Tithing While Catholic

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SanRafael1102

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This question will probably be one of the shortest question posts I ask. I was reading about the LDS religion emphasizing ‘tithing.’ I really didn’t think much about it, because I hear things about other religions all of the time. Later on, I was listening to a Dave Ramsey (it was the same AM channel that I listen to baseball games on), and I noticed that he mentioned tithing as a popular practice among Evangelical Christians.

Now, I have a Baptist grandmother, and I’ve attended her services, so I’m particularly aware that Protestants also have a collection during Sunday services, so one argument who I hear as to why Catholics don’t tithe (that we give our ‘tithe’ at Mass on Sundays) is nullified.

I’m not here to state that Catholics are deficient in their giving or in their overall generosity. My question is merely: is it conceivable that a Catholic should tithe? Should it be a strongly suggested practice (I don’t believe that the Church would ever try mandating it)? I’m just curious as to your thoughts?

~Pax
 
@Rebeccaj had a wonderful post in another thread
Although the Church teaches that offering some form of material support to the Church is obligatory for all Catholic adults who are able to do so, it doesn’t specify what percent of one’s income should be given. Remember, tithing was an Old Testament obligation that was incumbent on the Jews under the Law of Moses. Christians are dispensed from the obligation of tithing ten percent of their incomes, but not from the obligation to help the Church.

The key to understanding how God wants us to give to the Church is found in 1 Corinthians 16:2, “On the first day of the week [Sunday] each of you should set aside whatever he can afford,” and in 2 Corinthians 9:5-8,

So I thought it necessary to encourage the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for your promised gift [donation], so that in this way it might be ready as a bountiful gift and not as an exaction. Consider this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.

To paraphrase: God doesn’t demand a fixed amount of money from us; he wants us to give from the heart. If people are forced by their church to give a certain percent of their income, that’s extortion. If they give freely and cheerfully the amount they are able, that’s a gift.

What Is the Church's Position on Tithing? | Catholic Answers
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Catholics give as much as they can to the church. There is no set % or amount.
We give for the special collections, the normal collections, or / and through bank account direct deposits.

Some give way more then 10% of earnings, some very poor and give merger amounts , but give a lot of their time as volunteers, or through prayer.

You might not see people giving in Mass because they give through direct deposit.
 
My Diocese prefers direct deposit, so much easier for them to budget and handle finances. It’s still fun to give kids some cash to drop in the basket.
 
Roseeurekacross said:
My Diocese prefers direct deposit, so much easier for them to budget and handle finances. It’s still fun to give kids some cash to drop in the basket.
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I haven’t quite figured that one out yet as my children are still young. They appear to understand but somehow develop an unholy attachment to the money in the 30 seconds between receiving it and needing to put it in the basket.
 
I was unemployed for a while and so volunteered my time and said extra prayers instead of giving money
 
The Catholic Church, in its annual sermon on giving talks about giving of time, talent, and treasure. For example, this Sunday was the day when the postcards were in the pews so that each person could check off where they thought they might like to volunteer. One member of the parish talked about visiting the sick, and the need for more people to do so.
Most Catholics are familiar with the Gospel of the widow’s mite. She gave from her need, therefore giving more than those who gave from their surplus. We know the stories of St. Francis and others who gave all, unlike the rich man, in order to follow Christ.
I did learn from my youngest brother, while he was alive, about belonging to a tithing parish. Each member was encouraged to give 5% to the Church and another 5% to a charity of choice or God’s people. The parish in turn tithe in the same way, avoiding the second collections. 5% went to the diocese and 5% to what would be second collections throughout the year. It is the system I have adopted for my own giving.
While St. Paul says, in the N.T. that the tithe is still in effect, he also states not to impoverish yourself.
I find interesting that Rockerfeller’s 4 steps to wealth begins with giving away the first 10% earned. Like Ramsey and others, he begins with the 10% tithe, followed by 10% personal savings.
At the same time that my brother told me about splitting the tithe, my pastor at the time suggested contributing an hour’s wage. An hour’s wage is approximately 5%, which leaves 5% for charities of choices, like hurricane relief, or Covenant House, etc.
And yes, there is still Time and talent to give, both to Church ministries, and to community outreach programs.
I didn’t hear my parents talk much about tithing while growing up. I saw my family fully active in Church life. My brothers were altar servers. My father served as usher. My parents had green thumbs and provided flowers for the altar. My father did carpentry work. Outside the Church, my parents worked with orphans, playing Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Christmas. They were in charge of Christmas presents for American Legion for the Senior Center.
Our giving is not so much a matter of numbers as the heart. We are called to give of our time, talent, and treasure.
 
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I believe Tithing is mentioned in the documents of the Council of Trent. Catholics should be doing it. If done while in a state of grace I believe one will get it all back and then some one way or another.
 
I too give electronically. I have three parishes (hometown, legal address, and temporary address) on my monthly bill reminders. I could probably step up the amount I give to them and I probably will, but it’s not a small sum.

I also donate electronically on a one-time basis to churches I just happen to visit for a Mass. I would say I have given to probably 15 or 20 different churches electronically in the past year.

I rarely carry cash unless it’s for a flea market or the lottery - those are about the only two places that don’t take cc these days.

If somebody wants to look at me funny for not using an envelope or throwing cash money in the basket, they can feel free…reality is you have no idea how much somebody is giving.
 
DignumEtJustum said:
I believe Tithing is mentioned in the documents of the Council of Trent. Catholics should be doing it. If done while in a state of grace I believe one will get it all back and then some one way or another.
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Tithing or supporting the Church? As you know tithing comes from tithe which means 10% and I don’t think the Catholic Church has required 10%.
 
Comparatively speaking, Catholic probably are rather deficient in their giving. Tithing is a good idea. It need not be 10%, but it ought to be some fixed percentage of income. Some dioceses and parishes are able to offer tuition free school if parishioners tithe a fixed percent of income.
 
JimG said:
Comparatively speaking, Catholic probably are rather deficient in their giving.
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I agree.
JimG said:
Tithing is a good idea. It need not be 10%, but it ought to be some fixed percentage of income.
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I disagree. The widow’s mite is a nice story but hardly gives those with disposable income to give more when they could.
JimG said:
Some dioceses and parishes are able to offer tuition free school if parishioners tithe a fixed percent of income.
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Tithe means 10 (%) so how much should each family give? Does the family who can afford to pay full tuition get it free along with the family who struggles to maintain a literal 10% tithe. 🤨
 
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Catholics are called to stewardship. I encourage you to read what the Church says about stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
 
We just had the “State of the Parish” report this past Sunday.
They presented it as divided up by:
3% to the parish,
1% to the Archbishop’s annual appeal fund,
6% to various other charitable giving of our choice. (SVdP, CRS, Literacy, Food Pantry, etc)
145 families average $38 per week.
475 families give $5 per week.
A small core group of 24 families give an average of $103 per week
Those donations which are CASH and which is not trackable came to $121,270 last year
Interestingly the Hispanic parishioners gave $77,000 last year.
At my previous parish, they were lucky to get $200 per Spanish Mass.
But we have a Spanish Speaking pastor and the parishioner LOVE him.
We have 1600 families. No mortgage on the Church. But lots of capital improvements that need to be made:
carpet in the church is over 30 years old
need gutters
Stained glass windows need to be re-caulked
Parking lots need to be resurfaced. That alone is a $100,000 ticket.

After meeting our bill last year we had $53,000 left over. Not enough to do what we need to do this year.
SO they asked everyone to AT LEAST give $5.00 or ADD $5.00 to their amount.
I do online giving. So much easier. The receipt at tax time is always correct and on time. 👌
 
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Bruised_Reed said:
I disagree. The widow’s mite is a nice story but hardly gives those with disposable income to give more when they could.
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The widow gave more than a tithe. She gave everything she had! A tithe of any fixed percent of income increases or decreases depending on one’s income.
 
Bruised_Reed said:
Tithe means 10 (%) so how much should each family give? Does the family who can afford to pay full tuition get it free along with the family who struggles to maintain a literal 10% tithe. 🤨
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I don’t have children in school so I can’t say for sure. But I think that around here the standard is 8% of income. If a family is giving that, their kids, no matter the number, attend Catholic school without tuition.

But the principle of tithing means that those with more income will pay more because their income is more and the tithe is a fixed percentage.
 
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Xanthippe_Voorhees said:
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Roseeurekacross:
You might not see people giving in Mass because they give through direct deposit.
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I HATE the judgmental looks I get at Mass. I give electronically. I don’t carry cash and cheques are annoying.
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Really, people do that? 😳 We all pass our envelopes down and make the person at the end put them in. I don’t really watch who puts anything in or not. Sometimes spouses go separately, maybe the other one gave already.

My only concern is my own envelope.
 
JimG said:
But the principle of tithing means that those with more income will pay more because their income is more and the tithe is a fixed percentage.
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That is true but the person who can afford new cars, frequent vacations can still have those if they pay 10 %; other people can’t. Everyone is supposed to give till it hurts, right? Or just poor people?
 
Well, I’ve never actually heard a stewardship or tithing talk which admonished us to give till it hurts. But giving a percent of income means that the degree of hurt is proportional to the income. Eight percent of a million dollar annual income might seem hard to the person giving, but he’ll still have plenty of income left. Eight percent of a $20,000 income is still going to be painful even though the dollar amount is less. Of course, if a person is literally living hand to mouth on practically zero income, I doubt that a tithe would even be expected.

The poor will always be with you, as will the rich. Tithing is not an income redistribution plan.
 
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