An American decided to write a book about famous religious structures around the world. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to the London, thinking that he would work his way across the world.
On his first day, he was inside a church 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 Paris. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in London and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for 100,000 Francs (£10,000) he could talk to God. "O.K., thank you," said the American..
He then travelled to Africa, Asia, Australia and the whole of the North and Central America. In every church, synagogue, mosque and temple he saw the same golden telephone with the equivalent of " £10,000 per call" sign under it.
The American, upon leaving the U.S. saw a sign for Poland and decided to see if Polaks had the same phone. He arrived in Warsaw and again, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read "1 zloty (50 cents) per call." The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. "Father, I've travelled all over the world and I've seen this same golden telephone in many religious structures. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, but in every country the price was £10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?"
The priest smiled and answered, "You're in Poland now son, it's a local call".