SPAIN: A CHURCH IN SPAIN INTRODUCES A NOVEL WAY OF ALLOWING WORSHIPPERS TO MAKE DONATION - BY CREDIT CARD

Record ID: 646489

  • Title: SPAIN: A CHURCH IN SPAIN INTRODUCES A NOVEL WAY OF ALLOWING WORSHIPPERS TO MAKE DONATION - BY CREDIT CARD
  • Date: 4th February 1997
  • Summary: LEON, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 4, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. CU/SV GLORIA VIDAL LUJAN "SWIPING" CREDIT CARD AT SAN CLAUDIO CHURCH (4 SHOTS) 0.24 2. SV SAN CLAUDIO CHURCH (2 SHOTS) 0.46 3. SV FATHER ROBERTO ASENJO ENTERING CHURCH 0.59 4. MCU ASENJO SAYING: "BASICALLY, MIDDLE-AGED PEOPLE USE IT (THE MACHINE). YOUNG PEOPLE LACK FUNDS AND OLDER PEOPLE AREN'T USED TO USING THE CARDS. THEY (OLDER PEOPLE) CONTINUE TO GIVE DONATIONS THROUGH TRADITIONAL METHODS. IN THE FUTURE, IT WILL BE ADOPTED BY YOUNGER PEOPLE, NATURALLY." (SPANISH) 1.33 5. LAS WORSHIPPERS ENTER CHURCH 1.48 6. CU CREDIT CARD SIGNS ON CHURCH DOOR (2 SHOTS) 1.56 7. SV WORSHIPPERS LEAVE CHURCH 2.04 8. MCU SAN CLAUDIO CHURCH MEMBER GLORIA VIDAL LUJAN SAYING: "I THINK THAT THOSE WHO INTEND TO MAKE A DONATION HAVE ALREADY DECIDED HOW MUCH THEY'LL GIVE AND I DON'T THINK THIS WILL FORCE THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS CHURCH TO GIVE MORE MONEY." (SPANISH) 2.20 9. SV LEON CATHEDRAL 2.31 10.GV OF LEON WITH CATHEDRAL 2.35 Initials S3/2 P3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 19th February 1997 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LEON, SPAIN
  • City:
  • Country: Spain
  • Reuters ID: LVA3S64IN9D9YCR0DPUECEJJLDR
  • Story Text: A church in Spain has introduced a novel way of allowing worshippers to make donations -- by credit card.

    Paying for her gasoline? Getting some cash? No, this woman is donating money to her church.

    Here at the Church of St. Claudio in the northern Spanish city of Leon, the hum of a printer fills the sanctuary as parishoners "swipe" their Visas and tear their receipts from the new electronic donation machine.

    This electronic "alms box," probably the first in the world, was pioneered by Father Roberto Asenjo of St. Claudio.

    It may take a while, but the church thinks the trend will catch on. "Basically, middle-aged people use it (the machine). Young people lack funds and older people aren't used to using the cards.

    They (older people) continue to give donations through traditional methods. In the future, it will be adopted by younger people, naturally," said Father Asenjo.

    Credit card users aren't known for their thrift. It's possible that some members' donations may be bigger than their bank accounts.

    "I think that those who intend to make a donation have already decided how much they'll give, and I don't think this will force the people who come to this church to give more money," said church member Gloria Vidal Lujan in defence of the system.

    St. Claudio won't be the only church to have its members producing the plastic. Plans have already been made for the installation of this high-tech system in Leon's 13th-century, gothic cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in Spain.


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