An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the
world. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to Orlando, thinking
that he
would start by working his way across the USA from South to North.
On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he noticed
golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read $10,000 per call
The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the
telephone was used for.
The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000
you could talk to God. The American thanked the priest and went along
his way.
Next stop was in Atlanta. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same
golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the
same kind of telephone he saw in Orlando and he asked a nearby nun what
its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that
for
$10,000 he could talk to God.
O.K, thank you, said the American. He then travelled to Indianapolis,
Washington DC,
Philadelphia, Boston and New York. In every church he saw the same golden
telephone
with the same $10,000 per call sign under it.
The American, upon leaving Vermont decided to travel to NEW ZEALAND to
see if New Zealanders had the same phone. He arrived in New Zealand, and
again,
in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but
this time the
sign under it read 40 cents per call. The American was surprised so he
asked the priest about
the sign.
Father, I've travelled all over America and I've seen this same Golden
telephone in many
churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, but in the US the
price was $10,000 per call.
Why is it so cheap here?
The priest smiled and answered, You're in New Zealand now, son - it's a
local call
