D
dnar
Guest
Is it morally acceptable to stop giving money to your Parish because you disagree with how they spend the money by giving it away to folks who you don’t think should get it.
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L
LittleHannah
Guest
One of the Commandments of the Church is to ‘‘Contribute to the Support of the Church’’. The only way the Priest can make it is through the generous support of his Parishoners. Just a thought.
1
1ke
Guest
No.
1
1ke
Guest
It is a precept of the Church.
E
EmeraldWings
Guest
i asked this question to a very well educated priest i know once, and he said, the law is not that you are obligated to give money to any one parish, but to the support of the church, so if you can give in another way, such as to a good organization within the church(like the FSSP) then that fulfills your obligation too…
you can look into it more, maybe try asking your bishop or a well educated priest you may know of, and try to just find a legitimate way of contributing to the church.
here’s the FSSP in case you consider them - fssp.com/press/what-is-the-fraternity-of-st-peter/
so basically to answer your question, it’s morally acceptable* if* you are sure the money is being used wrongfully, which should be brought to your bishops attention, but you are still obligated to give money to the church in some other way.
hope this helps, take care.
T
triumphguy
Guest
Well our parish hands out hundreds of hampers at Christmas and other times of the year. some of that food goes to people whose lifestyle I don’t agree with (alcoholics or drug addicts, ex cons, unmarried mothers, people who are shacked up, the chronically poor and unemployed). Maybe I should ask my parish to stop with the hampers?
J
Jaypeeto4
Guest
whose lifestyle I don’t agree with (alcoholics or drug addicts, ex cons, unmarried mothers, people who are shacked up, the chronically poor and unemployed).
I’m a bit perplexed by this list…
those who are still abusing alcohol and still abusing drugs or still shacking-up, I can understand
not “agreeing with” their lifestyle,
but “ex-cons, unmarried mothers, the chronically poor and unemployed”-----
what is sinful about that? Have these ex-cons repented? Have the unmarried mothers
repented of their fornication? What is “sinful” about being chronically poor, when corporate America is increasingly paying people who do backbreaking work SUB-POVERTY LEVEL wages (which is a form of the Sin that Cries to Heaven for Vengeance), and the unemployed? What is sinful about being even, these days, chronically unemployed? I couldn’t get a job for 2 years to save my life, I had an excellent resume, and couldn’t even get an email acknowledgement of my submitted resume or application, let alone an interview ((they did the math and could tell I was 50 years old, and though they can’t legally SAY so, many employers refuse to hire people my age)).
And have you seen the job market these days? Even for college educated people, the salaries being offered, by very profitable companies, are WAAAAAAY beneath what these people are worth, even as beginners, and that deliberately so, out of pure corporate greed.
As for the currrent Unemployment Rate “dropping” to something like 8.3 percent, that is PURE DECEITFUL B.S. It is NOT that low ( and 8.3 percent is not low, it is high ).
What has happened is that for MILLIONS of unemployed job seekers, the Unemployment Compensation extensions have all run out so these millions have been DROPPED from the rolls of the “unemployed” even though they are still jobless. The real jobless rate is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY higher than 8.3 percent. The ACKNOWLEDGED, grossly under-reported unemployment rate here in Florida is around 12%, way below what it ACTUALLY IS, and here in Miami-Dade County it is MUCH HIGHER than in the rest of Florida.
The media reports of falling unemployment are deliberately designed to accomplish one thing: to get Mr. Obama Re-elected. The reports are false.
I don’t think you meant to “attack” most of these people. I’ve read many of your posts and think you are quite kind and charitable, but this at least seemed over the top.
I’m sure you probably didn’t mean it that way, though.
And I agree: we can’t just up and decide not to give to our Parish Church because we don’t like what our pastor is spending some of it on.
UNLESS he is a) deliberately wasting it (which has happened) or
b) he is spending it on something EVIL, like financing Planned Parenthood
or helping finance a Gay Pride Parade or something. THEN you SHOULD quit giving and find another parish to give to, cuz the Holy Ghost will probably soon be leaving yours unless the pastor repents or unless the people rise up and DEMAND that he do so.
As for pastors wasting money, this happened at a beautiful Catholic Church in Miami Lakes some years back, according to a dear friend of mine who attended that parish.
They had a parish residence for the priests, adjacent to the beautiful church on nice property. That wasn’t good enough, apparently, for these two priests. They took what I was told were PARISH FUNDS and bought a million dollar mansion in a gated community and moved into it. I would have quit that parish quicker than you can say Jack Robinson.
My pastor, a good man, a good priest, lives in his simple Parish residence upstairs above the offices and above the parish chapel where evening masses are said. He lives simply and reasonably and works himself half to death and is very devout (slips and cusses every now and then, but that truly IS the “Irish” in him, and not malice or blasphemous intentions). No glamor seeking for him, no craving to buy a mansion with parish funds.
Those Miami Lakes priests should have been stripped of their parish assignments, ordered out of “their” mansion by the bishop, and sent to live in a monastery cell for 10 years, because THAT kind of thing is misappropriation of funds that are intended by the parishoners for the support and spread of the gospel, not so “Father” can live in a million dollar mansion in a swank gated community.
God bless you,
Jaypeeto4
I’m a bit perplexed by this list…
those who are still abusing alcohol and still abusing drugs or still shacking-up, I can understand
not “agreeing with” their lifestyle,
but “ex-cons, unmarried mothers, the chronically poor and unemployed”-----
what is sinful about that? Have these ex-cons repented? Have the unmarried mothers
repented of their fornication? What is “sinful” about being chronically poor, when corporate America is increasingly paying people who do backbreaking work SUB-POVERTY LEVEL wages (which is a form of the Sin that Cries to Heaven for Vengeance), and the unemployed? What is sinful about being even, these days, chronically unemployed? I couldn’t get a job for 2 years to save my life, I had an excellent resume, and couldn’t even get an email acknowledgement of my submitted resume or application, let alone an interview ((they did the math and could tell I was 50 years old, and though they can’t legally SAY so, many employers refuse to hire people my age)).
And have you seen the job market these days? Even for college educated people, the salaries being offered, by very profitable companies, are WAAAAAAY beneath what these people are worth, even as beginners, and that deliberately so, out of pure corporate greed.
As for the currrent Unemployment Rate “dropping” to something like 8.3 percent, that is PURE DECEITFUL B.S. It is NOT that low ( and 8.3 percent is not low, it is high ).
What has happened is that for MILLIONS of unemployed job seekers, the Unemployment Compensation extensions have all run out so these millions have been DROPPED from the rolls of the “unemployed” even though they are still jobless. The real jobless rate is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY higher than 8.3 percent. The ACKNOWLEDGED, grossly under-reported unemployment rate here in Florida is around 12%, way below what it ACTUALLY IS, and here in Miami-Dade County it is MUCH HIGHER than in the rest of Florida.
The media reports of falling unemployment are deliberately designed to accomplish one thing: to get Mr. Obama Re-elected. The reports are false.
I don’t think you meant to “attack” most of these people. I’ve read many of your posts and think you are quite kind and charitable, but this at least seemed over the top.
I’m sure you probably didn’t mean it that way, though.
And I agree: we can’t just up and decide not to give to our Parish Church because we don’t like what our pastor is spending some of it on.
UNLESS he is a) deliberately wasting it (which has happened) or
b) he is spending it on something EVIL, like financing Planned Parenthood
or helping finance a Gay Pride Parade or something. THEN you SHOULD quit giving and find another parish to give to, cuz the Holy Ghost will probably soon be leaving yours unless the pastor repents or unless the people rise up and DEMAND that he do so.
As for pastors wasting money, this happened at a beautiful Catholic Church in Miami Lakes some years back, according to a dear friend of mine who attended that parish.
They had a parish residence for the priests, adjacent to the beautiful church on nice property. That wasn’t good enough, apparently, for these two priests. They took what I was told were PARISH FUNDS and bought a million dollar mansion in a gated community and moved into it. I would have quit that parish quicker than you can say Jack Robinson.
My pastor, a good man, a good priest, lives in his simple Parish residence upstairs above the offices and above the parish chapel where evening masses are said. He lives simply and reasonably and works himself half to death and is very devout (slips and cusses every now and then, but that truly IS the “Irish” in him, and not malice or blasphemous intentions). No glamor seeking for him, no craving to buy a mansion with parish funds.
Those Miami Lakes priests should have been stripped of their parish assignments, ordered out of “their” mansion by the bishop, and sent to live in a monastery cell for 10 years, because THAT kind of thing is misappropriation of funds that are intended by the parishoners for the support and spread of the gospel, not so “Father” can live in a million dollar mansion in a swank gated community.
God bless you,
Jaypeeto4
O
Ontheway
Guest
Triumphguy,
But, these are exactly the kind of people that Jesus spent time with and converted. He was constantly being accused of spending time with the “unworthy”. He sacrificed his life for them (us) and it is our obligation to sacrifice a little something for the church that helps support them.
And who are we to pass judgement on anyone? There is only one judge.
But, these are exactly the kind of people that Jesus spent time with and converted. He was constantly being accused of spending time with the “unworthy”. He sacrificed his life for them (us) and it is our obligation to sacrifice a little something for the church that helps support them.
And who are we to pass judgement on anyone? There is only one judge.
T
triumphguy
Guest
I don’t think you meant to “attack” most of these people. I’ve read many of your posts and think you are quite kind and charitable, but this at least seemed over the top.
I’m sure you probably didn’t mean it that way, though. Thanks
Jaypeeto4
I agree!
I was using sarcasm (I’m British originally!), hopefully to raise an issue with the OP about the priest giving money to people we don’t agree with.
Sometimes they are precisely the people the parish should be giving the money to. It doesn’t mean we will emulate their lifestyle, but as a humanitarian and charitable gesture we should help anyway.
B
bmullins
Guest
If we believe that the Church is led by the Holy Spirit, then we must then come to the realization that God wants the money to go to whom he wants it to go to and has a purpose for it. While we may not understand the hows or the whys, we should still trust that God has a plan. He may have given the money to that person not for them, and not because they deserve it, but in order to bring someone else into a greater understanding of his ways.
If I may suggest, if you have problems with how the Parish is spending it’s money that you volunteer to be on the Parish financial council or pastoral council that you can help to guide where it goes? Or that you can at least understand why it is going to who it is going to?
If I may suggest, if you have problems with how the Parish is spending it’s money that you volunteer to be on the Parish financial council or pastoral council that you can help to guide where it goes? Or that you can at least understand why it is going to who it is going to?
C
cjmclark
Guest
We are called to give our “time, talents, and treasure” to the Church in such proportions as we are able.
If you’re uncomfortable giving the last one, perhaps you can focus more on the first two. Is there a ministry at your parish in which you can lend a helping hand?
If you’re uncomfortable giving the last one, perhaps you can focus more on the first two. Is there a ministry at your parish in which you can lend a helping hand?
C
Cathryn
Guest
It would be in justice and charity to financially support a parish that one attends. Much of the financial support goes to utility bills for heat, lighting, etc. Other costs are, candles, hosts, wine, linen etc. Even some for salaries for the priests, office staff. Support the parish where you are using their facilites, staff, and resources. You can alway send donations to other organizations as well.
Also, your offerings given at Mass and brought up to the altar, are part of your total giving of yourself offered up with the priest in the person of Christ. The idea of not giving an offering at the Mass you attend, but sending it elsewhere, even another parish, is not consistent with the Sacrifice of the Mass. It is a holding back of part of yourself, your treasure, that actually comes from God and belongs to God. It should be part of your sacrifice you are offering with the priest at the Mass you attend. Just something to think about.
Also, your offerings given at Mass and brought up to the altar, are part of your total giving of yourself offered up with the priest in the person of Christ. The idea of not giving an offering at the Mass you attend, but sending it elsewhere, even another parish, is not consistent with the Sacrifice of the Mass. It is a holding back of part of yourself, your treasure, that actually comes from God and belongs to God. It should be part of your sacrifice you are offering with the priest at the Mass you attend. Just something to think about.
T
TheRealJuliane
Guest
Switch parishes. Give freely to a parish that does work in the corporal mercies. We do not have to support one particular parish, but the Church’s larger mission.
T
tafan
Guest
I would disagree with your priest. The precept is to support the Church proper, which would be a combination of the parish, diocese, and Peter’s Pence. And it is an obligation, just as attending mass on Sunday is an obligation.
C
Castello
Guest
If your parish is donating to Planned Parenthood, please, notify the Bishop.
L
Leegal
Guest
:clapping:
E
EmeraldWings
Guest
i think you’ve misunderstood, i was referring to if the money was being used wrongfully, that is why i said he should bring it up with his bishop,
perhaps i should have clarified more clearly that when i spoke with my priest on the subject, it was in question of what to do if you know the money you give to your parish is being used for bad things.
and while the precept commands us to support our pastor, it also gives other ways to support the church, such as supporting the financial needs of a seminarian, or giving money for the building of a catholic school or religious buildings,
even though it is an obligation to support our parish, that obligation does not override what is unjust or immoral, we cannot blindly support something sinful.
but as i said, it should be brought up with the bishop, and not be decided on on you own.
T
tafan
Guest
I stand by what I said, you need to support to the Church itself, not just charitable organizations associated with the Church. IF you parish is misusing the funds, you can divert that obligation to the diocese or Rome. But the canon is clear, you are obliged to give to the the Church.
I would add, having been very involved in parish finances in the past, that very few parishioners would know for sure their money is being mispent. And those who complain the loudest, often have the least understanding. So be sure you are correct, before you stop supporting your parish.
- Status