Q. Are priests asked to financially support the Church like all other Catholics?
A. A very good question, thank you for asking it. The answer is yes. Supporting the works of the Church is the fifth precept of the Church: “You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.” This means that we are obligated to help with the material needs of the Church each according to his own ability.
The reason why we are asked to financially support the works of the Church is that the Church like any other organization needs money to operate. Assisting in the works of the Church allows the Church that Jesus established to deliver many charitable, educational, pastoral and mandatory works that she undertakes.
For example, the Catholic Church has the largest private healthcare system and the largest religious nongovernmental school system in the United States and in the world. The Catholic Church operates 1,106 of the 7,903 hospitals of all types in United States. Catholic hospitals provide tens of thousands of beds for acute and general care.
Also, (in stats from 2016) the Catholic Church educated 62.2 million students globally in 95,200 primary Catholic schools and 43,800 secondary schools. Of these 5,983 schools were primary and secondary schools within the United States. These, plus an absolute myriad of other ministries that fulfill the corporal and spiritual works of the Church are a part of the outreach of the Catholic Church in the United States and worldwide.
Canon 222 of the Code of Canon Law specifically speaks about the invitation to financially support the works of the church. It states: The Christian faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for the works of the apostolate and of charity, and for the decent support of ministers.
The biblical concept of tithing is that one should return the first 10% of one’s regular income to the Lord and not what is left over. Genesis 14:18-20, Proverbs 11:24, Proverbs 11:25, Proverbs 22:7, Psalm 112:5, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 2 Corinthians 9:10-15, Acts 2:44-45, 4:32- 6 Matthew 6:25-24, Matthew 6:21 Luke 8:2-3, Luke 19:1 - 9. That is, if one makes $1,000 a month, the first $100 should go back to the Lord. If one makes $5,000 a month, the first $500 should be given to the Lord. Some advocate that 10% of one’s income should be divided—5% to the Church and 5% to other charities. However one decides how to return to the Lord, at first, 10% can be a real challenge.
As for priests giving to the Church, if they don’t do so, they should. Some priests might argue, ‘we do not make much so our life sacrifices as a priest should be our return to the Lord.’ However, priests do not have many of the financial obligations that parish families have. Priests are provided a house to live in, food and utilities and healthcare are paid for them. In addition, priests get a manageable monthly salary plus Mass stipends. They also have retirement planning available to them. It is my estimation that we cannot ask our parishioners to financially support the Church if we priests do not. Priests are members of the Church as are the laity. Therefore, yes, they should financially support the Church. Thanks for your question.
This question was answered by Father Kenneth Borowiak, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
