This Catholic church in the most recent campaign revenue statement reports a total that surpasses 320 million euros, a record figure that reflects an 8.5 percent rise. The surge is linked to an 84,201 increase in declarations in favor of the Church compared with the prior year.
The information was announced on a Tuesday by Fernando Giménez Barriocanal, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs of the Spanish Episcopal Conference. When considering both individual and collective responses, more than 8.5 million Spaniards checked the Church’s box, representing 31.29 percent of all submissions.
For the 2021 fiscal year, the total amount allocated to the Church stands at 320,723,062 euros, described as the record in the system. This marks an 8.5 percent increase, roughly 25 million more than the previous year. On average, each taxpayer’s contribution amounts to 37.73 euros.
With provisional data, the trend becomes clearer: declarations in favor of the Church more than doubled, rising by 84,201 compared with the prior year, signaling substantial public support for the Church’s work.
Tax allocation shows that about 22 percent of funding comes from dioceses. The Spanish Episcopal Conference notes that higher collections, stronger diocesan offices, and ongoing support mechanisms contribute to this increase, reflecting a broader financial framework.
In this context, Barriocanal reports that collections are up roughly 10 percent this year. More faithful contributors are choosing periodic installments to support neighborhood projects and long-term financial planning.
by communities
The total number of affirmative statements for the Church rose in 14 out of 17 autonomous communities, with notable gains in Andalucía, Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, and Comunidad Valenciana. Castilla-La Mancha leads in percentage of appointees with 44.2 percent, followed by La Rioja at 43.5 percent, Extremadura at 43.4 percent, Murcia at 42.6 percent, and Castilla y León at 41.7 percent. In absolute terms, the greatest increases occurred in the Community of Madrid, Andalusia, and Valencia.
Officials highlight that dioceses in higher-income provinces such as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, and Murcia help sustain dioceses in depopulated regions, maintaining pastoral actions that would otherwise be hard to support. This mechanism of resource sharing is seen as essential for the continuity of religious and social work across the country.
Jose María Albalad, director of the Secretariat for Supporting the Church, described the results as an affirmation of social and spiritual service. After several years of pandemic-related challenges, taxpayers appear to have acknowledged the Church’s steady contributions, often quiet but meaningful.
Taxpayers recognize the Church’s aid efforts, especially in difficult times. The Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Affairs of the Spanish Episcopal Conference recalls that a similar pattern emerged after the 2008 crisis and notes that the Church offers support that society often relies on during hard periods. The message is that the Church maintains lights and shadows, yet its support work remains necessary for the public good in challenging times.