Parishioners snub plea to help pay for Pope's visit

Published on Saturday 14 August 2010 16:56

CATHOLIC Church leaders are facing a massive funding black hole to help pay for Pope Benedict's controversial visit to the UK next month.

Attempts to raise up to 8 million to meet the costs of the four-day visit have fallen far short, with church-goers snubbing attempts to have them pay to see the Pope.

So far, it is thought just 5.1m has been raised, the vast majority from private and corporate donors, with 1.1m being raised by churches.

There have been widespread concerns that the cost of attending open-air events such as the visit to Bellahouston Park, in Glasgow, on 16 September, is putting parishioners off.

Catholics have been asked to pay as much as 25 each to attend, although church leaders have insisted no one will be forced to pay the charges. Parishioners have been asked to donate via a special collection to raise 1.7m to fund Scotland's share of the cost.

It is thought the cost to the taxpayer from the Pope's visit will be up to 20m. Clifford Longley of Catholic newspaper The Tablet said: "I wouldn't want to say that the reaction has been lukewarm but it certainly hasn't been red hot. I noticed in my own parish that they still have tickets available for the Hyde Park vigil and the Newman beatification. We're not in a situation where people are queuing around the block for tickets."

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said it was too early to say how popular the event would be. "There are more than 500 parishes in Scotland and only 20 per cent have come back to us so far with their figures," he said.