To what degree must we give?

[ChangingHeart]

I realize that there is much need in the world, and that I have much to be grateful for. That being said, to what extent, however are we OBLIGATED (under penalty of otherwise committing a MORTAL sin) to give to the needy?

What I find with most charities is that when you give to them once, they constantly harass you over and over again to give more, sometimes even selling your name out to similar charities. I realize that at no point are we to stop being charitable, but what is our obligation in terms of responding to all these follow-up requests?

I hate to say this, but the future harassment by charity organizations to give more sometimes makes me hesitant in wanting to give. Sometimes, I even think that the amount of money certain groups spend trying to get me to give more money exceeds the amount that I had intially given them, thus making my charitable gift actually counterproductive to that charity organization.

At the same time, I don’t want to neglect PEOPLE who are in need, just because I’m annoyed with a charity organization. (And yes, when I receive multiple requests in the same month, every month, I DO consider that harassment.) How do we get around such things?

 

[puzzleannie]

we are not obligated to give a certain dollar amount or a certain percentage of resources on pain of mortal sin. we are required to aspire to a spirituality based on the beatitudes, and poverty of spirit, through which we appreciate all we have, including material things, money, talent, job etc. as gifts from God, undeserved, aquired through no merit or action of our own. This spirituality engenders an attitude which influences us to give, to respond to the needs of others, not only monetarily but in action as well. we are also obligated to cultivate prudence, one of the cardinal virtues, and to apply it to giving as to all other activities and decisions.

 

[LilyM]

We give, simply, to the extent that we can reasonably afford to do so. There’s certainly no mortal sin attached to not giving unless it’s a really glaring case - where you’re loaded and someone is literally starving to death on your doorstep, for example.

Of course we have obligations to support ourselves and our families as far as possible, and avoid unreasonable debt as far as possible. These are tasks God has given us and we must fulfil these, unless we’re religious vowed to poverty or something.

Beyond that it’s up to you to make your own assessment of how much you can reasonably afford to give. And you don’t have to give money all the time either - if you spend a lot of time working with the poor or what have you, that’s giving too.

As for charities - tell them the truth, ‘I’m sorry, I can only budget so much money per month/quarter/whatever for charity and I’ve already given as much as I can’.