avdotya these sheep are on their way to church. they're being blessed here. where we've come with children i like animals but they don't belong in a church with the negligee on it so all tidy there. is. this roman catholic priest is a bit of a maverick. father in hell is in charge of the church of sun and on it parish in the heart of madrid is one of the most unusual in spain get there in the organ numbered positively where his faith john whenever he can the 81 year old starts his day with

a walk around the church how are you father until they get outside and you do you have sandwiches in the over the top of the world. every day volunteers provide breakfast and lunch for homeless people for impoverished pensioners and for others who can't afford to feed themselves. 30 years in your life to get their attention like something sweet a very hungry. yet. most churches in spain open their doors only for services sun and tone never closes. there are toilets baby changing facilities and drinking water. but i still had to fight long and hard for his 24 hour church in 2015 the bishop gave him permission to revamp the inside of san antonio hard church pews were replaced with comfortable chairs now anyone can rest pray. or sleep here.

many homeless people are happy to accept what the church offers. their kids there was just as these are ribbons in the cologne you can write your name and the name of your beloved on them. and then tie the 2 names together here. so your love also remains firm. and father and hill doesn't care if the lovers are 2 men or 2 women there is a large gay scene here in the district of madrid. it's really going to be rock and our churches fiber it that you think it's more about life than death and toward us and we became priests to bless people not to curse them and get on the what if i meet a priest who refuses to bless 2 people of the same sex who are in love because the kitty i would tell him to go to the bishop and resign or the workers should because that same person would be prepared to bless metals cars or even buildings because

house would be paid when there's a heat here. in san antonio or the church of the poor as it's called in madrid you can charge your cell phone there's also free y. 5 for people who can't afford an internet connection. to the chapel houses a telephone helpline this is another of the many social services provided by father and his n.g.o.s mensah hero still a pos or messengers of peace with the help of an army of volunteers. a really good morning how are you more face of peace. talking to somebody ranched he just keeps saying i love you i love you but horses that's always nice is a bit. of animal chan that was 80 volunteers working here in shifts from monday to

friday from 9 am to 7 pm to engine alone we received 1105 calls 350 small these calls here are just from june but i must say however i'm going to bed and we. i. for subway stations down the line from sun and tone clothes to madrid's main sites and shopping district is the robin hood restaurant. it's father and his latest project to restore dignity to the homeless and those in need. the idea is not to steal from the rich to feed the poor instead it gives those better off a chance to share their wealth the paying guests enable the restaurant to serve up the same fine food for free to people without money. the tables are laid with polish cutlery table cloths and napkins. most people here don't want to be filmed

they're too ashamed of being recognized. but i . the dishes prepared in this kitchen for the needy are far from the simple filling food you'd see in the capital's soup kitchens. there are now 2 more robin-hood restaurants in the city the concept is proving successful paying customers like to dine out here food tastes even better when you're not just satisfying your own needs i mean that's going on the marquee that's just a mystery i'm not sitting here we can see the people gathering to easter the minute

just like us. said this is that this is me and those that somehow i feel connected to them as a result you're missing the missing data modelling it you need a yes no clue if it's immoral because if we were just talking about the idea of this restaurant this effects of some of the homeless people might be completely on their own without any families to help them sell to someone for nice and i suppose they're all in a difficult situation the stress. that's moving. most is fischerspooner can you trust. i mean has been coming to robin hood for 6 months now the needy often wait months to get a place. a michigan fit a chord moment to make it on pulls michelle my financial situation is like this each month and i have $100.00 maybe $130.00 euros left after paying for all of my regular outgoings more political move to me that's not enough to cover food for a month that's impossible you know wish. and it's not just food that i need but

also money for clothes to go out for a drink now and then. i can't afford it from justice and the winter is coming soon as she. know all during with i wouldn't come here to eat if i didn't need to. i would give my place to someone in greater need government to keep the ship. spain has an unemployment rate of 15 percent that's more than twice as high as the e.u. every inch. 27 percent of the country's population is classified as poor the number of needy in madrid continues to rise the economic. prices hit many people including the middle classes often the effects were rapid and unexpected. i mean used to work as a technician digitalisation put him out of a job 8 years ago on top of that came a divorce and high child support payments lost everything i. guess they

felt they couldn't leave this here share back there takes a lot of. time he has 5 years to go before he can draw a pension the 60 year old earns a few year owes by delivering newspapers. when i get the horse i have 2 children and he was 26 and me was 19. years old i see them around once a month looking at ok i don't want them to know how things really are with me look at them i don't tell them because i don't want them to suffer to. issue the when we see each other we have a nice time we go for a drink you know what part of me from any other course members of my family don't know either defeaters and. my brothers are older than raise. a they have enough to do coping with everyday life for. the altar area in san

antonio is separated from the rest of the church with a curtain because people aren't praying in the navy they're having breakfast. butter on toast set up his in geo messengers of peace back in 1962. since then the organization has started many projects to help needy children people with disabilities refugees and the lonely. in spain father and hell has become famous politicians and clerics appreciate the priest who works on behalf of the poor worldwide. i mean would also like to help out in san anton. that afternoon he was beginning a 2 day induction. course to work as a volunteer he hopes these new tasks will give him more structure in his daily life . but there are also some homeless people like sarah who are critical of father and his charity work. you just can't if you will just but i'm grateful to the volunteer staff who come here and give their time for free but i'm opposed to the

way the father instrumentalism the need for his media appearances they're vulnerable because it doesn't matter whether they're homeless people the elderly the sick or the young it's obvious and abusive. he will not come out and he never travels alone there is always a camera there somewhere recording it all. his prestige isn't just there to respond to interview requests. they have an agenda. they go knocking at every door on his behalf whenever they can doesn't that what i meant that if people see it that i will get some here we have the former spanish president. and here the pope is that i served under. all the 6th john paul the 2nd. john the 23rd benedict the 16th and the current pope francis and you have already

had the honor of meeting several times. if the vatican is on the line because. he's always ringing rather than. anyone who waits father and fellow can easily see he loves an audience everyone recognizes his face. many people attend his masses but there are some homeless people who claim that there's a large organization behind san antonio that collects a lot of money but offers the homeless relatively little help. it's unclear whether there's any substance to these allegations. one thing is clear father on health provides on the spot help in san antonio and if anyone is looking for a new apartment or a new job the priest has many contacts who can help. with.

the n.d.o. . is among the father's critics it's in favor of a strict separation between church and state. this isn't in spain doesn't have a long tradition. it only dates back to 1975 the end of the franco dictatorship under franco church and state were closely interlinked. the head of a roper later. said this is still not a thing of the past. he vented his criticism of father and hill on a talk show. says. i would like to say hello to everyone including father on the shining hero of church charity work a man above criticism. and yet welfare is

a normal business motivated by normal profit interests it is the enemy of on a solidarity and it makes the need even need to hear. the rich spend down to the poor and offer them a few bread crumbs. what is the result. thank you 1000000 the poor and perpetuate their situation. pretty clear statement. he is right the state has to take on responsibility for the safety and the health of the citizens. but church welfare isn't a curse those of us who do charitable work aren't the bad guys what's to be done at the state doesn't take action take a look at the soup kitchens we jump in when the state fails to act. and the spanish welfare state has little to offer the fallout from the eurozone

debt crisis has led to many cutbacks gomez's demand is that the church should not be allowed to replace the state when it comes to helping the poor. only. their organizations both religious and non-religious that use poverty to justify their actions but they are in the market to make money from those. things the instrumentalists poverty to make money. they are interested in profit and as such these organizations don't solve a single cause of poverty. on the contrary also because their existence helps justify the state sitting back so that it no longer has to take any political measures to battle poverty for real. i was going to. put on a couple of. father who recognizes the state's responsibility but he doesn't want to see people going hungry but how exactly is his charity work funded and how big

are his church one n.g.o.s profits those questions go unanswered. the start of the 2 day induction course for volunteers jaimie was part of the cohort. it went to a good day to you so you're the new intake or for the cure and where were you. there when you want to work as ball in tears. i mean jaime as a volunteer you. to be able to do 3 things it does cause 1st you have to be able to love the person secondly to help or thirdly important having time for people you know it's very important do you want to do that to yes of course and of course they must know. father and carol is aware of what some people say about his projects many are suspicious of his proximity to power the country has been plagued with corruption scandals. it's our duty as priests to stand by the poor

not just the poor the origin of the war or washboard or no one else gets our duty just as it's our duty to obey god. that is one of the fundamental ideas of our church in the church going as long back as peter. you know and that's what the current pope believes. when the faithful say that prayers change the world it's true but you have to go further. the world changes because of the deeds of good heads of state politicians and aid and development workers whose prayers alone are not enough they also don't hurt anyone. but until is known for always maintaining a good relationship with the government of the day could it be that he's only so tolerant towards homosexuals because he wants to get on the good side of politicians who pursued liberal policies in this respect for years. christopher

street day is just around the corner it's a big event in the 2 acre district attended by people from all over spain. visitors to san antonio are impressed by father and his open church. but it's a last minute the priest withdrew permission for us to film the blessing of a gay couple church doctrine forbids such blessings. perhaps father and hill was afraid of getting on the wrong side of the bishop. thomas i've got i've got a famous by coming here let's draw the curtains one of you at the front of you at the side and you at the other side. of. you to cause problems. that we're closing the curtains now because of the football match on the other one on spain's national team was playing that evening and the game was going to be screened in san antonio jaime and the other volunteers had a lot to do then do you have any more chairs. as the these ones aren't as heavy

as you come on we can carry 2. calico check of the american people or shall i do i realize that i was going to find it difficult at 1st because it isn't easy. for think there but with time i'm really beginning to enjoy ask him but working with others seem that i can help him i feel useful again that i'm doing something to help people in need out and that's good for me he died yesterday at the mission if i think. as far as father and hill is concerned the poor and the homeless should not be stopped from participating in big social events that means soccer loving spanish people should be able to watch matches. the. soft drinks and snacks were supplied to add to the enjoyment of the evening. i.

was. right. maria was also planning to attend the public screening of the match in san anton. her teammate bear had persuaded her to go this women's football tournaments was taking place to mark christopher street day. the 2 women play in one of madrid's best teams. but they are lesbians and they're good friends too despite their differences they are is a devout catholic maria has left the church like so many other young spaniards for her being a lesbian lose out being a catholic. her coming out has left the proofs in her family. me about it asked that i should but my stepfather is very religious that he would never accept my life and women friends and then when i told my mother that i was lesbian she had a crisis in the bus and she kept my coming out a secret service that she didn't like to. husband she didn't know how she should

break it to him many people suffer because of the church because it's not a place for coming together a place to face it excludes people. kind of along the lines of if you don't follow our rules but we don't want you in our club as it increases in the beginning was a must. really grew up saying the rosary when she was 12 she was sure she wanted to become a nun. today at the age of $34.00 she's an active member of spain's women's movement which has been very vocal in the country for many months thousands of women have been taking to the streets almost every week to protest against sexism domestic violence and gender discrimination is going ok let's 0 in on. this i think the church plays a very important role in maintaining the status quo. there's a pretty p.p.o. it's always the men who occupy positions of power in the church. and

women are always in the 2nd row. linea even the bible states that menstruation was a punishment because eve had persuaded adam to eat the forbidden fruit and paradise . in the bible everyone's always massacring each other but who's the evil one it's . not irrational that they're not my life saver i mean messy and they are almost part of being a christian and of helping others and i like that because when you're lonely or feeling bad or here you have a health problem you can find support and relief in the church. you can be free here but it's liberating. coming early. after the tournaments 2 women wanted to combine a walk through to a car with a visit to the public screening in san antonio. both of them have heard a lot about father and hill and his church into a car but they've never been to santa. i. maria hasn't been inside

a church for many years. the church's double standards its failure to address abuse and corruption scandals led more than half of spain's young people to turn their backs on the church. and that in a country that was one of the bastions of catholicism in europe. are churches like san antonio the right way to regain significance. certainly many people have come to the public screening of the spain match and it has brought the district's inhabitants together i think. that i. during the match emotions run high 7. i was. quite devout catholic there has mixed feelings about opening a church for these kinds of activities i in them i guess and the fact

that they're eating and drinking in a church as if it were abolished it's just respect. exactly yes the church is a place full prep for contemplation and for nothing else. was. after the final whistle jaime and the other volunteers hurried to turn son and tone back into a church they only had a few minutes to do it the match playing to extra time. mass will have to start a bit later. father and hell was as usual on his cell phone until the very last minute. jaime was accepted into the circle of volunteers now he too was wearing the yellow vest and with a certain amount of pride the last few weeks in the parish had visibly done him good his summer mood had lifted. but father in hell has not brought jaime. to god

the same goes for most of the other homeless people here. their experiences and sun and tone don't have much effect on their faith or lack of it. but i may not come to me and i don't feel closer to the church because of my volunteer work i believe in god just as i have always believed in him. but i am nevertheless incredibly grateful that people like father on a fight exist for as long as there are no other people doing the social work. and i wish him all the best for his work. to show. the christian history day festivities were in full swing now to waco was celebrating tolerance and diversity. what kind of impression have father and fellows open church made on bear and maria . this is for your muscles what i want to go to church and health is my faith is

about helping your neighbor regardless of sexual orientation you know that idea that this is what you do i can't quite follow you oh yeah you guys why. far to. get out because you can be a good person without doing good in the sense of the catholic church i am good but not because i'm afraid of ending up in hell if i weren't there when i have empathy for my fellow humans i get it that's why i'm a good person and i don't need faith for that to be a part of a good idea. either one cone might not have persuaded maria but the controversial cleric who undoubtedly does much good does have a big following into a coma and his idea of an open church could be a promising model for other places. the

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