioners to post services, items, announcements, and prayer requests scoped to their parish community. We are not a party to any transaction between users. We do not verify, endorse, or guarantee any service, item, or person listed on the platform.
You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account and all activity under it. You must provide accurate information. You may not impersonate another person or create misleading profiles. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.
"User Content" means any text, images, or other material you post on SmartPews. You retain ownership of your User Content. By posting, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display, distribute, and store your User Content solely for the purpose of operating the Service. This license ends when you delete your content or account.
You represent that your User Content:
You may not use SmartPews to:
We reserve the right, but are not obligated, to review, edit, or remove any User Content at our sole discretion. We may remove content that violates these Terms, our Community Guidelines, or applicable law. Parish administrators may moderate content within their parish. We act in good faith to restrict access to objectionable material pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(2).
If you encounter content that violates these Terms or is otherwise harmful, you may report it using the reporting feature on any post or message. We will review reports within 48 hours. For urgent safety concerns, contact local law enforcement immediately.
Appeals: If your content is removed or your account is suspended, you may appeal by emailing [email protected] within 14 days. Include the post in question and your explanation. We will review appeals within 5 business days and respond with a final decision. Decisions on appeal are final.
We respect intellectual property rights. If you believe content on SmartPews infringes your copyright, send a DMCA notice to our designated agent:
Your notice must include:
Counter-Notice: If your content was removed and you believe it was in error, you may file a counter-notice with the same information plus a statement consenting to the jurisdiction of the federal court in your district. We will restore content within 10-14 business days unless the complainant files a court action.
SmartPews is a venue, not a party to transactions. Any agreement for services or sale of goods is solely between the posting user and the responding user. We are not responsible for the quality, safety, legality, or delivery of any service or item. Exercise the same caution you would in any in-person transaction. Meet in public places. Verify credentials for licensed services. Do not send money in advance to people you don't know.
Some parishes may enable payment processing via Stripe. Each parish connects their own Stripe account ("Bring Your Own Key"). SmartPews does not process, store, or have access to your payment card information. Payments are governed by Stripe's terms of service and the parish's own policies. We are not responsible for payment disputes, refunds, or chargebacks.
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OCEAN EDGEWATER LLC SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE OR ANY TRANSACTION BETWEEN USERS. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED $100 USD.
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Ocean Edgewater LLC, its officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your use of the Service, your User Content, or your violation of these Terms.
We may suspend or terminate your access at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. You may delete your account at any time. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases. Sections 5, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 16 survive termination.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflict of law provisions.
Informal Resolution: Before filing any formal dispute, you agree to contact us at [email protected] and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.
Binding Arbitration: If informal resolution fails, any dispute arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. Arbitration shall take place in Suffolk County, Massachusetts (or remotely, at your election). The arbitrator's decision is final and enforceable in any court.
Class Action Waiver: YOU AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTES WILL BE RESOLVED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS ONLY. YOU WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION, CLASS ARBITRATION, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. If this waiver is found unenforceable, the entirety of this arbitration provision shall be void.
Small Claims Exception: Either party may bring qualifying claims in small claims court in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify users of material changes via the Service. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
Questions about these Terms? Email us at [email protected].