The clergy will not receive a euro from the porch .

[Peter Fransiscus]

The Cathedral Foundation: «The clergy will not receive a euro from the porch»
The entity considers it "insulting and offensive" to doubt the fate of the money from the tickets
XOAN A. SOLER


SANTIAGO / THE VOICE 09/26/2018 05:00 H

Resounding response from the Fundación Catedral to the political and civic controversy, encouraged by the BNG, for the entrance fee to visit the porch of La Gloria. Canon Daniel Lorenzo was surprised by the criticism and described as "insulting and offensive" that doubts are sown on the destiny of the resources obtained by the visits to the basilica: "The clergy does not receive a single euro of the Museum's income, as he will not receive them from the porch of Glory ».
The director of the Fundación Catedral is perplexed by the terms of the criticism and after reiterating his suspicions of electoralism in the political positions against the entrance fee, he called for rigor in the analysis. "It is very easy to say things absolutely to the brave, which are the account of the milkmaid, but amazing accounts of the milkmaid," he said to questions from Eva Millán on Voces de Galicia , by Radio Voz. Lorenzo explained that the Cathedral Foundation allocates all its economic resources to the fulfillment of its purposes, which are fundamentally the promotion of knowledge and dissemination of the cultural heritage of the Cathedral and the performance of maintenance and conservation work on the temple.

As an example, Daniel Lorenzo exhibited the 2017 closed accounts of the Cathedral Museum, responsible for managing visits to the Portico and which in turn depends on the Fundación Catedral. The Museum was visited during the year by 219,000 people, who left an income of 1,274,942 euros; the expenses to attend all visitors amounted to 1,266,358. That is, the positive balance was 8,584 euros, but was achieved because, regardless of the price of the ticket (6 euros, 4 the reduced, free children), there were donations of visitors for 15,699 euros. "This is what it costs to keep the Museum open, just as it will cost to keep the Portico open," says Lorenzo, while proclaiming a performance guided by "the rigor, efficiency and eagerness to maintain a unique cultural service for the city. »

If the Cathedral wanted to convert the portico into a money-making machine, as the councilor from Santiago de Compostela, Goretti Sanmartín said, it would not have "never" considered that, in the new program that will start on December 1, guided tours for groups of 25 people (with the price of ten euros for entry, twelve combined with the Museum) are 45 minutes, "but 10 or 15, with more people, and not a quality visit."
As a foundation of Galician interest, the managing body of the Cathedral has the same benefits and bonuses as any other, and the members of its board do not charge, but work "altruistically," said the canon, who recalled that the basilica of Compostela is open and "if we raised a musealized cathedral we would not depend on any administration," he said in response to those wielding the investment of public money, more than 17 million euros in the rehabilitation plan that ends in 2020 and that does not include the porch de la Gloria, whose restoration was paid by the Barrié Foundation with six million. Lorenzo described the pazo de Mariñán, property of the Diputación, of which Sanmartin is vice president: "In Mariñán they do not charge, but who finances it? Does it fall from the sky or does it come from taxes and fees? "

Noriega supports the charge whenever it is used for conservation
The mayor of Compostela again showed sympathy with the actions of those responsible for the Cathedral, now in the controversy for the entrance fee to visit the portico of Glory, to support it as long as the purpose is not revenue.
Martiño Noriega said that, in the same way that defends the implementation of the tourist tax to raise resources for conservation and promotion of heritage, the collection of an entry should serve for the maintenance and preservation of the basilica. From his defense of the autonomy of the Cathedral, Noriega suggested that free time for the people of Compostela be extended, which he sees little. He also proposed to open free visits to the monument to the educational community, as a way of working towards the future in favor of respect and protection of heritage

 

[t2andreo]

Do people have any idea how much it costs to restore the Portico de la Gloria (PDG) over ten years? We're talking millions of Euros here. Plus, the remainder of the Cathedral, inside and out is undergoing renovation. it is a huge project. The managers of the project are working diligently to have it all done before the next Holy Year in 2021. For reference, I believe that the last renovation, using less durable methods and materials, was done some 150 years ago.

The Spanish government is not funding this huge work. Most all of the funding comes from the non-profit Cathedral foundation and private donations. I believe there also MAY BE a grant from the EU (under the rubric of preserving European cultural patrimony). The EU has done this elsewhere... a lot...

The Church, per se, does not have the funds for this. Customary contributions at Masses do not begin to scratch the surface cost-wise. Other funding sources must be found. The easiest, and most democratic (no pun intended) is to charge a nominal fee for access to the restored work of art.

UNESCO, the EU and the Spanish government regards the PDG as a cultural treasure, and part of Europe's cultural and artistic heritage. As such, it could well be ensconced in a closed museum, if it were possible to move it intact. You would have to pay to enter the museum...wouldn't you?

However, by dint of the fact that the Cathedral is what it is, it has a special status. In effect, it is a self-standing museum. Long-standing practice and tradition precludes charging to enter the portions of the Cathedral purpose-built for worship...all are welcome to enter regardless of ability to pay or contribute. No charges are levied. All monies given inside the specifically worship-oriented Church portion of the Cathedral are voluntary donations...period.

However, those portions of the Cathedral, not directly and purposely attached to the religious ceremonies that take place inside, can be treated differently. For example, the Cathedral Museum, the Cloisters, the Crypt, the roof, and archeological diggings under the main Cathedral, and the Palace of Xemiriez (adjacent to the Portico), while all attached to the Cathedral, are not part of the Church per se.

In that context, the Portico de la Gloria is the outer portico, gate, wall, or door, one passes through just before entering the Cathedral proper some distance inside. The PDG is the outer vestibule, or porch, As such, it is not part of the Cathedral proper.

Thus, it can easily be regarded as a separate, though attached but adjacent structure. In this regard, charging for entry, to defray the renovation costs, is not materially different than charging for access to the museum, palace, crypt, or cloister.

Hope this helps clarify matters.

 

[Kathor1]

The Spanish government is not funding this huge work.

The article says that 17 million euros of public money has been allocated for the current restoration plan of the Cathedral but none of this money has been used for the restoration of the Portico de la Gloria. And these 17 million came from the Spanish government and were agreed under Rajoy in 2014: 17 millones para la restauración de la Catedral de Santiago

The EU funds work differently: the funding of the grants are always shared, one part comes from the EU and the other part from the national or regional government concerned; main reason is regional/economic development. Protection of patrimony as such is a national task. I personally doubt that they are involved.

The new fees seem to be mainly a local/regional political Spanish issue although there will be always people from everywhere who will object to entry fees for a church or part of a church as a matter of principle.

 

[t2andreo]

Thanks for the added detail. I am glad the Spanish government contributed to the Cathedral renovation.

They will see a return on their investment, indirectly. The economy of Santiago de Compostela relies largely on the Camino de Santiago, and evening attached to it.

True, it is a university town, and has a huge and noted teaching hospital and medical school. But, without the Camino, writ large, Santiago would not be as financially healthy as it is.

Hope this helps the dialog.