tithing

[Ruthie]

Let us remember that the tithing in the OT was based on a shepherding economy.

If you had 10 beasts, you gave one to God.

If you had 9 beasts, you gave nothing. This is a protection for the poor.

There is no requirement to tithe. That is old law that was wiped out by the New Covenant. OTOH, we are free to tithe if we choose to. Since it is in the OT, we can take it as a suggestion.

Here is what is required (emphasis mine):

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

(CCC 2043)

The footnote says:

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

DH and I *choose *to tithe. We have no children, and nobody else dependent on us. We can afford it. He gives his to the church (in the collection basket), and I donate mine to various charities. (I do it through automatic payments by online banking, so I don’t forget. ADD!)

If DH wasn’t around, and I had to live on my measly disability pension, I probably couldn’t afford to tithe. But I’d still give what I could.

God bless us all,

Ruthie