Spain’s Catholic Church sees tax income drop €1million

DESPITE more people contributing money through an income tax provision the Catholic Church’s income in Spain has dropped by more than a million euros a year.

Spanish taxpayers have the option to check a box on their income tax return forms that allows them to give 0.7% of their tax obligation to the Catholic Church.

Last year almost 7.5 million taxpayers ticked the box contributing a total of 249 million euros.

Although the number of contributors went up by 56,000 during the last fiscal year, the amount actually collected year-on-year by the church fell by €1.09 million.

There are over 42 million people baptised in Spain, covering about 92% of the total population.

But, in spite of strong traditions, most Spaniards do not participate regularly in religious services. A study conducted in October 2006 by the Spanish Centre of Sociological Research shows that of the Spaniards who identify themselves as religious, 54% hardly ever or never go to church (except for wedding and funerals), 15% go to church some times a year, 10% some time per month and 19% every Sunday or multiple times per week.