How much do you contribute to the church?

[YADA]

You must remember that older people have it hard,some live on very little,from what that get,so they have to give what they can.Than theirs people that make money and only put in a dollar in the Basket,or don,t put anything as it is goes pass them.Times are getting harder,and people will put food on their table first,before giving 10% to the church.

And where in my post did I say that anyone should give 10 percent to the church? … What I said was as good stewards - we should give in relation to the Blessings that God provides and that you should feel the giving … the widow who gave 2 mites - gave from here need [that means she could have used those 2 mites to provided food she needed or some other basic necessity … one can guess it was less then 10 percent of what she had - or else it would have represented the same as the two rich men who gave 10 percent - but for whom the 10 percent represented far less because they had all of their need cared for and for whom the 10 percent represented a fraction of their excess …and we should not be coy … that pledging is important and not something to keep unknown.

And your elderly people want the parish to be well cared for and accessible - they also want the water bill paid, etc …

I personally believe that 10 percent is a good beginning - I contribute to two parishes. I also contribute to my archdiocese and a catholic seminary and other charities that feed homeless and low income individuals and families, Mother & Child, etc … but as God’s Steward - I am humbled by this responsibility … and I understand the issues well … I am a member of an administrative council, have work on parish capital campaigns, was unemployed for 15 months - finally found a position then lost a spouse.

The last two items there - death of spouse and the unemployment period both represent major changes in my family budget … and resulted in modifications to giving rates - after all - charitable giving is the one area of your budget that is 100 percent controllable [though we all spend money on things that are optional] - and optional … I still believe it is important to make it a deliberate and conscious decision …

 

[maryjk]

And likewise, one should remember that just because there are people who make money that don’t put anything in the basket as it goes past them, does not mean that they are not tithing to the Church. In this modern day, many of the rich and the not so rich use the automatic bank transfers to pay their tithe

It comes right out of the bank.

Also, as an employee we can have our Catholic Charities taken out of our paycheck.

That way it truly comes off the top, not from what is left.

 

[johnthebaptist2]

I “got the idea” while attending Catholic grade school in the 50’s and 60’s and having to memorize the precepts or laws of the Church in catechism class.

Precepts (or laws) of the Church

1. 
   *]To assist at Mass on all Sundays and holydays of obligation.
   *]To fast and to abstain on the days appointed.
   *]To confess our sins at least once a year.
   *]To receive Holy Communion during the Easter time.
   *]To contribute to the support of the Church.
   *]To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.
   
   %between%

1. 
   I do all that you mention,plus I,am helping at my parish,I,am an usher.We do what we can to help the church,God understands.

 

[MSSheBear]

I donate 6 to 7% of my income to the parish. I donate to other charities also. I have a low income but I am single with no dependents and I am not in debt. I give monthly by check in one of those little envelopes. Our parish is fairly affluent and my contribution has no impact.

 

[zab]

Were do you get the Idea, that you should use the word Duty,it,s like saying we should give,because we belong to that church,I, v know were people they said,the priest would say how much each family should give by what they make.The priest is there to bring us closer to God,and he should be praying to God for help,and God that hears all prays will help him get threw his problem of running the Parish.

I “got the idea” while attending Catholic grade school in the 50’s and 60’s and having to memorize the precepts or laws of the Church in catechism class.

Precepts (or laws) of the Church

1. 
   *]To assist at Mass on all Sundays and holydays of obligation.
   *]To fast and to abstain on the days appointed.
   *]To confess our sins at least once a year.
   *]To receive Holy Communion during the Easter time.
   *]To contribute to the support of the Church.
   *]To observe the laws of the Church concerning marriage.

1. I do all that you mention,plus I,am helping at my parish,I,am an usher.We do what we can to help the church,God understands.

   I guess I’m just not understanding what you meant by asking me where I got the idea that it was our duty to give to the support of the church. I was just trying to answer your question by quoting from Precepts of the Church.

 

[Dorothy]

And likewise, one should remember that just because there are people who make money that don’t put anything in the basket as it goes past them, does not mean that they are not tithing to the Church. In this modern day, many of the rich and the not so rich use the automatic bank transfers to pay their tithe

Correct! And there are many parishioners who send in a monthly check to the parish and just put their envelope # on the check.

 

[TimothyH]

There are many moral rules for the donation to the church. 1% to 10% which ever is comfortable to the donor.
Here in India, we have

• monthly subscripton
• Annual Feast subscription
• Offerings
• Other donations to some feasts like Christmas, Easter etc.

Some are generous, but some find excuses for avoiding offering. But according to me when we generously donate, we will definitely blessed with more.

For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Luke 25:29

I would look at it - as the talents which God has given to us and the money we earn from those talents - should be used for the Glory of God. The one who gives more, will be awarded more.

What are all your experiences in donation?

Regarding the statements in bold and red, this is a very dangerous belief, “according to you.”

You can’t buy your way into heaven and you can’t buy blessing. You are free to believe that you can but the Church does not teach that we will be rewarded more if we give more.

We should give and expect nothing in return, just as our Master gave his life for sinners who spit on him.

-Tim-

 

[johnthebaptist2]

And where in my post did I say that anyone should give 10 percent to the church? … What I said was as good stewards - we should give in relation to the Blessings that God provides and that you should feel the giving … the widow who gave 2 mites - gave from here need [that means she could have used those 2 mites to provided food she needed or some other basic necessity … one can guess it was less then 10 percent of what she had - or else it would have represented the same as the two rich men who gave 10 percent - but for whom the 10 percent represented far less because they had all of their need cared for and for whom the 10 percent represented a fraction of their excess …and we should not be coy … that pledging is important and not something to keep unknown.

And your elderly people want the parish to be well cared for and accessible - they also want the water bill paid, etc …

I personally believe that 10 percent is a good beginning - I contribute to two parishes. I also contribute to my archdiocese and a catholic seminary and other charities that feed homeless and low income individuals and families, Mother & Child, etc … but as God’s Steward - I am humbled by this responsibility … and I understand the issues well … I am a member of an administrative council, have work on parish capital campaigns, was unemployed for 15 months - finally found a position then lost a spouse.

The last two items there - death of spouse and the unemployment period both represent major changes in my family budget … and resulted in modifications to giving rates - after all - charitable giving is the one area of your budget that is 100 percent controllable [though we all spend money on things that are optional] - and optional … I still believe it is important to make it a deliberate and conscious decision …

I give what I can,since I,am on disabled,but I do give to the missionaries ,that service the poorest of countries,for as I look at pictures they should me ,of how bad they have it,were a child sits in a mud hut,or their ribs are showing threw them,is more Important,they don,t need to build church so big ,were it cost the priest to much of a burden,and they are suppose to be getting help from the Bishops of their town or city.

 

[rotlex]

We currently give less than 5% due to expenses. My wife has chosen to be a stay at home Mom for the last 5 years and the benefits of that are tremendous. With that said, we try to compensate by doing a number of things. She teaches CCD full time and is involved in a number of other volunteer functions at our parish. Both of us are also involved in building a new Your Ministry group within our parish and diocese. We hope to give more monetarily in the future, but for now we hope that what we do give, along with the volunteer hours is helping!