Trafficking in Religion

“If caught for speeding, you can pray instead of pay”

A Polish tabloid reports that speeders stopped by the police in Glogów face a choice: pay a fine or pray with a priest. Police say the priest is even more effective at stopping poor driving than they are.

Pity that the police in Weert, Netherlands, aren’t as church-friendly: 200 members of St. Martinus Church received parking tickets during a special anniversary service. Wim van der Valk, pastor of the church, says he’ll pay each 91-guilder fine out of his own pocket—totaling about $7,500. “They may reward me for it in heaven,” he says.

Related Elsewhere

Related stories include:

Priest will pay his flock’s parking fines – Ananova (Oct. 29, 2001)

Drivers can avoid tickets if they pray with police priest – Ananova (Nov. 3, 2001)

Polish Priest prays for traffic offenders – Assist News Service (Nov. 2, 2001)

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