Amen to outsourcing
Long before call centers and BPO became en vogue, the Catholic Church was
already doing some sort of outsourcing to India.
According to New York Times report, Roman Catholic Churches in the
US,Canada and Europe have for years been "outsourcing" religious services
to India and other developing countries
Priests in India, specifically in Kerala which has the highest
concentration of Christians in the country, are handling Mass for special
"intention" or requests for services to remember deceased relatives and
thanksgiving prayers.
The intention - often a prayer for the repose of the soul of a deceased
relative, or for a sick family member, thanksgiving for a favour received,
or a prayer offering for a newborn - is announced at Mass.
Indian Catholic priests get $5 per request, which then benefits the needy
in Kerala.
These prayer requests pass through the Vatican and reach Kerala by mail
although a number of them are sent through email - which goes to show how
technology impacts all forms of outsourcing.
The idea by itself is quite surprising and amazing at the same time
because India is predominantly a Hindu country. But outsourcing (like
perhaps love?) knows no boundaries nor religion.
