Since demonetisation, Rt Rev Thomas Dabre, Bishop of Poona, had issued a circular urging parishioners across 35 churches to refrain from donating money in the discontinued notes,” said Sequeira, parish priest at Divine Mercy Church at Wadgaon Sheri. Since demonetisation, Rt Rev Thomas Dabre, Bishop of Poona, had issued a circular urging parishioners across 35 churches to refrain from donating money in the discontinued notes,” said Sequeira, parish priest at Divine Mercy Church at Wadgaon Sheri.

Twelve days after the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were demonetised, religious sites too seem to be bearing the consequences of the move. Weekly collection from donations at 35 churches across Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Miraj, Kolhapur and Satara, which usually comes up to Rs 2 to Rs 2.5 lakh, has dipped by half.

Some churches, that usually had a weekly collection of Rs 7,000 are now getting Rs 300.

The lack of ready cash, at a few places, is not even enough for necessities like paying the bills for sick parishioners. “We had to give a cheque to an ailing person under our care,” said Father Dennis Joseph, assistant parish priest at St Sebastian Church in Daund.

Watch What Else Is making News

Since demonetisation, Rt Rev Thomas Dabre, Bishop of Poona, had issued a circular urging parishioners across 35 churches to refrain from donating money in the discontinued notes,” said Sequeira, parish priest at Divine Mercy Church at Wadgaon Sheri.

But now most churches are facing a slump in the donations. For instance, the weekly collection at Divine Mercy Church reduced from Rs 7,000 to Rs 300 last week, said Sequeira, adding that now most offerings are made through Rs 10 and Rs 20 notes.

At St. Anne’s Church, parish priest Father Simon Almeida said their weekly collection has decreased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 6,000.

City’s prominent St. Patrick’s Church too reported a dip from an approximate Rs 90,000 per week to Rs 76,000.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.