Terms of Use

1. Draft review notice

These Terms of Use are a draft placeholder provided as a starting point only. They must be reviewed by qualified legal counsel before publication or use, and they do not constitute legal advice.

2. Introduction

These Terms of Use govern access to and use of BLEST, Catholic digital infrastructure for parish life, where enabled by a parish, diocese, shrine, or retreat house.

By using BLEST, where enabled, you agree to these draft terms, subject to review and to the policies of the relevant Catholic institution and applicable law.

3. Who may use BLEST

BLEST is intended for Catholic parishes, dioceses, shrines, retreat houses, clergy, parish offices, parishioners, Catholic families, pilgrims, retreatants, donors, and other authorized users, where enabled by the relevant institution.

Use by minors should occur only with appropriate adult or guardian involvement, as configured by the institution and subject to applicable law.

4. Role of parishes, dioceses, shrines, and retreat houses

BLEST supports the workflows of Catholic institutions; it does not replace Church authority. The relevant parish, diocese, shrine, or retreat house remains responsible for its own services, records, decisions, and pastoral care.

Access and workflows are configured by the institution, as permitted and subject to applicable law.

5. User responsibilities

When using BLEST, you are responsible for:

• Providing accurate and current information
• Keeping any account credentials secure
• Using BLEST only for lawful, legitimate, parish-related purposes
• Respecting the rights, privacy, and dignity of others
• Following the rules of the relevant Catholic institution

6. Parish and institutional workflows

Features such as family records, certificate requests, Mass intention requests, donations, communications, and reporting operate as configured by the relevant institution and may vary by parish.

Availability of any feature is subject to institutional enablement, parish authority, and applicable law.

7. Mass intention requests, donations, offerings, and payments

Where enabled, BLEST may support Mass intention requests, donations, offerings, and associated payments through third-party providers. BLEST facilitates requests and record-keeping; it does not sell sacraments, blessings, Masses, grace, or spiritual benefits.

Stipend, donation, refund, cancellation, and foreign-contribution matters are subject to the relevant institution, competent Church authority, and applicable law.

8. Retreat bookings, shrine services, and accommodation requests

Where offered, retreat bookings, shrine services, event registrations, and accommodation requests are managed by the relevant institution. Confirmation, availability, cancellation, and refund terms are set by the institution, subject to applicable law.

9. Certificates and sacramental record requests

Where enabled, BLEST may support certificate and sacramental record request workflows. Verification, approval, and issuance remain under the authority of the parish and competent Church authority.

BLEST does not itself issue or guarantee any certificate or sacramental record.

10. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

• Misuse the platform or interfere with its security or operation
• Submit unlawful, harmful, fraudulent, or misleading content
• Attempt unauthorized access to any data, account, or system
• Misrepresent your identity, role, or authority
• Use BLEST in any way that violates applicable law or institutional rules

11. No sale of sacraments or spiritual benefits

BLEST does not sell, and must never be used to sell, sacraments, blessings, Masses, grace, indulgences, or spiritual benefits.

Offerings, stipends, and donations are voluntary contributions handled under the relevant institution and competent Church authority — they are not purchases of spiritual goods.

12. Accuracy of information

Users are responsible for the accuracy of the information they provide. Institutions are responsible for the information they configure and maintain. BLEST is not responsible for inaccuracies in information provided by users or institutions.

13. Platform availability

BLEST is provided on an “as available” basis. Availability, features, and workflows may change, and access may be interrupted for maintenance or other reasons. BLEST does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.

14. Limitation of liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, BLEST and its providers will not be liable for certain damages arising from use of the platform.

[This section is a placeholder and must be completed and reviewed by qualified legal counsel before publication.]

15. Termination or suspension

Access may be suspended or terminated by the relevant institution or by BLEST, where permitted, including for breach of these terms, by institutional decision, or as required by applicable law.

16. Changes to terms

These draft terms may be updated as BLEST develops and following legal review. Continued use after changes, where enabled, indicates acceptance of the updated terms.

17. Governing law

The governing law and jurisdiction for these terms will be specified here following legal review.

[Governing law to be determined and reviewed by qualified legal counsel before publication.]

18. Contact information

For questions about these draft terms, a contact channel will be provided here following review.

[Contact details to be added before publication.]