Barring a Miracle, this Will Continue

From a story by K. Connie King in the L.A. Kang on why Catholics don't tithe. ... The avoidance of tithing reflects the sense of ownership parishioners feel toward their churches — or more precisely, the lack of it.

While this is not the whole story, it is so true.

thanks Terry Mattingly

Comments

[Herb Ely]

David,
Thanks. The church has given us a lot. Scroll down the book list at the right for some examples. With it comes an institution that has many shortcomings. As John XXXIII said, it is an "ecclesia semper reformanda" - a church always to be reformed. My own solution is to donate time, talent and treasure directly to charities and avoid, insofar as possible, channeling funds through the national conference of Bishops.

Not ideal, but after a lifetime of involvement I deem it poor stewardship in areas in which I will have little impact.

[David Ely]

From CNN last week: "Sexual abuse by Catholic priests has cost the U.S. church more than $1 billion since 1950."

The Church isn't any longer the main source of charity. Why give to the Church and have it spend its money on covering its legal fees when I can give directly to a charity?

I'm speaking rhetorically of course. There are lots of reasons to give to the Church, and I'm sure that even if you count donations to other charities as tithes people still wouldn't be giving at the rate they should, but I think that the Church's scandal has done a lot to tighten people's wallets.