On Mondays, I answer questions frequently asked by those considering a return to the Catholic Church. How do I know this stuff? I was away for more than 30 years myself, and am the co-author of When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics, a book for pastors and parish leaders interested in this ministry.
Do I have to tithe?
We are called to “provide for the needs of the Church” according to our abilities, according to the Catechism. There is, however, no requirement that Catholics contribute a specific percentage of their income to the Church; it depends on ability. For example, a single
woman living in a small town probably has more disposable income to share with the Church and other charities than a widow with five small children in one of the nation’s largest cities, even if the amount they are paid is exactly the same.
You’ll hear much language in our Church and others about contributions of time, talent, and treasure. Talk with God about the right balance for you. At one stage of your life, you may find your financial contribution needs to be small, while your offering of time or of talent (such as an aptitude for singing in the choir, teaching CCD, or proclaiming the Word) can be very large. In another season of your life, the financial part may be the largest. God doesn’t call us to give to the point of extreme discomfort. He calls us to support the Church in her efforts to spread the Good News.
