FOR THE CHOSEN FEW:
An American decided to write a book about famous churches of Australia. For his first chapter he decided to write about famous Sydney churches. So he bought a plane ticket and made the trip to St Mary's Cathedral thinking that he would work his way down the country. On his first day he was inside the cathedral taking photographs when he noticed a 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 Star of the Sea at Waverly. There, at a very large church, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw at St Mary's and he asked a nearby nun what it's 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 traveled on through the North Shore and in every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same "$10,000 per call" sign under it. With his first chapter going well, he left Northern Sydney and traveled the Sutherland Shire. Again, there was the same golden Telephone, but this time the sign under it read "10 cents per call." The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. "Father, I've traveled all over Sydney, and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to heaven, but in all the churches in Sydney the price was $10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?" The priest smiled and answered, "You're in the Shire now son. It's a local call"