<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Lucida Sans Unicode" LANG="0">Hello you all,<BR>
The Santiago Archdiocese inaugurated a new webpage a couple of days ago. <BR>
I think that it is very pretty. It opens with a lovely view of the Cathedral viewed from the Obradoiro which is followed by the botafumeiro in motion, the huggable image of the Apostle, and the tomb in the crypt. However, this new page might pose difficulties for those, mostly pilgrims, who do not read Spanish. <BR>
At the conclusion of the introduction there is a little box, on the right, that says "visite nuestro portal" (Visit our Home page) if you click there you'll go to the next page which contains several menu boxes; there are two on the right side: the one on the top titled "publicaciones" (publications) and the one on the bottom titled "varios" (various others), in this box, third from the bottom, there is the "pagina de peregrinos" (pilgrim's page); from there you can proceed in Spanish, French, Italian, German or English.<BR>
One of the new features of the Web Page is that a reader (called "Internaut"in Spanish) may send a personal opinion. -I've already wrote opining that access to the Pigrims' page should be highlighted somehow.<BR>
The new Web page has sparked a lively discussion in the Galician newspapers; the Correo Gallego, citing the director of the national Banco Popular reported that contributions to the Archdiocese could be made on line; this report angered the Archbishop who has heatedly denied it.<BR>
Of the thirteen Archdioceses in Spain three accept donations on-line: those of Sevilla, Granada and Zaragoza. One may make a donation through Visa or Mastercard or make a direct deposit electronically to the bank account of the particular Archdiocese; these activities are guaranteed, and insured by the Banco Popular which might be the reason why its director jumped the gun in regard to the Santiago Archdiocese.<BR>
I, myself, don't see what's wrong with it. Whenever I have purchased books from the Archdiocese, or joined this or that <BR>
activity, and have sent checks, the whole thing has cost me about 30% more. My New York bank charges for the international transfer, and when my check is cashed in Santiago the bank there charges the recipient for changing dollars into Euros. <BR>
Being that the Santiago Cathedral has an international appeal and aura I should think it desirable to deal with it on-line in this respect. But, they must have their reasons.<BR>
The address of the Web page is:<BR>
www.archicompostela.org<BR>
<BR>
Warm regards,<BR>
Rosina</FONT></HTML>