Tithing - What is considered a "family"?

[MaryD7]

Oh, I agree 1,000%!!! I know that a few years back my husband was unemployed and we had nothing and I was pregnant with our fourth child. All of a sudden money came out of the woodwork from people and sources (forgotten claims, etc.) that we never would have dreamed of. We’ve gotten back so much more in return over the years than we ever could give. It is a very humbling experience. God really watches over us.

And I don’t have an issue with tithing either. I was just making a point with Yerusalyim that yearly income figures can be deceiving at face value and people shouldn’t be judged as to what they can give by those same numbers.

Actually, our parish does well enough even though this isn’t the wealthiest neighborhood in Queens. People are making the effort, which is what is important.

 

[richwmiller]

A household. You are a family of one.

You should be giving what you can give, not any specific amount nor compared to any other person or family. The Church does NOT teach “tithing” is a requirement. The Church teaches that we are to support our church and practice good stewardship of our time, talent, and treasure. The Church leaves the amount up to the individual through prayer.

That is a shame. He should not have asked for a specific amount per family and certainly not the same amount for all. He should have asked for what each family could contribute-- some families might have been able to afford way more, and others are likely not in a position to give that much at all.

Could you have afforded to give more? That’s the real question.

Likely, you were being counted as a “family” and were being asked for the full $4,000. But, if $2,000 is what you can do then that is what you should do.

Certainly, there are people who are not giving what they could, or should, or anything at all.

a family of four could mean a single mother with three children and one income
a family of four could mean a couple with 2 minor children and two incomes.
a family of four could mean a couple and two working children with 4 incomes
Certainly the one income with three minors should not be expected to contribute the same as a household with four incomes.
Anyways “tithing” is Old Testament like “not eating pork.”

 

[paramedicgirl]

MaryD,

One must have faith in God to provide. In my experience, when we give less generously [as in focused upon what we make and how far we have o stretch it and therefor give from abundance] we struggled financially. Many worries and not much left…

When we made a decision to focus on God’s gifts and giving back in relation to those gifts…God has responded and provided.

My husband says he is amazed at what we donate in annual dollars [we set a general priority and day to day finances bill paying, etc is my responsibility] when we do our taxes each year. We are not rich; no six figure salaries here! We live well, thanks to God. We do not miss the money given in thanksgiving. We can always “want” for many things bit we have more then we “need”…in our experience God is generous

The best thing anyone can do is to put your finances in God’s hands, and trust that He will provide for you. It is amazing the way God repays your generosity if you just trust in Him. I have done this, and find that giving ten percent to the Church and Catholic charities combined has not been a struggle.

 

[YADA]

That is totally our experience…we set 10% as a goal long ago [when I was a Protestant the question was always “Gross or Net” the response “When you face God at the judgement…do you desire Gross rewards or Net?” - Ha Ha]

 

[YADA]

That is totally our experience…we set 10% as a goal long ago [when I was a Protestant the question was always “Gross or Net” the response “When you face God at the judgement…do you desire Gross rewards or Net?” - Ha Ha]

We have been hitting any where between 12% and 20%.

Also, I feel [admittedly my feelings - opinion - could be wrong] that people denegrate parish support. That somehow it seems less worthy than their other charitable donations. However, our parish provides approximately 18% support for our parish school out of the parish collections and annually about 14% of all moneys collected are used to support other charitable organizations who seek our finacial support. Our St. Vincent de Paul conference supports the conferences of other parishes who cannot support the needs of those who seek them.

And we [as a praish] are the employers of the parish staff. We have an obligation to provide fair wages, benefits and adequate facilities and supplies with which they work. We need supplies for the Religious Education [Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Cathechesis for children and youth, RCIA, Continuing Adult Education] endeavors, Church environment and supplies [flowers, candles, wine, hosts] Vestments for the clergy. This is in addition to other needs like the utilities - gas, electricity, water, sewer, phones, and supplies toilet paper, paper towels, soap, paper plates, napkins, etc. The parish is our home, the facilty that houses our faith family. It is where we gather for a family meal - the Eucharist - so that we can go our into the world - bringing Jesus!!

 

[Teflon93]

Pray, and give to your Church in the media and amount that your heart and your means and your reason allow you to give.

The Catholic Church is not like those communities which claim the Law is dead only to try to impose aspects of it such as the tithe when it suits them.

After all, the point is to give with an open heart, right? Nothing good comes of beancounting charity.

We Catholics, being a truly global church, are also well aware that a great many of our number cannot easily give material things which are lacking in our own homes. There are several families in our parish with 10 children or more, for example—we do not ask nor require that they pull food from the mouths of their children to give to the poor, although many make significant sacrifices and sometimes do just that.

As with Abel’s offering, it is not the gift, but the spirit of giving which pleases the Lord.