Tithe questions

[embwt]

In coming back to the Church, I have had a long journey giving up what *I thought *was right for what *God says *is right. I thought I had abandoned all my old ways in favor of Church teaching. After reading one of the posts today, I realized I do not fully tithe and I should. This raises several questions - anyone have answers? (I know you all won’t let me down!)

How do you figure what a 10% tithe is? Is it pre-tax? Take-home? 10% of your monthly budget? I once saw on EWTN an author talking about how tuition to a Catholic school can count towards your tithe because it is money going to build up God’s kingdom.

From anyone who has gone from not titheing to titheing - how do you get there? What did you cut out of your budget when you were not titheing so that you could tithe?

What if your conscience will not allow you to tithe to your home parish? Can your tithe go to apostolates? Other parishes? The diocese?

 

[Belle10]

After reading one of the posts today, I realized I do not fully tithe and I should.

Catholics are not required to tithe a certain amount, though we are encouraged to if our means allow. We are responsible for providing for the material needs of the church and others, but again, if you can’t afford to, God knows that and the Church does not require it in such circumstances.

I know it says this somewhere in the Catechism but I’m having trouble finding it. Hopefully someone can help…

 

[Em_in_FL]

Our parish is going through a huge “stewardship” development right now and just sent out a packet of information…

Their suggested tithe (of gross income) was 5% to the parish, 1% to the diocese, and 4% to other charities…
We have also read about the cost of catholic school contributing, but it wasn’t stated in the stewardship packet we received…

It’s something we’re currently praying on now as well…

 

[embwt]

Their suggested tithe (of gross income) was 5% to the parish, 1% to the diocese, and 4% to other charities…

What does gross income mean? (I know what it means, but . . .) Is that my before tax income? Or is that what Uncle Sam says is my gross?

Also, what about forgoing a larger salary in order to be there for my family? Does the amount given up count for something? If I were to give up my weekends with my family to take a second job solely to contribute more of a tithe, would that really be what God wants?

I have truly been confused on this topic for a while.

Once I figure out what 10% is, would it be ok to give 5% to the diocese and 5% to other charities?

We have also read about the cost of catholic school contributing

Do you know where you read that?

 

[embwt]

Catholics are not required to tithe a certain amount, though we are encouraged to if our means allow. We are responsible for providing for the material needs of the church and others, but again, if you can’t afford to, God knows that and the Church does not require it in such circumstances.

I know it says this somewhere in the Catechism but I’m having trouble finding it. Hopefully someone can help…

Just found it . . . it’s from the fifth precept under CCC 2043. However, there is still not a definitive amount. How do I know that what I am doing is correct?

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.86

The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his own abilities.87

86 Cf. CIC, can. 222; CCEO can. 25; Furthermore, episcopal conferences can establish other ecclesiastical precepts for their own territories (Cf. CIC, can. 455).
87 Cf. CIC, can. 222.

 

[Em_in_FL]

Honestly, I don’t know for sure…
I think a lot of these things are vague because it really isn’t a “rule”. The most important thing (like Belle mentioned) is to give responsibly. I don’t think taking on a second job just to fulfill a number is necessarily responsible… but that’s something for you to decide.

Unfortunately I don’t have the source of where I read/heard that about the catholic school cost… sorry…

Tithing is hard… which is why we’re praying on it… really not sure it’s something we can do…

 

[JustAnotherThou]

Also remember that your Time and Talent are very valuable to the Church. When I was unable to afford to tithe money, I gave my time and talent (cleaning the church is a talent )

 

[embwt]

Also remember that your Time and Talent are very valuable to the Church. When I was unable to afford to tithe money, I gave my time and talent (cleaning the church is a talent )

OK, then I need to stop giving so much money to the Church!

Honestly, though, thanks. I didn’t realize that counted toward one’s tithe.

 

[jwashu]

Also remember that your Time and Talent are very valuable to the Church. When I was unable to afford to tithe money, I gave my time and talent (cleaning the church is a talent )

Exactly! Give what you can money wise and time wise, that is what the CCC is stating. If you can do both great!

The 10% comes from the OT and Christ never says it’s a necessity in the NT. The use of the 10% tithe is pretty much a protestant thing.

Joe

 

[roanoker]

The traditional tithe is 10% of gross income-before taxes. Its emphasized again and again in the OT, especially in the Book of Malachi. It doesn’t refer to time and talent-it specifies the fruits of your labor. Time and talent given should be considered a gift. Tithing is an obligation, in my opinion. To get there, what we did was first decide to do it, and then gradually ramp up our giving. Its not as painful as you might imagine, and once you’re there, it becomes automatic, and you hardly miss it. I know its not church law, but I sincerely believe God expects it. Remember, you keep 90%! That’s quite a lot.

 

[yessisan]

Ask your parish. My parish is a “fair share” parish, which means, they ask for $35 weekly per family if at all possible. If not, they ask for 1 hr’s worth of your wages a wk (also if at all possible). If neither is possible, they say whatever you can give.

They will be able to help you more than us.

 

[embwt]

The traditional tithe is 10% of gross income-before taxes. Its emphasized again and again in the OT, especially in the Book of Malachi. It doesn’t refer to time and talent-it specifies the fruits of your labor. Time and talent given should be considered a gift. Tithing is an obligation, in my opinion. To get there, what we did was first decide to do it, and then gradually ramp up our giving. Its not as painful as you might imagine, and once you’re there, it becomes automatic, and you hardly miss it. I know its not church law, but I sincerely believe God expects it. Remember, you keep 90%! That’s quite a lot.

Can the 10% be given outside of the parish? I belong to a rather unfaithful parish and I cannot in good conscience give there. I think that’s part of my concern with titheing.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

OP- Roanoker is Protestant according to the profile. So, what he (or she) gives is given to a Protestant church in a Protestant setting from a Protestant mindset. Not that tithing is a bad thing. It’s a good thing. But it is not mandatory.

In my opinion, to say that God “expects” 10% when canon law, the CCC, and the Precepts of the Church say otherwise makes God sound as if He is a waiter or other service person. Even one of my favorite Protestants, Dave Ramsey, encourages people to work into 10%, and tells everybody who listens to his show that God is simply crazy in love with the people He’s made, and that a tithe is not a matter of damnation.

The New Testament has everybody holding everything in common if they chose to do so. Remember good old Annias and Saphira and what happened to them? And Peter told them their money was theirs to do as they wished up to the point that they lied to the Church. So, if somebody is going to jump on the biblical bandwagon and go sola…

The Church does not mandate 10% for two very good reasons. 1.) Everybody is in a different set of circumstances. 2.) Everything we have comes from God.

In my diocese, stewardship is taught at 10% net, with 5% going to the parish “as best as a family can afford.” In Em’s diocese, it’s 10% gross. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, they don’t even go there except in individual parishes.

Gross is the money you make before Uncle Sam, the state, your 401(k), health insurance and United Way get to it. Net is your take home pay, or these days, your take home direct deposit.

In the long run, you and your family have to decide what’s best for you. It should be a prayerful decision, based out of love of God and love of the Church, not fear God is going to send you to Hell, and not to show off (Yes, there are people who think God likes a cheerful show off). Don’t think for one minute that God does not know what you make because you don’t show him the pay stubs. And don’t think God doesn’t know when your car breaks, or things are tight.

We give 5% net to our parish, and 1% net to our diocese. The other 4% net goes to stuff like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, United Way (with Catholic charities chosen), Catholic Answers, FOCUS, a parish in Chicago’s Loop that assists business people as well as the homeless (CONFESSIONS 11 HOURS A DAY!), our parish school, Missionary Oblates, and the orders of the sisters who taught us in elementary school. You can set up yours any darn way you please.

Here are some links to this topic that might help you:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=62454&highlight=tithing

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=218384&highlight=tithe

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=31554

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=57831

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=13994

http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=256112&highlight=tithing