Parish giving goes electronic

Published: 2006-01-10

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As Americans move increasingly to an electronic economy, Catholic parishes are finding that many of their members prefer making their regular parish offerings by credit card or electronic cash transfer. W. Brian Walsh, founder and president of Faith Direct, said that typically about one-fifth of envelope holders sign up for electronic giving within the first year after a parish offers that option. Faith Direct, based in Alexandria, Va., is one of several U.S. firms that help churchgoers do a better job of stewardship by committing themselves to an automatic monthly bank account deduction or credit card charge for support of their church. "Most people are accustomed to monthly charges" for financial transactions ranging from mortgages and car payments to utility bills and credit card bills, Walsh said.

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