Do we as Catholics have to pay the tithe?

[Spoken4]

So then, if a family is in a position where there has been no income-- as in ZERO-- no unemployment benefits (as those have run out), no pay from a job because no one has found any work of even the most menial sort for 2 years despite the best efforts? The couple are older folks but not old enough to retire or to collect SS and they have faced likely but not provable age discrimination in their search and they can’t even get a job in fast-food or as a greeter in some store; they have nothing left to sell or eliminate like cable TV, Internet service or such; and they are living on donations, food stamps, and whatever they happened to have put up in savings-- and that’s even running out.

Is it a “good offering” or “spiritual tithe” for lack of a better term for them to give of their time through works of ministry within the Parish, AND to offer up prayers for the needs and intentions of the Parish until they can obtain some sort of financial income-- even a temporary job? They haven’t even been able to get that much even though both are college degreed people with job skills.

Their background: The husband was laid off in a major restructuring of the business over 2 years ago. Twenty-eight people lost jobs in that group, and since then, nearly everyone he worked with was hit-- even the HR Manager, ironically the one who “pink-slipped” our friend.

The man has at least 10 different patents in his field, but was just told the other day that his last interviewer didn’t think he knew anything about “the subject at hand”-- despite all of those patents in the exact field they were looking for. We all think he was knocked out of the race because he’s over 50, sadly. But that can’t be proven, other than that we know that a much younger person with far less education and experience was hired instead of our friend. He can’t even consult in this state, as that requires certain licenses, fees to the state and other hoops that cost a LOT of money.

The wife lost her job over 2 years ago–only a month before her husband-- when her last employer committed suicide and the business closed. She had a few interviews at first, but by then word of the suicide had spread through the local area and her interviews were more about “gossip” than actually INTERVIEWING her as a job candidate. She wouldn’t play ball in the gossip, especially since it hurt her deeply when her boss died, and she didn’t get hired. She was the first to find out of the death-- when the boss didn’t come in for 2 days, without calling in, and she sent the police to his home to check on him.

Thus, the family hasn’t got any money to put in the offering-- but the husband is a Lector and helps out in Hospitality, and the wife spends a lot of time working with CCW, St. Vincent DePaul Society and in Altar Service (cleaning and preparation) as well as both of them in prayer.

Do their sacrifices of time to the Parish Lay Ministries count as “spiritual tithes”, since they do support the work of the Church? Of course, they plan to contribute monetarily ASAP!! God bless them!

In Christ,

~Spoken4

 

[Bookcat]

BookCat: We should support the church.
The Mosaic Law had command to give to be blessed. For failure they had specific judgements. they had to give out of necessity. The new testament church gives freely and not out of necessity.
The tenth is not the only or exact amount otherwise there would be no reason to purpose in our hearts what to give. God bless! Jerry Kelso

As I have noted many times…yes we have an obligation to support the Church (and some other things…)

Let those who can …be generous.

 

[jerry_kelso]

As I have noted many times…yes we have an obligation to support the Church (and some other things…)

Let those who can …be generous.

Bookcat: I believe people have misconceptions about giving in general.

1. For example; if one believes it is an obligation then obviously if they don’t do it then they are being disobedient.
2. Some would believe that if you don’t tithe even if you are able then you don’t have faith thus, you cannot please God for the scripture records without faith it is impossible to please God.
   I don’t think anyone who is a real christian wants to be disobedient or be lacking in being faithful.
3. We know the old ethic is different than the new and we were never under the old. If we give according to the old ethic as in giving of necessity then this would be disobedient to the Lord.
   On the other hand, would it be wrong if you felt comfortable giving a certain amount all the time under 10 percent? Some would think this is wrong or legalistic unless it was a higher amount. Also, some would make the argument you could give out of love and still give the 10 percent. There are commandments we perform as a result of who we are in Christ. This doesn’t degrade the old covenant or those that were under it or people that do it today. I don’t think we should damn people to hell because they are being legalistic because those who are legalistic know the benefits of being faithful and the Laws of sowing and reaping. The other side is being legalistic can cause some to live in fear and destruction because of the curse which they attach to it according to the old testament scriptures of which, we are not under today. We need to have common sense as well as faith , and according to the scriptures too.
4. We need to understand giving under the old to understand the new. In Hebrews 7 the point is giving because of who Christ is and he was greater than the Levitical priesthood. If I recall the Levites were supported by the people and God and they didn’t own anything of their own as such as a private person and they were in a theocracy.
   The point is God gave us the fullness of grace and truth and after Calvary gave us a greater covenant. God deals with freewill people and he wants us to give completely freely across the board and his way is always best and we need to encourage people in that respect.
5. One last thing is that we are to purpose in our hearts what to give and this does away with a particular amount. This also means we should quit going to seed when it it talks about the word tithe in Hebrews 7 that says the Lord recieves tithes in Heaven. Purposing in our hearts is an action of our own freewill with love which is in tune with the spirit.
   I believe both sides could learn from each other and be more encouraging towards giving in grace instead of legalistic giving.

The bottom line is to give whatever you can according to your faith and being cheerful because God always blesses this faithful person. Shun any extreme on either side of the coin that will cause you to legalistically give or take advantage of not giving at all. Jerry Kelso

 

[kentuckyliz]

The fifth precept of the Church is in CCC 2043:

scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2043.htm

**2043 … **The fifth precept (“You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church”) means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his own ability. The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his own abilities. …

It quotes canon law. There is nothing about being required to donate 10% of your gross income. You give what you can, and if you’re struggling, you don’t have the ability to give money. Time and talents are fine and important. Any talks about stewardship at any parish I’ve ever been to have included all three dimensions–time, talent, treasure. Poor people who have no money to give are welcome in the Catholic Church. Sometimes they get shunned from other churches because they don’t have financial donations to give. I can’t imagine that being very Christ-like.

 

[1abqdad]

This is actually a really important question for many reasons, the least of which is NOT the failure of “man” to be able to interpret the scriptures…Which is why we need the church, NOT simply a pastor who “Claims” to understand…but I digress…

We need some context here. The Jews were given many laws, including the dietary laws and the requirement for tithing. Please note that these are contained in the SAME area of the bible. When Jesus was asked about this classification of law, He replied that these laws were given to the Jews because they had taken their faith from their heart to their head! (I.e., it was in punishment for loss of faith!) Jesus stated that He came to FREE us from these laws, i.e., they NO LONGER apply to us! So, while it is absolutely true that we are to financially care for our mother church, the concept of tithing went out with the rejection of the double cheese burger!
¡Dios Les Bendiga a Todos!

 

[cheeto1]

I like tithing because I like God and I want
Him to know that I am acknowledging that
this money is His, not mine. I want Him to
be glad He gave me the money, not disappointed
that I just took it, and did nothing with it to
thank Him.

 

[Bookcat]

jimmyakin.org/2005/01/tithing.html

jimmyakin.org/2006/02/tithing_giving_.html

 

[cheeto1]

That’s good information, but for the person interested in tithing, 10% is indeed
a good number.

 

[mon2rei]

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ,

This is my first post ever in a Catholic forum.

Anyway, I quickly wanted to share my experience a week ago when I attended a Sunday mass. I was praying and suddenly being “reminded” in my prayer about tithing. I have been doing it for a while but the amount was not nearly 10% of my gross income.

I was then reminded about what my friend ever told me before. He said “God never owed us!!”
He testified how God has helped his family throughout all his financial difficulties with just a single income and never let him down.

I brought this “reminder” into my daily prayer and decided to try it and put my trust on Him. It was definitely not an easy decision to make considering the amount of the money that I can use for my daily and future needs.

I do not know yet what will happen to me but I promise there will be a day when I write a testimony here at CAF how God works in my life to confirm all the blessings he promised in the old testament.

Thanks for reading my post.

God bless you all,
Reinard

 

[Joseph_Kemp]

The Catholic Church does not require us to tithe. This is a non-Catholic teaching. It is frequently taught in many Protestant Churches. Mormons, especially, are known for their harsh requirement for their members to tithe. But Catholics are not required to tithe at all.

Quoted from Jim Blackburn, Catholic Answers:

Scripture provides insight on how Christians should give:
On the first day of every week (Sunday), each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper. (1 Cor. 16:2)

The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:6–7)

There is no mandatory requirement to give a specific amount of money or percentage of our income. We should each decide for ourselves how much to give and then do so in the true spirit of giving a gift."

(-QUOTE ENDS.)

It’s weird to see Catholics taking seriously a non-Catholic teaching like tithing.

The two links provided on an above post to Apologist Jimmy Akin’s information about tithing are very precise. Catholics are to give according to their conscience. There is no pressure. No tithing. It would be wonderful if every Catholic was aware of what their Church actually taught. Talk of tithing would simply disappear. And the sooner the better.

When Catholics realize that tithing is not taught by the Catholic Church, all kinds of other worries also fall away. I’ve spoken to Catholics who are afraid of “owning too much,” being “greedy” and “not paying the tithe.” They worry that they are not “giving back to God,” not being “Good Stewards,” and other such nonsense.

Such worries are absurd. God has not placed any limits on what we can own. There is no highest dollar value listed in the Bible that you can earn. There is no prohibition stating that “if you earn, say, more than a million dollars, you have sinned.” This is a ridiculous issue. You will never find anything in Canon Law, Vatican teaching, the Catechism, or any encyclical or papal document to support such a gross distortion of Church teaching.

I’ve seen Catholics literally worry about “buying that coffee at Starbucks,” rather than “contributing that money to the Church.” This is beyond absurd. We have now entered the realm of scrupulosity, a very dangerous and narrow type of thinking that will destroy a Catholic if left unchecked. Scrupulosity can be caused by bad reasoning, and by a bad understanding of Church teaching. And there’s a lot of bad reasoning on the internet.

The Catholic Church does not teach tithing. The Vatican does not. Canon Law does not. There is nothing in the Catechism about tithing. You will never find any official documentation anywhere supporting the odd belief that Catholics are required to tithe. It’s an ENTIRELY non-Catholic teaching, and it is alien to our faith.

 

[Pug]

You will never find any official documentation anywhere supporting the odd belief that Catholics are required to tithe. And that’s the way it is.

There seems to be sufficient indication that tithes were required, though, in the past. Thus, I do not think it is odd for a person to have some concept that “tithes” might have a vague relationship to Catholics. For example, read the old Catholic Encyclopedia article on the topic of tithes. Here is an excerpt:
In the course of time, however, as the Church expanded and various institutions arose, it became necessary to make laws which would insure the proper and permanent support of the clergy. The payment of tithes was adopted from the Old Law, and early writers speak of it as a divine ordinance and an obligation of conscience. The earliest positive legislation on the subject seems to be contained in the letter of the bishops assembled at Tours in 567 and the canons of the Council of Maçon in 585. In course of time, we find the payment of tithes made obligatory by ecclesiastical enactments in all the countries of christendom. The Church looked on this payment as “of divine law, since tithes were instituted not by man but by the Lord Himself” (C. 14, X de decim. III, 30).

 

[Joseph_Kemp]

Tithes WERE required in the Middle Ages by the Catholic Church. But not as charity. They were required as a tax. People had no choice but to pay them. Exactly the way regular taxes are required by the government today. Everyone pays them, or else. Tithes were part of the civil law in the Middle Ages. They were not charity at all. You weren’t obligated to LIKE them. You were obligated to PAY them, or you could be hauled into court and prosecuted. Exactly like with the IRS today.

And we still pay plenty of taxes presently. It’s just that none of them go to the Church. We are taxed to death by our governments. And I hate paying taxes. I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t.

I cannot understand why Catholics often confuse “tithes” (taxes) with charity. The Jewish tithes in the Old Testament were not charity. Tithes in the Middle Ages were not charity. Taxes today are not charity, either. Tithing is not required by the Roman Catholic Church because the Church is more interested in encouraging genuine charity in its followers than in taxing them. It was only instituted in the Middle Ages out of necessity, for support of the expanding Church. And it’s hard to do charity if you’re already paying a tithe. Charity, which originates from our own free will, CANNOT be “required” from us, in a specific set amount, like a tax. This is the logic of moral philosophy. The Church is very well aware of it.

Also, the Church seems to have reasoned centuries ago that it is capable of doing just fine without tithes, from ordinary contributions. The Vatican, in addition, is its own city-state, with its own state income, and does not require a “tithe” to sustain itself.

The medieval civil law mandating tithing was removed centuries ago. No Catholic should torture him or herself in their conscience for not “tithing” today. It is nothing more than an outdated medieval tax. I’m sure people hated it back then. Just as much as people hate paying taxes now. (We’re actually taxed far more today than in the Middle Ages. I get taxed 20% of my paycheck, here in Canada. And I absolutely hate it.)

If anyone doubts that tithing in the Middle Ages was merely an ordinary civil tax, read this, by Professor of Christian Ethics, Harry J. Flynn:

“The Council of Trent does say: “the payment of tithes is due to God.” But what did the Council mean by tithes? The answer is found in the conclusion Trent draws: “The holy council therefore orders all, of whatever rank and condition they may be, who are concerned with the payment of tithes, to pay henceforth those to which they are bound in law” (emphasis added); it then backs up this order with the penalty of excommunication. Plainly, Trent was legislating to enforce the Church taxes exacted by law at that time; the Council was not teaching that all the faithful ought to contribute ten percent of their take-home pay.

{This exactly right. Just the way that the Church does not require ten percent from its members’ take-home pay today.}

What about the Scripture passages Trent cites (for example, Mathew 23)? Inasmuch as such legal requirements of the Old Testament are not binding on Christians, those passages do not show that Christians ought to contribute a specific amount, and the Council of Trent should not be interpreted as having made so unsound an argument. Rather, the Council should be understood as using those passages to show precisely what they can prove that is relevant to the decree’s purpose: God has made known to his People that they ought to pay the taxes required by just laws for Church support.

The current law of the Church (CIC, c. 222) does point out and confirm real obligations, but does not specify how much each family must contribute.

Tithes in Old Testament law—which applied only to the produce of farming and cattle breeding—were a tax on the people of ancient Israel. But, like many other elements of the old law that are not doctrinal or moral truths, the tithing laws were abrogated by Jesus’ new law, as St. Thomas points out (S.t., 2–2, q. 87, a. 1). The requirement of tithing was not reinstated by the early Church; but later, when laws were enacted requiring payments to support the Church, those payments were called “tithes.” Today, neither the law of the universal Church nor the particular law of the Church in the United States specifies how much is to be paid. The responsibility to support the Church thus must be fulfilled according to the conscientious judgment of the faithful, taking into account all their resources and their other genuine needs.”

• Most Rev. Harry J. Flynn, Professor of Christian Ethics at Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The Catholic Church has not required a tithe/tax in centuries. The Catechism and Canon Law have not changed in this regard in over five hundred years. No Catholic should feel obligated to tithe. Because the Catholic Church does not mandate tithing. Tithing, in the Church, was once simply a medieval tax, long ago. You never had to worry about whether or not to pay it. It was simply exacted from you, like taxes are today. It was just the way society was back then. Just like society and its taxes are now.

Very little has changed.

Forget about tithing. Unless you do it voluntarily, there’s no point. Catholics are not obligated to tithe. It’s extremely strange to think of tithing as an “obligation,” anyway. Even when civil law required medieval Catholics to tithe, this was simply a forced tax. Not a “moral obligation” in any way EXCEPT as a tax. You paid it, or else. There is no difference between that and the taxes we pay now.

 

[Foreigner]

I just want to know if we were ever required to pay the tithe as described in the bible. And could you also differentiate it with the financial support we give to the church. Thank you.

What is wrong with this verse?

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to me, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me.”

 

[Pug]

And we still pay plenty of taxes presently. It’s just that none of them go to the Church.

Interestingly, this varies by country. In Germany, unless things have changed recently, the government collects taxes *for *some of the churches, giving the money to the church that the person is a member of. I think it is an amount like 8%. I don’t really understand it well, since the idea is foreign to me, but it does sound like if one officially resigns membership, the tax stops, so it is voluntary.

I cannot understand why Catholics often confuse “tithes” (taxes) with charity. The Jewish tithes in the Old Testament were not charity.

There were a variety of things called “tithes” in the OT, and if I recall, one fits the bill of charitable. I’ll rummage and find some quote about every three years kind of tithe:
Deuteronomy14:28 "At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your produce in the same year, and lay it up within your towns; 29 and the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled; that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
The alien (foreigner), the orphan, and the widows are very traditional objects of charity. Here, they receive food from the tithe. I think Deuteronomy has other legislation that seems charitable in origin as well, like the odd rule about not thoroughly reaping your entire field, so that the same set of people can come eat from it. Ruth, for example, took advantage of just such a law. The spirit of that law clearly remains for us.

Also note that tithes were not strictly “taxes”, at least not how I understand taxes, since you yourself ate from your tithe, depending on which tithe, when. So it is not like every tithe was taken away from you, like people imagine taxes. You ate the tithe yourself, you and your household, buying whatever you wanted for your celebration.

Also, the Church seems to have reasoned centuries ago that it is capable of doing just fine without tithes, from ordinary contributions. The Vatican, in addition, is its own city-state, with its own state income, and does not require a “tithe” to sustain itself.

No, there is no involuntary tithe. But you might not realize that from the contributions that you make to your parish, some of it is “assessed” to the diocese, unless your parish successfully gets the parishioners to pay it separately. Also, your diocese has an assessment that it pays to the Vatican. The local council of bishops also receives an assessment from the diocese. I assume this only goes for wealthy areas, and not poor areas.

No Catholic should torture him or herself in their conscience for not “tithing” today.

I absolutely agree.

You never had to worry about whether or not to pay it. It was simply exacted from you, like taxes are today. It was just the way society was back then. Just like society and its taxes are now.

Perhaps you say this because you are Canadian, and in Canada there is no way around income taxes? I can choose here to deliberately fail to pay *some *of my taxes. I’ll go to jail for it, of course, if caught. The obvious way (I am NOT recommending this course) is to get jobs that pay cash, and don’t report the income. I’ve always figured such was also possible in years gone by, like the Middle Ages, so I’ve figured it would make sense to threaten someone with automatic excommunication for hiding stuff like that. I could be wrong. That is purely culturally based reasoning on my part.

 

[Deconi]

Catholics are not required to ‘tithe.’

There is no amount that God wants in monetary terms for He owns everything. This Protestant doctrine has crept into the Catholic psyche and causes dissention and arguments!

Catholics, as the total Christian, understands or should understand that God wants and NEEDS nothing of us! He gives us everything we need and no set amount of money is ‘required’ to be paid or donated BACK to Him!! C’Mon!

The Christian is to give EVERYTHING he can, when he can, where he can!

Love God with all your MIGHT, all your HEART and all your BEING! That is our ‘new’ measure, and it is not to be counted in percentages!

If you make NO money, but built the extension of the Church building as the carpenter, that is your ‘giving!’ If you cannot hammer a nail but paid for the project, that is your ‘giving.’ If you have 3dollars and gave it all for charity and go hungry for a week, THAT is your ‘giving.’

Someone mentioned that Catholics gave so little! Yet The CC is the largest giver in all history to the human existence and currently continue to be the LARGEST charity ‘worker’ and provider to the needy in EVERY SINGLE country on the globe! How is that possible? Because our mandate no longer has a percentage attached to it, and it is NOT confined to money!

Get this 10% out of your Catholic heads!..and please stop touting snippets of Scriptures like Protestants. It’s embarrassing.

Whether you give a cent or a million dollars does not matter. What matters is what is in your heart when you give it! …to feed and clothe the poor!..For the servants of God to better the lives of others!..for The Church to dispense where She deems fit…etc.

When you give in monetary form what you cannot give in time and ability, you’re opting for the easier option but it does not equate to a ‘tithe!’ That is now just a term to hide the fact we do not have the time or energy to help out somehow! (I should know!)

When someone asks a Catholic, “what do you give when you tithe?”,

The proper answer is, ‘we don’t tithe!’…and as you make the sign of the cross, 'We strive to give ALL that we ‘have’ "
(My mind,(head) my heart(chest) and my strength(shoulders) in His service.)

Should they scoff or wonder that ‘you cannot possibly be serious!’…you should answer, "Thankfully, we do not measure our intents and efforts against each other!’

 

[Joseph_Kemp]

Thank you, Pug (Senior Member) for your balanced response.

The Catholic Church does not require us to tithe (give 10% of our take-home pay to the Church.) This is a non-Catholic teaching. It is frequently taught in many Protestant Churches. Mormons, especially, are known for their harsh requirement for their members to tithe. But Catholics are not required to tithe at all.

You wrote: “There were a variety of things called “tithes” in the OT (Old Testament), and if I recall, one fits the bill of charitable.”

That’s fine. I only speak of tithes as taxes in the Old Testament where they qualify as taxes, under the law at the time.

You wrote: “I can choose here to deliberately fail to pay some of my taxes. I’ll go to jail for it, of course, if caught… Perhaps you say this (that all taxes are involuntary) because you are Canadian, and in Canada there is no way around income taxes?”

No, you are correct. I can certainly choose not to pay some of my income taxes in Canada. And I can certainly go jail.

But I don’t want to go to jail. Very few people do. Just like in the Middle Ages, when Catholics paid tithes(taxes) to the Catholic Church, under civil law, to stay out of jail. There was no real separation between Church and State back then. The Church WAS the State. And CIVIL law back then required Catholics to pay tithes (taxes) to the state (Church). Just as civil law requires us to pay ordinary taxes today, to the government. Tithing was NOT required by any individual “moral law,” imposed on our conscience alone, which still somehow “obligates” us to tithe. And it still isn’t. Medieval tithes were paid as taxes under the civil law at the time. Just as modern taxes are paid under civil law today.

I pay my taxes to stay out of jail. I regard that as an exaction. I am forced to pay them, if I want to live a certain way. The same was true with tithes in the Middle Ages. You could CHOOSE not to pay them. But then you would likely go to jail, under civil law. Same as today, with regular taxes.

I wrote previously: “No Catholic should torture him or herself in their conscience for not “tithing” today.”

And you wrote: “I absolutely agree.”

Thank you. This is precisely correct. I cannot describe how rare it is to see Catholics writing on the internet who are aware that their Church does not teach tithing. The Vatican does not. The Catechism does not. No papal document or encyclical requires Catholics to tithe. It was an old Medieval civil tax law that hasn’t applied in over five hundred years. It is simply bizarre that ANY Catholics discusses tithing at all.

I have heard it said on many “Catholic” websites: “Those faithful Catholics who do tithe report how remarkably their material needs have been met. Moreover, they will cite these blessings as even greater, spiritual rewards.”

For those who tithe freely (without feeling “obliged” to), that’s fine. But for those who tithe out of a fear that the Catholic Church “obligates” them to tithe, I think God just feels sorry for them. I honestly believe God takes pity on those who lack a correct understanding of Vatican teaching. He gives such people “blessings” and “spiritual rewards” to comfort them in their ignorance. To help them get through life. It’s awful to have to face life with a bad understanding of what you own Church teaches. If God DOES exist (and I believe He does), then it follows that He feels bad when His followers live according to bad reasoning about official Church teaching.

I saw this quoted on a pervious post about tithing, earlier in this discussion:
“294. Principles and Philosophy of Tithing: Pope John Paul II said: “We cannot stand idly by, enjoying our own riches and freedom if, in any place the Lazarus of the twentieth century [or any century] stands at our doors.”

This does not support tithing. It was not spoken in the context of supporting tithing. It has been taken out of context. Pope John Paul DID say that. But he wasn’t talking about tithing. This comment is not part of any official Vatican publication on tithing – of which none exist, anyway. You will never find it in any encyclical or papal document of the Holy See. It was a personal quote. John Paul was simply talking about the poor in the world. He wasn’t talking about tithing.

The only place this comment appears in connection with tithing is, verbatim, on a webpage of the Oblates of Saint Micheal – a religious order with extremist leanings. Catholics must be careful when reading such sites. Although the Oblates are careful to state their “submission” to the Vatican, they have inclinations which are not emphasized by the Catholic Church. No Catholic is “obliged” to follow their rules.

Once again: The Roman Catholic Church does not teach tithing. Canon Law does not. The Vatican does not. The Catechism does not. Nor does any papal publication or encyclical. Anyone who says otherwise is simply wrong.

 

[John_Colean]

Mr. Kemp, I would take issue with your statement that tithing is a Protestant teaching. This was actually a command that Father God required of the Jewish people. Christ also advised that we should “Give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and to God the things that belong to God”. Although we may not have a specific directive in Canon Law which requires us to tithe, tithing should be within the desire of our hearts and not because it of a Church directive. Isn’t this the essence of the “New Covenant” that Christ delivers to us?

 

[incense]

I’ve often been troubled by clients at my charity, who cannot pay their rent or heat or buy food, but they paid their tithe to their church. I suppose if they want to personally sacrifice and suffer, that’s their choice. But when they have children, I just don’t understand.

Thanks for permission to not feel guilty, because I’ve wondered if I’m just not as holy as these people or if I’m greedy or selfish.

I remember Mother Angelica actually chastising her audience for trying to take vows of poverty when raising a family. She said that we need to be tending to the needs of our children, that is our calling. We need to fulfill our vocations in life and not act out someone else’s.

 

[Joseph_Kemp]

Don’t ever feel guilty. The Catholic Church does not wish you to experience needless guilt. You are exactly the kind of person that I am trying to reach by writing these posts. Correct information is essential. Faith in Christ and His Church is SUPPOSED to lead to freedom. Not to feelings of oppression. Not to bad reasoning that can hurt us.

Quoted from Jim Blackburn, Catholic Answers:

“Scripture provides insight on how Christians should give:
On the first day of every week (Sunday), each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper. (1 Cor. 16:2)

The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:6–7)

There is no mandatory requirement to give a specific amount of money or percentage of our income (to the Church). We should each decide for ourselves how much to give and then do so in the true spirit of giving a gift."

QUOTE ENDS.

Catholic Apologist Jimmy Akin writes:

“Under current canon law, one is not required to tithe at all. Here is what the Code of Canon Law says:

Can. 222 §1. The Christian faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for the works of the apostolate and of charity, and for the decent support of ministers.

The Catechism puts this obligation in this way:

CCC 2043 The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.

Thus, under current Church teaching and practice, there is no obligation to tithe (give a tenth). One may choose what level one feels is appropriate given the financial realities that one is facing, whether that amount is less or more than a tithe (a tenth).”

QUOTE ENDS.

The only reason I can think of that anyone would tithe in the Catholic Church today would be out of misunderstanding of Vatican teaching, or out of fear. I think it’s fear. People often don’t know the Vatican’s requirements on giving to the Church. So they automatically jump to tithing, the most demanding stricture on giving – again, something that is only taught now in Protestant Churches and, especially, Mormon Churches. It’s a tough, rigid teaching, and it is ENTIRELY non-Catholic.

We ARE obligated to support the Church materially (monetarily), as stated in the Precepts of the Church. But beyond this initial obligation, there are no rules. Total freedom. We can give whatever amount we want. You can do charity with 50 cents, 1 dollar, 20 dollars, whatever. If it is done, as Scripture says, “not reluctantly or under compulsion,” (2 Cor. 9:6–7) then what we give qualifies as a true gift – no matter how little or how much we decide to give.

You wrote: “I’ve often been troubled by clients at my charity, who cannot pay their rent or heat or buy food, but they paid their tithe to their church. I suppose if they want to personally sacrifice and suffer, that’s their choice. But when they have children, I just don’t understand.”

There is nothing to understand. Merely that these people are very, very ill. They are ill in their reasoning.

Too many Catholics I know give a certain amount of money to the Church because they feel they “obligated” to. Someone has scared them into thinking that if they don’t give a specified percent of their money away, they’re going to Hell. This is absolutely absurd. But it is all too common among Catholics uniformed about their faith. I am guessing this is probably the motivation of the people you describe. It is very likely they are giving out of fear. And if you are giving out of fear, God will not reward that. You might as well not give at all. The result will be the same. “God loves a cheerful giver.” The logic of this area is clear. God only rewards those who give from the heart, no matter how much or how little that is. At least it’s sincere, according to how we have “made up (our) mind,” as the above Scripture says. Anyone who says otherwise is flatly wrong.

You wrote: “Thanks for permission to not feel guilty, because I’ve wondered if I’m just not as holy as these people or if I’m greedy or selfish.”

You are not greedy and selfish. The people you describe are the ones with the problem, not you. Giving a rigid, fixed percentage of money to the Church is not a Church teaching at all. And feeling “obligated” to give a “tithe” when not required to is just plain bizarre.

You are not less holy than these people. Simply feeling that their behavior is bizarre is a sign of holiness. Such insight is all too rare.

It is only when people do not understand what the Vatican and the Magisterium teach that Catholics start to discuss tithing. As if we need to be CONSTRAINED into giving 10% of our income to the Church. This is a very unhealthy frame of mind. Not only is tithing not taught by the Catholic Church. It is not even charity. Not unless someone chooses to tithe freely. And that’s entirely up to the individual person alone. No one else has to do it. And there is no obligation anywhere in all Catholic teaching that says otherwise.

 

[Deconi]

Mr. Kemp, I would take issue with your statement that tithing is a Protestant teaching. This was actually a command that Father God required of the Jewish people. Christ also advised that we should “Give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and to God the things that belong to God”. Although we may not have a specific directive in Canon Law which requires us to tithe, tithing should be within the desire of our hearts and not because it of a Church directive. Isn’t this the essence of the “New Covenant” that Christ delivers to us?

Two misconceptions here;

1. If you follow the Jews that declined the New Covenant, you are in fact, protesting!
2. Tithing, in the OT, is from the EXCESS of the blessings received. Read the directives to Abraham carefully when it was first mentioned! From the spoils of ‘his’ conquests…and THE REASONS for the tithe were stipulated. They are quite specific.