Church welcomes creatures great and small

San Anton welcomes everyone. [Photo by topnews9.com]

Madrid's San Anton church is embracing the 21st century by rolling out a range of new technological measures to make itself more welcoming to parishioners and animals.

Visitors can browse the Internet with free WiFi while the pews are surrounded by huge wide-screen televisions, featuring live-streams, religious films and reports from the Vatican.

A special iPad app has been installed to help the deaf and hard of hearing go to confession. They can now type their confession and receive a typed response from the priest.

The Spanish church is also unique in encouraging visitors to take their four-legged friends to mass.

By making the changes the church wants to welcome all with an open attitude.