Parishes collect (in theory voluntary) rates, including: for organizing the funeral and cemetery services. Site fees are also paid periodically to prevent the grave from being closed down and cemeteries from being overcrowded. But that’s still not all. As it turns out, some parishes also require payment when replacing a tombstone. Without this, they will not give consent. This happened to a resident of Chorzów.
How much does it cost to replace a monument in a cemetery? The priest demanded an additional fee
The woman wanted to renovate the monument. Her father died in September 2023 and was buried in the old family grave. Its condition was no longer the best, hence the decision to replace it. However, there was a problem. She talked about the whole matter in an interview. – We have been paying for the grave since 1974, and we recently paid the fee for the next 20 years. However, I also planned to replace the monument with one, the old one is already in poor condition. However, I learned that she would not consent to this, she explained. It turned out that he would only receive permission for a new monument if he paid a fee of 10%. value of the tombstone. – This is tribute – she emphasized. – It’s outrageous, it’s also taking advantage of other people’s misfortune – she added, also pointing out that “tithing existed in the Middle Ages.”
The resident of Chorzów did not hide her outrage at the whole situation. She emphasized that this is not how a victim works, as it should be voluntary. However, the chancellor of the Metropolitan Curia in Katowice, Fr. Dr. Tomasz Wojtal, in an interview with “Gazeta Wyborcza”, explained that such fees when replacing tombstones are normal in both parish and municipal cemeteries. In the Archdiocese of Katowice, its amount was set at 10%. value of the tombstone.
‘Whatever you like’ is just the beginning Photo Kamil Zajączkowski / Shutterstock / Shutterstock
“Whatever” but no less than…? Some parishes have their own official price list for church services
This is not the first such situation described by the media. A few months ago, she also described the story of a resident of Łódź who heard from a priest that the priest’s presence at her father’s funeral would cost PLN 700. She talked about everything on social media. The priest emphasized that “in the absence of this amount, the service will not take place.” He also allegedly admitted that on that day he had already refused three people who could not afford such an expense. Ultimately, he agreed to serve for PLN 500.
What Internet users pay attention to are often carefully prepared detailed price lists in parishes. They apply to intentions at Mass, but also to celebrations, such as baptism, marriage or marriage. Although in theory everyone should donate the amount they can afford and consider consistent with their conscience, the reality turns out to be slightly different. Some time ago, “Fakt” quoted a discussion on one of the wedding forums, in which specific amounts for a church wedding were mentioned. “Whatever, but not less than PLN 2,000” is a common answer that, as Internet users pointed out, could be heard in the parish office. It sometimes happens that the end result of “inflation” turned out to be higher than initially announced, and priests tempted with “discounts”. Despite this, there were many who actually asked for a voluntary and arbitrary amount. If you feel like it, vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
