Tithe/Giving for the Church

[dskysmine]

Hi,
I am fairly new to the US so I don’t know how things are done here. I live in Queens NY, I used to live in Portugal/Germany where rules were different. In Portugal I was supposed to give 1% of my yearly Gross income to my priest for his sustenance, in Germany they used to take 9% of my taxes directly from the source. I think it was about 2.7% of my gross income. Now in my parish of St Kevin’s, when I was registered to the parish I got these Red envelopes where they have a saying from the Bible about tithing and further says, “The Bible says we should give 10% of our income to God, we only ask for 5%”.
I am married and my wife isn’t currently working, but she is trying to start her own business, and we go to different churches as I am Catholic and she is Baptist, but I briefly saw this thread that was already closed about tithing over net/gross income and it made me start thinking cause I only am currently giving 5% of my net income to my Church, the other 5% of my net income are divided to my wife’s church and Missions abroad.
Should I be giving 5% to my Church of my gross income?

I already wrote a letter to the Bishop that oversees the parish (Bishop Chappetto) as I also wanted some other questions answered but I haven’t gotten any reply (letter was sent almost 2 months ago).
Does anyone know if I am misunderstanding this?

Thanks
God bless,
D.

 

[zab]

Usually the* recommendation* is 5% of your gross income to your parish and 5% of your gross income to other charities, which would include your wife’s church and to the Archdiocese appeal and other charities. But don’t let it worry you if you are not at that level. You are trying to be responsible with what you have. There are many people who believe that they cannot afford to begin their giving at 10% (total) they have to work up to that figure by re-evaluating their giving every year and “taking a step” towards the ideal goal. May God bless you.

 

[Bookcat]

Tithing is not what the Church asks generally.

Rather that one give according to ones means. (see the CCC)

Now giving 10% could fit that for some --or it could be more or could be a great deal less.

Here from Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers:

jimmyakin.com/2006/02/tithing_giving_.html

 

[dskysmine]

Tithing is not what the Church asks generally.

Rather that one give according to ones means. (see the CCC)

Now giving 10% could fit that for some --or it could be more or could be a great deal less.

Here from Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers:

jimmyakin.com/2006/02/tithing_giving_.html

I know what the Church in general says, I am asking about a specific situation… else why would this Parish have these instructions in the cover?

God bless,
D.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I know what the Church in general says, I am asking about a specific situation… else why would this Parish have these instructions in the cover?

God bless,
D.

It would probably be best to talk to the Pastor or business manager of the parish itself.
No one here can answer questions regarding the specifics of how one parish does things.

 

[tawny]

You can check with your Chancery Office for the Diocese of Brooklyn.

 

[Bookcat]

I know what the Church in general says, I am asking about a specific situation… else why would this Parish have these instructions in the cover?

God bless,
D.

Beats me. Seems they are “asking” as you note.

Discuss with the pastor.

In one diocese those seeking funds used the word “tithe” and I contacted the office and explained why it was not the word to use for it could cause confusion…and later it was removed and not used…

I also say it in the past at a parish on the envelopes - when the new Pastor took over it was removed…

One may contact those in authority to discover if something more than what the Church requires is actually be required in a specific case…

For the local Bishop can for example seek needed funds (see Jimmy’s response)

 

[1ke]

I know what the Church in general says, I am asking about a specific situation… else why would this Parish have these instructions in the cover?

God bless,
D.

it is probably jut what is printed on the envelopes from the vendor (which may or may not be Catholic).

Give what you prayerfully discern to be the right amount for parish, diocese, other charities,and your wife’s church. And then be at peace.

 

[Bookcat]

I am married and my wife isn’t currently working, but she is trying to start her own business, and we go to different churches as I am Catholic and she is Baptist, but I briefly saw this thread that was already closed about tithing over net/gross income and it made me start thinking cause I only am currently giving 5% of my net income to my Church, the other 5% of my net income are divided to my wife’s church and Missions abroad.

.

Footnote:

If I were in that situation I would not myself give to a Protestant community. Now it may be that my wife (if she was not Catholic) might choose to give to her community - but I personally would not do so. I am not in that situation though so I have not really explored it. I simply offer my first thoughts (not to cause problems but simply to offer). Discuss with your Pastor - like I said I am not in that situation (It is me who was the former Baptist! I become Catholic at 18)

 

[phil19034]

it is probably jut what is printed on the envelopes from the vendor (which may or may not be Catholic).

Give what you prayerfully discern to be the right amount for parish, diocese, other charities,and your wife’s church. And then be at peace.

This ^^^

As an aside, when I was returning to the Church, I was a little hesitant to attend the parish I live in because their website says “A Tithing Parish”

It turns out that they are just using that as a slogan. But it did scare me a bit to think that there would be peer pressure to give a lot of money. But it’s not the case.

God Bless.

 

[Vasallus]

We all pick our priorities. If God and Church are not at the top, then that’s our choice.

 

[dskysmine]

Thank you for your answers, as I said, I thought that it would be a little more regularized as it was in Portugal/Germany, and because this is my first American Parish I wanted to know if there was something obvious I was missing.
As the Bishop has not yet replied to my letter I will have to speak with one of the 2 priests in the Parish this weekend and will let you know what they answer back.

Gob bless,
D.

 

[creole54]

I have a similar area of confusion. I finally found what I thought was going to be my new parish home. I’d been looking for a new church for about a year and a half since our new priest came and all reverence and respect for mass disappeared.

Today I went to a new member meeting at my ‘new’ church and found out it was a tithing parish. I’m a widow, disabled son living at home, currently in bankruptcy and will be losing my house at the end of this year. 10% of my gross income is more than I have left to live on currently, and out of that I have to pay my son’s medication, groceries, utilities, etc. Even 1% would be a hardship, but I’m willing to take the leap of faith and try it.

I guess my question is, should I just stay at my old parish with its’ laissez faire approach to Mass, but at least it’s free? Or do you think the new parish will accept me as a charity case? I guess I should say that I DON’T live within the boundaries of the new church I want to join, so they would have to reason to have to allow me to join.

 

[YADA]

Everything we have is a blessing received from God - without Him, we have nothing nor can we ‘do’ anything …

What we give back - to Church and various charities in support of our God given vocation as a Christian to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked visit the sick, imprisoned, grieving and to spread the Gospel - the Good News of Jesus we do with and for our God …

From our Jewish Brethren and the roots of our faith comes the 10% [tithe] return to God … The Jewish people had Moses, the Law and the Prophets - and God requested a 10% return … in reality as Jesus illustrated in the story of the Widows mite … the two Rich Men gave 10% - it was easy for them, Their tithe came from their excess but failed to be a real return to God … the Widow gave two mites - the impression is that it was probably less then10% - for sure it was a paltry sum compared to the Rich Men’s - However, it came from her need not her excess, it came at a true cost and from her love for God. Jesus credited her with giving more then the others …

As Christians - we have all that our Jewish forebears had Moses, the Law and the Prophets PLUS we have Jesus - King of Kings and Good Shepherd, the Church, the Sacraments - especially the Eucharist - the very Body and Blood of our Lord. We have Salvation - Eternal Life … and since we are charged with giving according to our means and that - rather then a set 10% - we give cheerfully what seems proper … and thus - if its not 10% anymore - they move the bar lower … and resist the idea of a “Tithe” … become anxious - agitated even - when the word has come to be associated to with giving back to God. You see that in many of the posts here.

My recommendation is to spend time in prayer … this is after-all - first and foremost - an exercise in counting your blessings … and then Thanking God for all that He has entrusted to you and finding ways to give back …

You cannot do that in this day and age without quantifying that someway … we do that with money … like it or not - a fact of life …

How important is the Sunday Eucharist to you ad your family? How would you feel if your parish folded because of financial need? Where would you receive the Sacraments? Like you the parish has needs - building maintenance, utilities, insurance, staff salary, etc

What is your annual income [gross/net]? What is 5% and 10 % of that income?
We all have housing, utility and food expenses … are you living within your means?

Establish a level of giving [which is seems like you have] and then work towards balancing that level with what you faith life means to you …

For example - one year we spent time analyzing our faith and finances. We looked at ways to measure our faith life - devotional prayer, Mass - Eucharist and faith sharing … even volunteering … basically our actions … and was our relationship with God Good? Desire to see improvement? … In other words - where was God working in our daily life?

Then we looked at all of our spending … where did we see God’s action in our life reflected in where and how we spent the fruits of our labors? Then we worked to make that a reality …

Last - I will add this - if at the end of the year you have sent more money on pizza then you have placed in the collection plate at Mass - there may be some rebalancing needed …

Ditto if Starbucks get more financial support then your parish

And in reality - 10% is a good start … as followers of Christ - fed on His Body and Blood - one might think - our overall Charitable Giving [Parish plus other real world needs] would be higher then our forebears