You Haven’t Got a Prayer
The outsourcing of jobs overseas continues with yet another employer getting into the act: the Roman Catholic Church. Some church functions are being done by clergy in India due to a shortage of priests in the U.S., Canada and Europe, the church admits. Masses for Special Intentions, such as special prayers for sick or deceased relatives, are most common. A significant number of such Intentions go to churches in Kerala, India, where the services are conducted in Malayalam, the local language. Priests there, who normally make about US$45 per month, love it: local prayer requests are usually accompanied by a donation of 40 rupees (US$0.90), while prayer requests from America usually bring donations of $5–10. “The prayer is heartfelt,” says the Rev. Paul Thelakkat, spokesman for the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church. “Every prayer is treated as the same whether it is paid for in dollars, euros or in rupees.” (New York Times) ...Except maybe for prayers for a new job after being laid off due to outsourcing.
Available in This is True: Book Collection Vol. 11