Introduction
In an era where digitization and technological innovation are transforming every aspect of our daily lives, even the Church has begun to explore new ways to adapt to these changes. Among emerging technologies, blockchain is proving to be an intriguing option for addressing some of the challenges that the Church faces. Below, we will examine how blockchain could be evaluated to improve the management of donations and church records.
Blockchain and the Church: A Desired Partnership
Blockchain is a technology that enables the creation of an immutable and secure digital ledger of transactions and data. It was initially conceived for Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, but over the years, it has demonstrated much broader applications, including supply chain management, traceability, intellectual property protection, smart contracts, and medical data preservation.
The Church, on the other hand, has a long tradition of maintaining records and collecting donations. However, current processing methods can be inefficient in terms of security and vulnerable to human errors or fraud. Blockchain offers a solution to these problems by ensuring data security and immutability, while also enabling greater transparency in resource management.
Blockchain and Donations Management
Donations are a fundamental source of income for the Church, used to support its activities and charitable works. However, managing donations can be complex and time-consuming, especially when it comes to tracking the origin and destination of funds.
Blockchain can simplify this process by securely and transparently recording donations. Through an application of this technology, the faithful can make donations directly to a specific project or cause, knowing that their contribution will be tracked and used exactly as intended.
Furthermore, blockchain could facilitate the adoption of cryptocurrencies as a means of donation. This would allow the Church to accept donations from around the world without dealing with the complications and expenses associated with currency exchange and international transactions.
Blockchain and Church Record Preservation
The Church is responsible for the preservation of a vast quantity of records, including those of baptisms, marriages, confirmations, funerals, and property titles of churches and cultural assets. These records have both historical and spiritual significance, but their preservation in paper form makes them vulnerable to fires, humidity, floods, and other natural disasters, as unfortunately occurred in the recent earthquakes in Central Italy, as well as thefts and vandalism.
Blockchain can be used to digitize and protect these records, ensuring their immutability and accessibility. Once entered into this database system, these records cannot be altered, and their authenticity can be easily verified by anyone with access to the system. Additionally, digitizing records would save space and resources and facilitate their retrieval.
Blockchain and Artistic Heritage
The Church must manage a considerable amount of artistic assets (from churches and sacristies, shrines and monasteries, museums, etc.). An important application of blockchain, especially Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), can find applications in this regard.
Conclusion
Blockchain can offer numerous advantages to the Church, from simplifying donation management to securely preserving church records. Although this technology may seem distant from the spiritual realm of the Church, it can contribute to ensuring greater transparency and reliability in its activities, thereby strengthening the trust of the faithful.
As stated by a scholar of Digital Pastoral and Religious Mining, Dr. Fortunato Ammendolia of the COP (Pastoral Orientation Center):
“The technologies of this era of change – the digital era – cannot fail to engage the Catholic Church and pastoral care in all aspects, going well beyond communication. Inherent in trust in an institution is the rule of accreditation, always linked to a good reputation, which is based on consistency with the essence of the institution, attention to the individual, and safeguarding. The use of secure systems for transactions and data processing becomes necessary in compliance with current European regulations. It’s not about something extra to deal with but about the ordinary, a new way of operating to inhabit this era.”
(Padua 2019, 69th National Pastoral Update Week COP, Focus on Digital Technologies and Communities).
A “revolution” to be embraced, experimented with, and consolidated.
Riccardo Petricca
Bibliography and Sitography:
- Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin Is Changing Money, Business, and the World
https://www.amazon.com/Blockchain-Revolution-Technology-Changing-Business/dp/1101980133 – Don Tapscott, Alex Tapscott - Blockchain Basics: A Non-Technical Introduction in 25 Steps
https://www.amazon.com/Blockchain-Basics-Non-Technical-Introduction-Steps/dp/1484226038 - Cryptocurrencies and the Catholic Church: initial reflections between risks and opportunities – Quaderni di diritto e politica ecclesiastica – Federico Gravino
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