Religion in the Blackhelm Confederacy
Roman Catholicism is by far the predominant religion in the Blackhelm Confederacy, with 423,523 churches - including cathedrals and basilicas - located throughout the country. These churches act as much more than simply centers of religious teaching, however and they often serve as medical clinics, schools, and food pantries for vast portions of the country. On average there are typically around 4 priests, 6 nuns, and 2 deacons assigned each church, although larger churches may have more. Each of these clergy members will have specific tasks within the commmnity. The highest religious authority in the Blackhelm Confederacy is the Legatus Hesperidesiae, who serves as a direct representative of the Pope in Rome, while the day-to-day affairs of administering Church activities in the country is overseen by the Primate of All Exponent. The current Legatus Hesperidesiae is Giovanni Lampredi.
History
Concordat of Albandaea
Citing the Concordat of Bologna between the King of France and the Papacy, Emperor Titus V struck a similar deal in which the Emperor would be able to appoint bishops, albeit with space for a Papal veto. This led to the signing of the Concordat of Albandaea in 1521.
Blackhelm-Loretto Agreement
With the fall of the Empire of Exponent and the removal of the Emperor as head of state, a new method if assuring local control over the appointment of bishops in the Blackhelm Confederacy needed to be achieved. This was done through the Blackhelm-Loretto Agreement, in which the Senate and Foreign Ministry took on many if the duties formerly designated to the Emperor in terms of appointment powers.
Funding
Through the collection of a 3% tithe on all Blackhelm Confederate Catholics, the church in the Confederacy receives an estimated $800Bn annually to support their charitable and religious endeavors around the country.
A sizeable portion of this funding goes to the general upkeep charges associated with maintaining facilities. Every year, the Blackhelm Confederate Archdiocese spends roughly 43,252,300,000 in maintenance or an estimated $1,888,917.49 per church.
Feeding the Poor
An estimated 300 million people rely upon Churches to receive food. Typically, the Cheiches will offer an algae-based meal in the form of a kind of algae cake or biscuit, or even an algae broth. Additionally, algae pills are also common, to provide additional nutrition for the population.
The church spends ~ $800 per year per person to feed
Education
Free education provided up to the 6th grade level
Medical Treatment
$4,235,230,000 invested a year in church clinincs
One priest in each church with MD level general practitioner training paid by the church
One nun in each church with Nurse Practitioner level training, also paid by the church
Priests typically sign a contract with the church committing 15-20 years of service in return for their nearly half-million dollar medical education. After their contract term is up, they can choose to remain with the church or to move into private practice. Nurse-nuns typically sign on for between 6-8 years, with the same option to remain or move into private practice after.
