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 cant 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 doesnt care if the lovers are 2 men or 2 women there is a large gay scene here in the district of madrid. Its really going to be rock and our churches fiber it that you think its 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 theres a heat here. In san antonio or the church of the poor as its called in madrid you can charge your cell phone theres also free y. 5 for people who cant 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 thats 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 im going to bed and we. I. For subway stations down the line from sun and tone clothes to madrids main sites and shopping district is the robin hood restaurant. Its 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 dont want to be filmed theyre too ashamed of being recognized. But i. The dishes prepared in this kitchen for the needy are far from the simple filling food youd see in the capitals soup kitchens. There are now 2 more robinhood restaurants in the city the concept is proving successful paying customers like to dine out here food tastes even better when youre not just satisfying your own needs i mean thats going on the marquee thats just a mystery im 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 youre missing the missing data modelling it you need a yes no clue if its 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 theyre all in a difficult situation the stress. Thats 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 thats not enough to cover food for a month thats impossible you know wish. And its not just food that i need but also money for clothes to go out for a drink now and then. I cant afford it from justice and the winter is coming soon as she. Know all during with i wouldnt come here to eat if i didnt 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 thats more than twice as high as the e. U. Every inch. 27 percent of the countrys 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 couldnt 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 dont want them to know how things really are with me look at them i dont tell them because i dont 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 dont 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 arent praying in the navy theyre 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 cant if you will just but im grateful to the volunteer staff who come here and give their time for free but im opposed to the way the father instrumentalism the need for his media appearances theyre vulnerable because it doesnt matter whether theyre Homeless People the elderly the sick or the young its 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 isnt just there to respond to interview requests. They have an agenda. They go knocking at every door on his behalf whenever they can doesnt 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. Hes 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 theres a Large Organization behind san antonio that collects a lot of money but offers the homeless relatively little help. Its unclear whether theres 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 fathers critics its in favor of a strict separation between church and state. This isnt in spain doesnt 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 isnt a curse those of us who do charitable work arent the bad guys whats to be done at the state doesnt 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 gomezs 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 nonreligious 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 dont 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 states responsibility but he doesnt 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 youre 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 its 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. Its 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 its 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 thats what the current pope believes. When the faithful say that prayers change the world its 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 dont hurt anyone. But until is known for always maintaining a Good Relationship with the government of the day could it be that hes 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 its 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 its 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 ive got ive got a famous by coming here lets 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 were closing the curtains now because of the football match on the other one on Spains 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 arent 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 isnt easy. For think there but with time im really beginning to enjoy ask him but working with others seem that i can help him i feel useful again that im doing something to help people in need out and thats 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 womens football tournaments was taking place to Mark Christopher street day. The 2 women play in one of madrids best teams. But they are lesbians and theyre 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 didnt like to. Husband she didnt know how she should break it to him many people suffer because of the church because its not a place for coming together a place to face it excludes people. Kind of along the lines of if you dont follow our rules but we dont 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 shes an active member of spains Womens 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 lets 0 in on. This i think the church plays a very Important Role in maintaining the status quo. Theres a pretty p. P. O. Its 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 everyones always massacring each other but whos the evil one its. Not irrational that theyre 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 youre 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 its 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 theyve never been to santa. I. Maria hasnt been inside a church for many years. The churchs double standards its failure to address abuse and corruption scandals led more than half of spains 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 districts 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 theyre eating and drinking in a church as if it were abolished its 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 dont have much effect on their faith or lack of it. But i may not come to me and i dont 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 cant 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 im afraid of ending up in hell if i