“TAP AND PRAY” – is about to be rolled out across Catholic churches in Ireland and the UK as the church faces dwindling numbers of attendees and collections in modern Covid era.
Many people who already come to church claim they are no longer cash carriers when it comes to collection times.
Now, Father, has come up with an answer to the tight assed and will explain to them that they can simply tap their card or phone against the new clever money hoovers.
In one sense this was always going to happen. We are fast reaching the cashless age in all other walks of lives.
I don’t carry much cash and I hardly ever write a cheque these days.
I pay my bills either by direct debit or by instant bank transfer.
So, I suppose the church(s) must go along with the age too.
It also does away with committees having to count cash on Monday morning and then carry bags of coins to the bank in canvas bags.
When I was a curate in St Peter’s Cathedral Belfast – 1978 to 1983 – the five priests were obliged all Monday morning counting the cash!
Lay people could not be trusted!
FUTURE CHURCH TECHNOLOGY?
A US priest suggested a few years ago to me that with the shortage of priests etc, there might come a time with giving out Holy Communion might be handled by technology.
He suggested that those entitled to Holy Communion would be given a credit card like card which when inserted into a machine in a church would deliver one segment of the consecrated host in a totally sanitized little package?
There have been cases in the USA, where else, where a priest on holidays left out a container of consecrated hists with the sign: PRIEST ON HOLIDAYS. HELP YOURSELF.
There is indeed a case for tech solutions for church finances.
But I dont think we could ever see machines handling the sacred?
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 
42 replies on “CATHOLIC CHURCH IN IRELAND AND UK TO INSTALL CONTACTLESS CARD MACHINES IN CHURCH PORCHES TO ATTRACT DONATIONS FROM NON CASH CARRIERS.”
A rather pointless and unimportant issue for discussion. The simple truth is that we are in a cashless age almost and many people now have a card of some kind rather than carry cash. We’ve had lots of people ask if we have a card machine facility…we have to readapt. Simple as. No issue. No problem..
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This isn’t new. It happened last year. Makes it easier for counting. Any cash donations have to be left for 72 hours before counting just in case it is infected by the virus.
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It is a digital World and things constantly change. Best way is Direct Debit or Standing order.
It is easier for you by DD or SO then the claim for your Gift Aid will be easier as well.
In some dioceses you can now sponsor items like candles, wine and Communion hosts for the year.
Many Sponsorships opportunities are available Vocations, Retired Priests to name two.
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Can you sponsor clergy membership for the boiler house?
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Mmmm ? And where does this money get spent ? Well, from what I see it goes on ensuring a very nice lifestyle for bishops and priests who are immune from the difficulties that most people experience in their lives. Access to parish accounts and cheque books, cash, the grey economy of what rightly belongs to the parish and what belongs to the priest, who pays for what and when…..well, there is ample room for confusion ! I would like to hear from the priest who has to worry how he is going to pay the utility bills, or find enough to do a supermarket shop, or worry about buying new shoes for school for the kids. Or even pay the mortgage, except on the holiday apartment in the Canaries ! Doesn’t happen. They are protected and immunised from all of that irksome reality of life, because they are able to access all sorts of channels of funds and support. Nice work – and I say that advisedly ! – if you can get it.
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9:57am
I wondered how long it would take before the usual begrudgers would be on, and here you are. If you don’t want to give don’t, leave it to people who are happy to support our clergy. The Lord loves a cheerful giver, not moaners like you so do wan!
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As they say “the Givers never moan and the miners never give. “It has always been such
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9.57
You must be a lapsed Catholic sadly.
The clergy do not count money or pay bills that’s the Church of yesterday year as the situation is Parish Finance Councils (PFC)see to the parish finance who in turn is responsible to the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) then to the Diocesan Finance teams.
the forward thinking dioceses are now onto procurement to make purchases cheap.
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9.57: A nonsense comment. You’ve said the same many times before. Perpetuating a big LIE. You are obviously not up to speed re: New Charities Act which has been in operation for some years. And if you want to speak the TRUTH, go and read the Act and its guidelines and principles for all charities. You will also discover that every penny donated is recorded, traceable and subject to random scrutiny by Revenue. Priests are registered as self employed and avail of accountancy firms to complete their tax returns and all income is validated through banks, credit unions or post offices. Plus, every salary is now paid monthly out of a Diocesan Fund. Sir, silly begrudger, there is no room for your imagined thefts – unless we are cute like you!! What caca you spout. Untruths. Big Lie. Oh, forgot to say, haven’t bought shows for over 18th months but bought instead for needy parishioners!! Now, are you happy, imbecile?
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Lol ‘father’ seriously wants us to believe the sheeple don’t still press cash into their hands and give them gifts.
You may attract more sympathy if you had a go at commenting politely instead of being a real life Fr Jack Hackett.
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Diocese’s still do a yearly collection for the ‘education of priests’, which I assume is often spent on ‘further study’ courses. Maybe they should use the money to help lay people obtain a degree in theology etc
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5.28
Dioceses only do collections for Priests that have retired as it can be gift aided.
The collection you maybe speaking about is for student seminarians however some dioceses have stopped this collection due to no vocations or use it for the national contributions for the seminaries.
“further Study” courses are paid for by the individual parish..
Lay People in Ireland and the UK get funded or subsidised to go to Maryvale for courses.
The big training issue going forward is going to be the Bereavement Course where the Laity can do the receiving of the deceased the night before if they are having Mass the next day, graveside committals and Cremation Services as there is no need for Ordained Clergy to do these services.
In Ireland and the UK there is a shortage of Clergy so going forward the Laity will take a bigger part in their Church.
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I think we all know that all is not well in the clerical, priestly, episcopal world. We see the evidence of this everyday – abusive priests, lazy priests, angry priests, thieving priests, living on the high hog priests. We know it from the awful things that have come out from under the rocks about priestly behaviour – everything from buggering children, sending pictures of their genitals to ex-students (Roreee !), raping seminarians, masturbating in public car parks by the beach, engaging in incredibly unsafe and reckless sexual exploits in saunas (Purcell !). The list could go on. We have discussed previously the personal responsibility of these individuals. That should not be diminished. However, another questions lingers. Why are so many priests like this, in big public ways and small private ways ? Why so much sexual misbehaviour, why so much cruising for sex, why so much internet porn on the parish computer etc…..? Well, I do wonder in years to come, whether the spotlight will turn to the institutional Church and reflect on its responsibility for these men and their behaviour, the way they are formed and managed, and the damaging clerical culture in to which they are required to live in order to be priests. Personal responsibility does certainly have to be taken by each priest who does wrong. Surely, though, the deeper reasons about why he has done wrong should also be taken in to account, and the institutional Church that brought him up, brought him in, trained him, and then was supposed to oversee him, surely that Church has some responsibility and accountability ? The priest is often failing because the culture and life he lives is failing, and the people and institution that is supposed to support, encourage and oversee him and his work is failing. Discuss !
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I also think parishioners can play a role in supporting a priest. In the sense of members of the parish community looking out for each other. I’m quick to call a priest when I’m in need but do I check in during lockdown, for instance? I’m afraid not.
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10:39 am.
Same person saying the same things every day.
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Invalid criticism. The same gospel doesn’t stop being read every day.
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10.39: Dud you inky write one chapter in your book…you keep repeating the same words so frequently. Bit 8f a chance and you took your lead from Magna Carra, another repetituve plonker. All infantile, same ikd, same old…Do you wear a bra and sit behind lace curtains, Buddy?
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A@10:39 rightly seeks discussion on issues of individual priestly impropriety and wider implications of their institutional formation. I go further and question the continuation of this increasingly redundant instution, the RCC, whose very foundations are being eroded as ill founded though greater awareness and analysis of its gullible and superstitious origins.
Contrary to its supposed rocklike foundations, its shifting sands reveal its eventual consignment to the dusts of history while those invested in its self serving perpetuation range from acquiescent bystanders to strident proselytisers defending the indefensible.
MMM
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As a parish priest, I don’t see or touch one red cent of whatever money comes in. I leave that to parishioners whom I trust. They count it and they bank it. I don’t go anywhere near it. I get my stipend once a month which I live on and pay all my bills out of. I have no other income, or pensions, or investments, etc. I preached about money. The Lord has always provided sufficiently. I have no interest in money. I am quite content. Matthew 6:25-34.
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11.19
Well done Father following the fruits of Vatican two as you are correct it is the peoples Church and you can get on with your Pastoral Ministry and the Sacraments that you are ordained to do.
Try and tell your Brother Priests to let go of the plumbing, heating, hall lets and finance and get on with the Sacramental life of the Church.
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I meant to say I have NEVER preached about money.
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Let me get this correct …
The money younger handed in an envelope for weddings and funerals- is that handed over to parish ?
The little envelopes you get for mentioning people’s names during mass as an offering … ?
Where do they go ?
Pull The other one PP . Other sheep may believe you are cashless
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How can you tell you’ve picked up a priest on Grindr?
When he asks you to give generously as you leave.
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11:50am
I take it you’re speaking from experience, I hope you were generous.
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He asked me to gift aid my ‘donation’.
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“Liveline” on RTÉ is hilarious at the moment. Two aul ones fighting over the priest who was caught masturbating in his car
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I heard that earlier. Did you hear yerone keep going on about how we’re all sinners and every time she said it poor Joe would go ”yeah yeah you’ve said that already, we’re all sinners, yeah…’
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Wonder if Fr. McCarthy on Radio maria is going to cover it! Might be interessting to call in.
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4.05:You idiots just can’t accept that people choose to be generous as a gesture of their appreciation. Tough on you!! Why are you jealous and all agitated? Guess you’re a begrudger….poor sod!! Learn TRUTH.
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Quick, give him some booze.
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The priests past and present in Tullamore don’t speak very well about you.
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Most of them were and are assholes. Saw through them years ago. Only interested in wealthy parishioners and money.
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Pat it is so nice to hear a clergyman answer honestly and reflecting his real thoughts.
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5:36pm
Patsy you’re being a bold boy again tut,tut,tut!
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People on this blog with a habit of watching Ennis Parish through the website can make a donation any time and it’s the right thing to do for the services they provide.
The RCC are shrewd. Everyone knows it. It’s not a secret and there is nothing wrong with it.
A tap donation is a good idea and moving with the times.
Regards those entitled for communion when a shortage of priest occurs:
The Eucharist become like the chrism mass that it is performed in a cathedral. Deacons and/or lay people will then distribute Holy Communion at a local level. My understanding is in that scenario, the Deacon or lay people will have to make it clear that consecration of the Eucharist has previously happened and is not happening at that service.
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6.01
Seamus I think the people in Ennis Parish are going to be in for one mighty shock soon.
They certainly provide services.
Watch this Blog !!!!!!!
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Well, the old daisy dumplings will not be getting anything off me. I can assure you of that, Bp Pat, as a lot of it will be spent on gay-related goods and services, including monthly charges for Grindr and such. It is not a stretch to say that Grindr is a staple in the lives of most priests and vicars, not just the queer community at large. Gone are the days when a quick in-and-out at the gents would be enough for them.
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The givers never moan and the moaners never give, just saying like
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I hope you’ll write an article about the 2yr anniversary of the death of LGBT Lyra McKee tomorrow.
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Happy 94th birthday to Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger today. Ad multos annos.
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And congratulations to his husband George too.
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what did Kitty Kirby, Porn Again Elijah, and Big Delia do with all those euros and USD ??? i suppose past donors such as myself will have to wait for the irish police and charities commission for answers.
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