How do you justify

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ProVobis

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Receiving communion after not putting in anything in the collection plate. Isn’t the 5th precept of the Church to contribute to its support? Now I’m not even talking 5 or 10 or 20%. I’m talking putting something, however little; at least not give bad example by ignoring the collection basket altogether.

I read the statistics are like 80% don’t put anything at all in the collection plate. When you have low Mass attendance, how are the priests supposed to live on that? Are we always supposed to look for huge donors to pay our way at Mass? Is this fair to us and to them?
 
Yes, we all have an obligation to support the church, after all, someone has to pay the electric bill.

However, having to “pay” for the sacrament of the Eucharist, isn’t that a little like going back to paying for “indulgences”. If I recall, that didn’t do the Church a whole lot of good. Something about a guy named Luther…
 
ProVobis said:
Receiving communion after not putting in anything in the collection plate. Isn’t the 5th precept of the Church to contribute to its support? Now I’m not even talking 5 or 10 or 20%. I’m talking putting something, however little; at least not give bad example by ignoring the collection basket altogether.

I read the statistics are like 80% don’t put anything at all in the collection plate. When you have low Mass attendance, how are the priests supposed to live on that? Are we always supposed to look for huge donors to pay our way at Mass? Is this fair to us and to them?
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It’s not fair to judge. I know families who never put anything in the collection plate but are very involved, offering both time and talent. The time they put in is worth more than the money they can ill afford.
 
ProVobis said:
Receiving communion after not putting in anything in the collection plate. This is one of the reasons I like going to an early Mass. There is no usher, and nobody sees what I put into the basket. There is a basket in the vestibule, and the offering goes in- no peeking! Isn’t the 5th precept of the Church to contribute to its support? Now I’m not even talking 5 or 10 or 20%. I’m talking putting something, however little; at least not give bad example by ignoring the collection basket altogether. As I explained, our parish puts the basket in the vestibule at the early Sunday Mass, and I love it! But to answer your question, some people pay their offering electronically through ParishPay and other methods of electronic collection. It saves money on envelopes, and the parish receives an even, steady stream of income, even when parishioners are away. When they pay in this method, they don’t need to give again. Parishes that practice this method have actually found that when people commit to a pledged amount every month at some point in the year, and the parishioners use EBT methods, their contributions actually increase. So no, they don’t need to give again!

There could be very good reasons not to give, as one does not have the money. That does not mean a catholic properly disposed shouldn’t receive Communion. That’s when they need the Blessed Sacrament more, not less! And I believe St. Paul had plenty to say about such an attitude. The rich aren’t to be given preferential treatment of the sacraments over those who are not rich.

I read the statistics are like 80% don’t put anything at all in the collection plate. In some parishes yes, in some parishes no. When you have low Mass attendance, how are the priests supposed to live on that? Priests receive their monthly stipend from the dioceses or their order, not the collection basket, THANK GOODNESS! As you point out, if this were the case, in some parishes, the poor priest would be living on rice and beans or less. At least, that is the way it is in the US. Are we always supposed to look for huge donors to pay our way at Mass? Is this fair to us and to them?
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Post #1 by ProVobis states:
Receiving communion after not putting in anything in the collection plate… I’m talking putting something, however little; at least not give bad example by ignoring the collection basket altogether.
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Bad example? Who’s watching? The usher? The other people in the pew?

Better question is, Who’s not minding their own business?

What about those who give the church a monthly offering - or mail a check or perhaps the offering is made by automatic bank withdrawal? Should they put a note in the collection basket each week to indicate that fact for those who are watching them – and judging if or not they should receive communion?

This is a silly question - and I took the bait by answering!
 
kujayhawk said:
Post #1 by ProVobis states:

Bad example? Who’s watching? The usher? The other people in the pew?

Better question is, Who’s not minding their own business?

What about those who give the church a monthly offering - or mail a check or perhaps the offering is made by automatic bank withdrawal? Should they put a note in the collection basket each week to indicate that fact for those who are watching them – and judging if or not they should receive communion?

This is a silly question - and I took the bait by answering!
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Well if you have children and they watch you ignore the plate then they do the same. Those who do what you suggest and have children should explain to their children why they don’t put money in the plate every week.

As for going recieve communion, no as long as you give something every once and a while.
 
SacredHeartFan said:
Well if you have children and they watch you ignore the plate then they do the same. Those who do what you suggest and have children should explain to their children why they don’t put money in the plate every week.

As for going recieve communion, no as long as you give something every once and a while.
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If parents are giving by the means I stated earlier - check in mail or in collection basket monthly or automatic bank withdrawal, I would certainly think they would share that fact with their children who are old enough to understand.

I have no children, but most parents that I know well enough to know this fact about them, have their children give a percentage of their spending money to the church weekly or monthly depending when that money is alloted to them. Kids probably don’t write checks or have debit cards!!!

I will grant your point, that your children would notice, and I grant that some parents would not share with their kids how and when they give to the church, although I can’t understand why they would withhold that information from them. It should be part of their role as teachers of their children.

As for giving to the support of the church and receiving communion, that is a matter to be discussed with a confessor if the person is having doubts or questions about it.
 
kujayhawk said:
If parents are giving by the means I stated earlier - check in mail or in collection basket monthly or automatic bank withdrawal, I would certainly think they would share that fact with their children who are old enough to understand.

I have no children, but most parents that I know well enough to know this fact about them, have their children give a percentage of their spending money to the church weekly or monthly depending when that money is alloted to them. Kids probably don’t write checks or have debit cards!!!

I will grant your point, that your children would notice, and I grant that some parents would not share with their kids how and when they give to the church, although I can’t understand why they would withhold that information from them. It should be part of their role as teachers of their children.

As for giving to the support of the church and receiving communion, that is a matter to be discussed with a confessor if the person is having doubts or questions about it.
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yes it should be a part of their role as parents but some parents, not all, fail to realize this. 😦
 
When I am employed, money goes in the basket. When there is no income, I don’t put anything in.

Matthew
 
OutinChgoburbs said:
Priests receive their monthly stipend from the dioceses or their order, not the collection basket, THANK GOODNESS! As you point out, if this were the case, in some parishes, the poor priest would be living on rice and beans or less. At least, that is the way it is in the US.
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That’s not the way it is in our diocese. Each parish is responsible for its pastor’s stipend, whether he’s diocesan or religious. The diocesan guys pay income tax and clear a little more than the religious ones whose Congregation has a contract with the diocese for a specific stipend + 2 trips a year back to their Province’s Headquarters. Those are usually paid for by the parishes.

Yes, some parishes find it harder than others and some of the priests eat better than others.
 
Isn’t it okay to take the money you get on payday, distribute it to various funds for things(food, transportation, clothing, bills), then decide how much you think you can give, add 10% of what you thought you could, and then give it once or twice a month based on paycheck? It seems weird to give several times during one pay period…why not just take it out at the beginning when you get paid…?

That is what I would do(or something similar) if I had a job. Too bad I’m a high school student who is sadly unemployed. I give what I can, which is usually once a month giving. Even if I made more money, I’d give it all at once rather than space it out during the month so I could feel good about putting something in the plate each time…😃
 
muffinmojo said:
Isn’t it okay to take the money you get on payday, distribute it to various funds for things(food, transportation, clothing, bills), then decide how much you think you can give, add 10% of what you thought you could, and then give it once or twice a month based on paycheck? It seems weird to give several times during one pay period…why not just take it out at the beginning when you get paid…?

That is what I would do(or something similar) if I had a job. Too bad I’m a high school student who is sadly unemployed. I give what I can, which is usually once a month giving. Even if I made more money, I’d give it all at once rather than space it out during the month so I could feel good about putting something in the plate each time…😃
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On payday (every 2 weeks) I take out my ‘spending money’ for that pay period. The envelopes for the next 2 Sundays get filled, as well as one of the Special Collection envelopes (Building Fund, Share Lent, Pope’s Pastoral Works, etc). That way if some big expense comes up in a pay period that includes a Special Collection I’m usually covered for that one already.
 
ProVobis said:
Receiving communion after not putting in anything in the collection plate.
I
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one is not dependent on the other. yes it is a law of the Church to support her with one’s time, talent and treasure. No, that gift does not have to be placed in the collection basket every week, or at all. There are many other ways to give, and many who cannot give other than by uniting their needs and suffering with that of Christ, and the rest of us support the Church so those in such need will be served.

the purpose of the collection happening during Mass, rather than at another time and place, is that we symbolically acknowledge that all we have is gift, and the pittance we give back is a symbol of that fact. these gifts are brought, along with the bread and wine purchased with our donations, to the altar so that all we have is offered to God, by Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
 
This is basically covered by what a couple of other posters have already stated (along the same lines of a bank withdrawal where the person is giving but you are not seeing it… My husband and I will sometimes attend Mass on both Saturday evening and Sunday morning. But we only drop the envelope in the basket once! So if you were looking at my husband and I, thinking bad things about us for not giving, you would be very, very wrong. :tsktsk:

Matthew 6:1-4
1"Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Yes, we should all give however we can (time, money, prayers especially), but when you go to Church stop watching what over people do and mind your business. 😃
 
Time, talent, and treasure…Some people volunteer an awful lot of their time at their parishes…Some share great** talents**…Others can afford to share treasure.

We are not to judge. We DON’T know! Frankly, it is none of our business!
 
I am not employed (not by choice), and live in a household where no one else is employed (but receives social security payments). I think it is very reasonable for me not to give any money during collections. I often give a dollar, though, because I realize that I might also use a dollar to do something to for myself such as buy a pack of gum or see a movie matinee. I realize that I should be budgeting very tightly, but I know myself and I know that I will treat myself now and then because constantly looking for a job is stressful. So, if I treat myself why not show God I am grateful for supplying me with my needs. I actually intend not to put any money into the basket, but often end up doing so.🙂

On a more practical note. There have been times when I did not have a dollar in my wallet, or the one I had I needed for bus fare home. So there have been times when I haven’t put any money in the basket, but the next Sunday I put in twice as much. Or I put a five dollar bill in for the entire month. I never thought anyone was watching or judging, except God. And I know he just wants me to give what I can and most of all be thankful for his supplying my needs.

I don’t connect giving money up with receiving communion. Holy Communion is an entirely separate act. Tithing is giving to God out of gratefulness for his supplying your needs. As others mentioned, there are lots of ways to do that and giving money when you don’t have it is not necessary.
 
SacredHeartFan said:
Well if you have children and they watch you ignore the plate then they do the same. Those who do what you suggest and have children should explain to their children why they don’t put money in the plate every week.
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In our parish there is a huge clear plastic dish off to the side of the sanctuary (maybe holds half a bushel). During the collection the younger children, maybe up to third grade or so, walk forward and put their offering in the dish. The example is very motivating to the kids present at Mass and they get into the practice of giving regularly. All Catholic School kids have their own envelopes. We also have electronic giving for adults and there are those like myself who give monthly by envelope when the pension check shows up.🙂
 
sarahraegraham said:
Yes, we should all give however we can (time, money, prayers especially), but when you go to Church stop watching what over people do and mind your business. 😃
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Ok, I’ll try to ignore those that arrive in the middle of the readings and leave right after they receive Communion. I’ll pretend they’re not there or that they must be rushing out to help out in the soup kitchens, how’s that? 😃

I don’t know how many of you have actually taken up collections, but it’s a whole lot more gratifying to serve the Mass, I think. It’s not a lot of fun when people give you that dirty look when you walk down the aisles with the baskets.

There, I got it off my chest. 😃 Thanks for the replies. However, I do think it is our business because I’ve seen a lot of cases where they simply discontinue a Mass because of lack of support. And it does happen, believe me. You should never take the Mass for granted.
 
as much as possible, I entertain those good catholic websites selling books, rosaries, etc. the proceeds there goes to the needs of their community. That’s nice for me because I got what I wanted while I also helped their community.

also, as much as possible, I try to give whenever I can. As a student, I am dependent to my parents when it comes to money. so when I recieve my weekly allowance (about 50 dollars or so.), I follow the old tradition of thiting. 10 percent of my allowance goes to the church as peter’s pence. I keep these 10 persent parts then every month, I go to the bishop and tell him to give it to the nuncio.😃
 
I arrived a little late for Mass a few weeks ago. Here’s why. I take public transportation and the bus driver was new and dawdled a bit at one of her rest stops. I was embarrassed. Excuse me for saying so, but some people can’t help it and therefore no one should be looked at in judgement. Besides, when someone is late it is that person who loses out so they are to be pitied and prayed for.

Here is an idea. How about doing a survey to find out what your fellow parishioners ideas are about giving? What are the barriers? Joblessness? How many are living on a limited income? Maybe there are ministries your parish can start - or energize - in order to help people meet their needs so that those who can’t give money will be able to. How about a ministry to help people find jobs. Someone in the parish community may be good with that. Maybe a ministry to help people budget and manage money.

Maybe attitudes towards giving need to be changed. How about a lecture series about tithing? How about setting financial goals for your parish and showing parishioners how the collection is helping to meet those goals? Maybe have a collection campaign and have a giant graft in the vestible that shows the progress. I’m just throwing out some ideas because I think actually finding a solution to what is seen as a problem is better than wondering why people don’t give, imagining dirty looks, and judging others without even knowing what their story is. If your parish has a problem with people giving, then it needs to be solved at a pro-active parish community level. Those are my thoughts.

As for dirty looks when you walk down the aisle with the basket, you may be projecting what your own thoughts are, but if there are really dirty looks and malise then your parish community needs to be awakened on this issue.
 
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