A VICAR who has told his congregation he will not pray for their deceased loved ones during mass unless they stump up their portion of the maintenance costs of the cemetery has caused widespread outrage in his village.
In what residents have called a 'lack of respect', the parish priest of Beniparrell (Valencia) is demanding money that 'churches never normally ask for' and which families cannot afford.
He has even gone as far as pinning up a notice outside the church of Santa Bárbara and the cemetery saying those who do not pay their annual tax on their relatives' graves – between 10 and 15 euros – will not have any prayers said for them until they do.
The day after Hallowe'en, known as All Saints' Day, marks an annual tradition in Spain where those left behind pray for their departed family members and visit the cemetery to tidy up their graves and lay flowers.
But they will not get prayers dedicated to them in church that day if they still owe money.
The same vicar caused an uproar when he pinned notices on all headstones with the amounts of cash the individual family members owed.
He has threatened to take legal action and to increase the debt by 30 per cent if it is not settled within two weeks.
The annual fee has now been increased by three euros 'to cover publicity for non-payment'.
Parishioners say it is not the payment of their annual grave tax they are concerned about, but 'where the money is going to'.
A notice on the grave of a relative of the former treasurer of the cemetery recently had a reply written to the priest on it: “This sum shall be duly paid when the Reverend accounts for where the money I gave him is.”
The treasurer had allegedly paid the vicar 12,000 euros towards the maintenance of the cemetery, which resident of Beniparrell say is more than enough to cover the costs, but has not apparently been used for the purpose.
They suspect the vicar has spent it elsewhere.
But a few dissenters in Beniparrell defend the priest, saying he is very caring and frequently allows the poorest residents into his house and gives them food.
