Madrid (Fides Service) - According to the Spanish Finance Ministry the number of people who choose to assign to the Church the percentage of their income foreseen by the state has increased by more than 5.22% in recent years to reach 39.69% in 2000. In an interview with Fides Service, Bishop Francisco Perez Gonzales of Osma-Soria diocese who is also National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain commented this news.

Could this be a sign of increased appreciation for the activity of the Church?
I think the Church in Spain has acquired more credibility among believers and non believers. People see the Church working silently among the poor and they want to help. The Church's love and service for the poor renders more credible the message of the Gospel and the culture of life and solidarity that the Church strives to promote. Then there are the 20,000 Spanish missionaries working all over the world to consider: this figure impresses people.

Does any of the money assigned to the Church by the state go to the missions?
No, it is for the needs of the Church in Spain. However we, the Pontifical Mission Societies, see an increase in the number of wills and donations of generous people anxious to support the missions. In the last two years, since 2000, we received 47 heritages, which was a lot in a short time. Between 1990 and 1999 we received 55 heritages. This is a sign that people appreciate the Church's silent work to meet the needs of people today suffering solitude and poverty.

The Pope has called for the Rosary to be prayed in the family. Are the Pontifical Mission Societies doing anything special to promote the family rosary?
We would like to see devotion to Our Lady spread especially among our children. In fact on Missionary Childhood Day, 26 January, we distributed rosaries to children and adults. During this year of the Rosary called by Pope John Paul II, we implore the intercession of Mary that God may grant us peace. As National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain I urge all our benefactors, collaborators and co-workers to pray for peace. RZ (Fides Service 13/2/2003 EM lines 36 Words: 443)