Out of 900 consumers involved in a recent pilot scheme, 94% said that they were ready to use finger print based technology when purchasing goods and services.

The pilot, conducted by Natural Security a specialist in the area of user-authentication, involved the use of payment methods incorporating payment cards, biometrics and mid-range contactless technology. Natural security says that this solution can be used in both in-store and online settings as well as to gain access to services. 

The proximity system uses a combination of a card storing the client's biometric data together with a reader that authenticates the physical presence of the customer by reading the finger print and finger veins. All without having to remember or insert a PIN.

Kids lose their school IDs but they don't often lose their eyeballs. That's one of the reasons why a growing number of schools are replacing traditional identification cards with iris scanners. By the fall, several schools -- ranging from elementary schools to colleges -- will be rolling out various iris scanning security methods.

Winthrop University in South Carolina is testing out iris scanning technology during freshman orientation this summer. Students had their eyes scanned as they received their ID cards in June.  "Iris scanning has a very high level of accuracy, and you don't have to touch anything, said James Hammond, head of Winthrop University's Information Technology department. "It can be hands free security."

South Dakota-based Blinkspot manufactures iris scanners specifically for use on school buses. When elementary school students come aboard, they look into a scanner (it looks like a pair of binoculars). The reader will beep if they're on the right bus and honk if they're on the wrong one.

"Charity has no religion," said Father Joseph Phongsak, director of the Commission on Evangelization and Inter-religious Dialogue for the Chantaburi Diocese. "It is a universal, common element embodied in every    major religion."

He called charity a "hallmark of the Christian faith" and a "cardinal epitome of our way of life and works," adding that it plays a critical role in "defend(ing) the dignity of humanity."

Tveit called this historic event an inspiration for the churches in strengthening the values of unity, common service and mission, in overcoming their denominational differences.