The Irish Government has added an amendment to the Charities Bill 2007 to prohibit the sale of bogus Mass cards. Independent NUI Senator Rónán Mullen who had tabled his own amendment was more than happy to accept the Government’s version saying: “The Minister has acted in the public interest to curb a scam and is to be commended for doing so.”
Speaking in Leinster House during the debate on the Bill, Senator Mullen pointed out that the money paid by persons purchasing these so-called Mass cards is never received by a bona fide Catholic priest.
Missionaries in developing countries depend on Mass stipends to support the pastoral and charitable work which they carry out.
In recent years however, certain individuals have been printing pre-signed Mass cards and it is often impossible to know whether the signature on the card is actually that of a priest.
“Fake Mass cards have deprived missionaries of much needed funding and lined the pockets of those who fraudulently produced these cards” said the Senator.
“This is an important issue for the State as many people were making donations under the mistaken presumption that money for such cards was being given for a charitable purpose. Of course, this is also a matter for the Catholic Church which should discourage the sale of such bogus Mass cards in each locality. The practice of people making an offering in respect of a specific Mass intention and giving a card for that purpose is what should be encouraged,” stated Senator Mullen.
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(Source: CIN)