'Adopt a priest' video parody adds mischief to French Catholic fundraising
Online video encourages donations towards training for a priest, in a parody of French 'adopt a guy' dating site
Anne Penketh in Paris
The Guardian, Sunday 18 May 2014 09.25 EDT
The Catholic church in France can't be accused of lacking a sense of humour. Six Catholic dioceses in Normandy have banded together to encourage the faithful to "adopt a priest" via an online video as part of their annual fundraising drive.
The 48-second video, which has already been viewed more than 22,000 times since being launched last week, targets young donors with its parody of a popular French dating site, adopteunmec.com (adopt a guy).
Adopteuncuré.com shows an actor playing a young priest, stroking his dog collar before the camera zooms in on a cross on his lapel. A soft female voice says that his dynamism is "impossible to resist" and vaunts his round-the-clock availability. She explains the benefits of an attentive, non-judgmental listener whose faith is unshakeable. The priest is "100% divine, and needs you," she says.
Donors are encouraged to contribute sums ranging from €10 for a food basket to €130 towards a day's training for a priest. They can also pay for religious clothing, mobile phones or computers. The site points out that all contributions are tax deductible.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/18/adopt-priest-video-parody-french-catholic-fundraising
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