ignobel al Vaticano

["Daniele Barbieri" <pkdick at fastmail.it>]

rucevo e giro (per sorridere un po', ogni tanto)
-------------

Studi veri, ma assurdi, ingegnosi eppure stupidi, queste le caratteristiche
delle scoperte vincitrici degli IGNOBEL, i contro-Nobel assegnati ogni anno
alla prestigiosa
Harvard University, "tempio mondiale del sapere", quello vero, dagli autori
degli "Annali della Ricerca Improbabile". Il rito si ripete invariabilmente
dal 1991, seguito da un apposito tour mondiale.
Fra gli ignobel 2004 c'e' stato pure il Vaticano, premiato per l'ingegnosa
idea di affidare in «outsorcing» la celebrazione di messe richieste dai
credenti Usa al clero indiano, data la penuria di celebranti che oramai
affligge le chiese dei paesi occidentali. Il Vaticano era assente alla
premiazione...
>
>       US outsourcing prayers to India
>
>
>       Tuesday, 15 June , 2004, 12:04
>
>       New York: Following the outsourcing of software and other
> technological work in recent years, Western nations have now begun
> "offshoring" of Christian prayers to India.
>       "With Roman Catholic clergy in short supply in the United States,
> Indian priests are picking up some of their work, saying Mass for special
> intentions, in a sacred if unusual version of outsourcing," The New York
> Times reported. | Discuss: Do you think India is the most popular job
> outsourcing destination in the world? |
>
>       Joining Americans in sending Mass intentions, requests for services
> such as those to remember deceased relatives and thanksgiving prayers, to
> clergy in India, are Canadians and Europeans.
>
>       No other Indian state receives more intentions from overseas than
> Kerala, where the Masses are conducted in Malayalam. The intention, often
a
> prayer for the repose of the soul of a deceased relative, or for a sick
> family member, thanksgiving for a favor received, or a prayer offering for
a
> newborn, is announced at Mass. | Also read: Interview with Greg Spots on
his
> film on outsourcing blues. |
>
>       Generally individuals don't receive overseas requests, which are
> mostly routed to churches in Kerala through the Vatican, the bishops or
> through religious bodies. Such requests are increasingly arriving via
> e-mail, though the regular mail and the word of mouth of traveling
clergymen
> constitute a majority.
>
>       The Times, quoting priests, said memorial and thanksgiving prayers
for
> locals are said for a donation of Rs 40, whereas a prayer request from
> America costs 5 dollars.
>
>       Sebastian Adayanthrath, auxialiary bishop of the Ernakulam-Angamaly
> diocese in Kochi, said his diocese received a monthly average of 350 Mass
> intentions, which are passed to the needy priests. He added that in
Kerala,
> where priests earn about Rs 2,000, the overseas money is a welcome
> supplement.
>
>       In Bangalore's Dharmaram College, Rector James Narithookil said he
> often received requests for Mass intentions from abroad, which he
disbursed
> among the 50 priests in his seminary. Most of the requests from the United
> States were for requiems, with donations of 5 to 10 dollars, he said.
>