Roman Catholic Church Fined For Mass Texting
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(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Mass is OK. Mass texting is not in the Roman Catholic church in the southern city of Graz, Austria. The diocese in says it has been found guilty of contravening Austria’s telecommunications law by sending mass texts to the cellphones of followers asking them to pay overdue membership fees.
Hertha Ferk, a diocese official, was quoted by a local newspaper as saying the diocese has agreed to pay a fine that is under $13,475.
Members of recognized religions in Austria must pay so-called “church taxes” or opt out of membership. For a Catholic, non-payment would mean no right to church sacraments. A court took up the case after complaints from some of the 17,000 church members in arrears who received the text last year.
Story contributions by Newser.
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At least they’re using the technology. That’s different 🙂
I can see the text now : “If you don’t pay up the Virgin Mary will appear to you in person and excommunicate you – failing that your local Priest will rape you if you are young and male”
Religion eh? Gotta love it!
Text the masses instead of reaching them? Shhhh Marsha. Don’t give them any ideas.
“Mass texting”? Does that mean that they text the masses instead of preaching them? 🙂
(Just kidding). I still think that churches/synagogues should not be tax exempt, other than the specific monies that they DO donate to charities. Of course, that means my dues for Temple would no longer be tax-deductible… But I like to think that most of the money I give to Temple actually is used for the poor or those more unfortunate than I or most of my congregation…
It seems they can pick and choose things from science as they do from the bible. If it suites their purposes, it’s good. If not, it’s wrong.
Collecting more money is always good. Any way they can do it is fine, even if it means breaking the law. So what’s new?