church giving

[roanoker]

I know this will appear to be a dumb question, but I am a Protestant who is drawn to Catholicism and I need instruction. I was recently in a church meeting where it was stated that like the Jews, the catholic church, when when considering a new member, required a copy of their 1040 so that they could be directed as to how much they would be expected to give. I know the Jews do this, but I am pretty sure the catholics do not. Somebody out there please reassure me that I am right, so that I can correct their mis-conception. (Unless I’m wrong, in which case I will have to take back some things I said). Notably, it was a minister of the word who made the assertion. Thanks

 

[lak611]

I know this will appear to be a dumb question, but I am a Protestant who is drawn to Catholicism and I need instruction. I was recently in a church meeting where it was stated that like the Jews, the catholic church, when when considering a new member, required a copy of their 1040 so that they could be directed as to how much they would be expected to give. I know the Jews do this, but I am pretty sure the catholics do not. Somebody out there please reassure me that I am right, so that I can correct their mis-conception. (Unless I’m wrong, in which case I will have to take back some things I said). Notably, it was a minister of the word who made the assertion. Thanks

No, this is not true. Catholics are asked to donate their time, talents and treasure to the Church, but no Catholics are ever asked to show their tax returns or told to give a certain amount. Catholics cannot be denied any Sacraments based on money; there is no charge for Sacraments. If you join RCIA, you may be asked to donate towards the books and classes, but if you are poor and unable to contribute, you will not be turned away from the Church. Please contact a priest if you are interested in the Church. God bless you. I will pray for you for your discernment.

 

[ChristineML]

I agree. I have NEVER heard of a Catholic church asking a member for a 1040 form, and I’ve never heard of a Catholic church “considering a new member” either. It’s not some private club where people take a vote to keep the riff-raff out. You just fill out the registration form from the parish office and poof, you’re a registered parishioner. If you’re a non-Catholic, you ask about RCIA classes, and they’ll help you. I’ve never heard of anyone being refused, and can’t think of any possible reason for refusing someone, either.

It is POSSIBLE that the parishioner registration form MAY ask in what range is your family income, but I feel that’s personal information (regardless of who’s asking) so I just leave that blank. No big deal. It’s in the context of asking family composition, age, gender, marital status, religion (of each family member), has each person had each sacrament, any handicaps that need accommodation, etc. so my feeling is the income question is just for demographic statistics on the parish, not to calculate what you OWE, because frankly, no one’s checking. You could go to Mass every Sunday and never put anything in the collection basket, and who would know or say anything? I don’t recommend it, of course, because the parish has bills to pay, too, but in my experience, no one’s checking.

 

[1ke]

I know this will appear to be a dumb question, but I am a Protestant who is drawn to Catholicism and I need instruction. I was recently in a church meeting where it was stated that like the Jews, the catholic church, when when considering a new member, required a copy of their 1040 so that they could be directed as to how much they would be expected to give. I know the Jews do this, but I am pretty sure the catholics do not. Somebody out there please reassure me that I am right, so that I can correct their mis-conception. (Unless I’m wrong, in which case I will have to take back some things I said). Notably, it was a minister of the word who made the assertion. Thanks

Just to be clear-- other protestants told you this, right?

The Catholic Church practices stewardship of time, talent, and treasure. One of the precepts of the Church is to support the church financially, but Catholics are not required to give any specific amount-- that is up to each person through prayer. Nor do we give 1040s to the church.

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

Actually one parish I know of has done this ask for yor tax return…they only did this though if you had a child in the catholic school and if you where getting parishoner tuition rates.
Still dont agree with the practice and we left that parish shortly after getting a call from the Priest saying we did not give enough money during the Sunday collection.

 

[ChristineML]

Actually one parish I know of has done this ask for yor tax return…they only did this though if you had a child in the catholic school and if you where getting parishoner tuition rates.
Still dont agree with the practice and we left that parish shortly after getting a call from the Priest saying we did not give enough money during the Sunday collection.

WOW, I am floored by this! I’m curious, if you don’t mind my asking, how exactly did this priest phrase this comment / question? What chutzpah, huh? How would he know if someone has been unemployed for a while, is struggling with catastrophic illness and subsequent medical bills, is financially supporting extended family members, etc.?

The most I’ve heard, if a parish is facing a serious shortfall between income and expenses, is the priest shares this information at Mass and in the bulletin, listing all the parish expenses that parishioners may not be aware of, and asking for more help from the parish in meeting its expenses. Some folks could, would, and do give more, if they knew there was a need.

In discussing “stewardship of treasure,” the priest will discuss not giving the parish the “leftovers” of your disposable income at the end of the week or month, but rather, the family planning its giving to the church with equal weight as all the family’s other bills. I’ve also seen printed on some parishes’ donation envelopes (I forget the exact wording) “we suggest tithing, giving ten percent of your income to the Lord, with five percent going to your parish and five percent going to other worthy charities of your own choosing.” And they even have a little chart: If your weekly income is this, we suggest donating 5% which is this… But I think tithing has been discussed elsewhere on other threads, so I don’t want to derail this one.

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

WOW, I am floored by this! I’m curious, if you don’t mind my asking, how exactly did this priest phrase this comment / question? What chutzpah, huh? How would he know if someone has been unemployed for a while, is struggling with catastrophic illness and subsequent medical bills, is financially supporting extended family members, etc.?

"You make “x” amount of money as per your tax return. Your Sunday collection is “y” amount. Based on your tax return we feel you should be giving the Church “z” amount to qualify for the Parishoner rate."

In some unkind words I told Father what he could do with his request! This father was known also to not contribute any support to the school but he wanted parishoners/students to support him!

The most I’ve heard, if a parish is facing a serious shortfall between income and expenses, is the priest shares this information at Mass and in the bulletin, listing all the parish expenses that parishioners may not be aware of, and asking for more help from the parish in meeting its expenses. Some folks could, would, and do give more, if they knew there was a need.

That is what our new parish does.

 

[kage_ar]

Actually one parish I know of has done this ask for yor tax return…they only did this though if you had a child in the catholic school and if you where getting parishoner tuition rates.

When you apply for financial aid to send your child to college, they will want to see your tax returns. In applying for a reduced rate, you are also asking for financial assistance.

While in a perfect world, everyone would support the Parish and there would be no tuition at the school, the reality is that Parish schools have to charge tuition, asking for income verification in order to get a discount does not seem unreasonable to me.

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

Kage…

Did you miss the part of my post where I stated that this Parish Priest did not even support the school financially? All he wanted was more money in his coffers

Anyway, good riddance. The good parish priest had it out for the school anyway since the day he took over…it has taken him 5 years but do to his lack of financial support the school is now closed!

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

When you apply for financial aid to send your child to college, they will want to see your tax returns. In applying for a reduced rate, you are also asking for financial assistance.

Good thing that I can afford to send my kids to school without asking for aide
Also from what i have seen on those Financial aid forms just becuase you make x amount of money does not mean that you
actually have money to chip in…they leave alot out of those forms!

While in a perfect world, everyone would support the Parish and there would be no tuition at the school, the reality is that Parish schools have to charge tuition, asking for income verification in order to get a discount does not seem unreasonable to me.

Income verification is one thing…but DEMAND more money in the collection plate…PLEASE!

 

[ChristineML]

…this Parish Priest did not even support the school financially? All he wanted was more money in his coffers

Anyway, good riddance. The good parish priest had it out for the school anyway since the day he took over…it has taken him 5 years but do to his lack of financial support the school is now closed!

Do you mean the parish did not subsidize the parish school, so that not even part of the parishioners’ contributions at Sunday Mass was going to help support the parishioners’ children in Catholic school? But that’s the whole point of a parishioner’s discount. If so, how did he/they do that? No wonder the school had to close.

Or do you mean the priest didn’t donate to the school from his own personal money? Priests make peanuts, you know. A few years ago, I heard the highest paid diocesan priests in the country only earned $7,000 or $8,000 per year, albeit they have no rent living in the rectory and maybe they get a car allowance additional. But maybe he felt his labor doing administrative work / teaching the occasional religion class was his contribution to the school.

And what do you mean he wanted more money for his coffers? Are you saying he was stealing from the collection baskets for his own personal use – very serious crime and very serious charge – or are you saying he wanted to keep the collections for parish church expenses, not for school expenses? Just trying to understand exactly what you think this priest was guilty of.

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

Do you mean the parish did not subsidize the parish school, so that not even part of the parishioners’ contributions at Sunday Mass was going to help support the parishioners’ children in Catholic school? **YES THAT IS EXACLTY WHAT I MEAN **But that’s the whole point of a parishioner’s discount. **EXACTLY ** If so, how did he/they do that? No wonder the school had to close.**EXACTLY IT ONLY SURVIVED FOR AS LONG AS IT DID BECUASE ON NON-PARISHONERS ATTENDING. **
And what do you mean he wanted more money for his coffers? FOR HIS PARISH COFFERS…NO SUNDAY COLLECTION FUNDS WENT TO THE SCHOOL. Are you saying he was stealing from the collection baskets for his own personal use – very serious crime and very serious charge – or are you saying he wanted to keep the collections for parish church expenses, not for school expenses? YES FOR PARISH EXPENSES ONLY Just trying to understand exactly what you think this priest was guilty of.

GUILTY OF TAKING MONEY FOR PARISHONER RATES AT THE SCHOOL AND HE DID NOT TURN OVER ANY OF THOSE COLLECTIONS TO THE SCHOOL!

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

But maybe he felt his labor doing administrative work / teaching the occasional religion class was his contribution to the school.

In the 5 years my eldest was in that school he never taught a class or did admin. work.

All he managed to do was Holy days of Obligation Masses for the kids…no first fridays or anything else

 

[kage_ar]

The detraction of a Holy Priest is not a wise thing, can we please steer the discussion away and pray for all our Priests.

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

The detraction of a Holy Priest is not a wise thing, can we please steer the discussion away and pray for all our Priests.

By all means

 

[whatevergirl]

I know this will appear to be a dumb question, but I am a Protestant who is drawn to Catholicism and I need instruction. I was recently in a church meeting where it was stated that like the Jews, the catholic church, when when considering a new member, required a copy of their 1040 so that they could be directed as to how much they would be expected to give. I know the Jews do this, but I am pretty sure the catholics do not. Somebody out there please reassure me that I am right, so that I can correct their mis-conception. (Unless I’m wrong, in which case I will have to take back some things I said). Notably, it was a minister of the word who made the assertion. Thanks

I would imagine that could vary from parish to parish, but I’m a cradle Catholic, and in all the parishes my family and I have attended…nope, nothing like that was requested. I wouldn’t join that parish if they asked to see my 1040. 10% is not a number that the RCC says anyone is obligated to tithe, by the way. It’s in the Bible, but it’s not a number that the RCC promotes. (and I highly encourage praying over it for the amount God leads you to offering up) and tithing can take many forms, as well–it’s not exclusive to the church. If you say support or sponsor a homeless child in another country, that would be tithing. If you give to homeless shelters, that is also tithing. (financially speaking) Hope that helps?