Letters

World Youth Day Madrid balance sheet

Fr Edward P. Evans

Contents - Nov 2011 - Buy a copy now Homily: Benedict XVI: From his All Saints Day homily - Pope Benedict XVI Ad Limina: The Australian bishops' 2011 ad limina visit to Rome - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Pastoral visit: Benedict XVI calls his visit to Germany 'a great feast of faith' The Lion of Munster: Blessed Cardinal von Galen: a voice against tyranny - Babette Francis WYD Madrid: World Youth Day 2011: Experiencing Christ's presence - Dr Joe Santamaria WYD Madrid: World Youth Day: Becoming sons and daughters of Christ - Sam Rebbechi Society: Finding hope in the midst of secularism - Cardinal Raymond Burke Saints: G.K. Chesterton: Is there a case for his canonisation? - Karl Schmude Letters: Catholic schools - Don Gaffney Letters: First Parents - Fr Brian Harrison OS Letters: World Youth Day Madrid balance sheet - Fr Edward P. Evans Letters: Planetary Spirituality - Grahame Fallon Letters: Climate change - P.C. Wilson Letters: Immoral policies - Anthony English Letters: Vatican II - Kathleen Donelly Letters: Atheism - Fr Bernard McGrath Letters: Same sex marriage - Brian Harris Letters: Islam - John Frey Letters: Catholic healthcare for Cairns - Dr Tim and Anne Coyle Letters: New parish in India - Fr S. John Joseph PP Letters: Advocate needed - Oliver Clark Books: STRAINED RELATIONS: The Challenge of Homosexuality, by Bill Muehlenberg - Dr Joe Santamaria (reviewer) Books: ST THOMAS BECKET, by Michael Green - Michael E. Daniel (reviewer) Books: SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI, by Ivan Gobry - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Donations: Support the Fighting Fund! Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: The Church's architecture: faith translated into vision - Bishop Arthur Serratelli

Australian TV had little to say about the very successful World Youth Day (WYD) in Madrid. It did show a group of kissing homosexual men (not youth) and another group of people protesting about the high cost of the WYD to the Spanish Government in these times of austerity. The Spanish Government denied these claims and L'Osservatore Romano (2 September 2011) published the facts and figures.

The WYD cost 50.5 million euros. Of this, the participants contributed 31.5 milllion (62%), the sponsors 16.5 million (33%) and donations 2.4 million (5%). Thus the Spanish taxpayer did not contribute a cent for this great gathering of 1.5 million happy young people.

The expenses: 12.5 million euros went for the renting of the "Plaza de Cibeles" and the "Cuatro Vientos Airport" for the big gatherings. The General Secretariat and the welcoming of the pilgrims cost 5.5 million, the pilgrim-sacks cost 4.8 million, the putting up of the infrastructures 7.8 million, the cultural programs 4.2 million, advertising 2.6 million, security 1.3 million, and board and lodgings for the volunteers 4 million.

During the days of the WYD the hotels, restaurants and shops earned more than 100 million euro. Indeed, WYD was exceeding good business for Spain!

FR EDWARD P. EVANS
Chaplain to the German Catholic Community of Canberra
Braddon, ACT

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 24 No 10 (November 2011), p. 13