RALEIGH — Religion of all kinds can be found all over the Internet. It's an inexpensive way to evangelize and the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh is leading the way in technology. The Diocese has had a web site for several years, but as WRAL OnLine reporter Tom Lawrence explains, the Triangle group leads the rest of the world.

TheDiocese web siteis full of information about activities, services, and the mission of the church. Communications Director Frank Morock says 4 programs are offered online, including mass with streaming video.

Listen toauorReal Audiofile."We had the audio and streaming video is very inexpensive. It costs us less than $500 to take that next step to streaming video."Once a week, cameras record mass in a small Raleigh chapel and put it on the Internet. Father Gerald Lewis says this mass can be viewed by anyone on the Internet, anywhere in the world. A RealPlayer plug-in is required, offered free on the site.

Viewing mass on the Internet does not replace the real thing, but it does allow those who can't be in church to experience the service.

Listen toauorReal Audiofile."It's basically aimed for people who are homebound, sick. People in nursing homes or people who might not be able to attend Sunday service to tune in if they missed it to watch it. It does not take the place of Sunday mass."Mass online certainly lacks the quality of a televised program but it's far less expensive. And the message is there.

Listen toauorReal Audiofile."We are the only diocese in the world that is using this type of technology right now."Morock says the Catholic Church US plans to make more use of the Internet to get its message to more people and the Raleigh Diocese is leading the way.