Topic:  Is tithing important?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: October 5, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Joe Vetter

Question:   I have been searching on the internet for the catholic teaching on tithing, but there seems to be very few (which I cannot find) and the ones that I DO find only say that it is not required in the Catholic church. Why not? Isn't tithing an excellent way of obeying the First Commandment? And if we do tithe, what is the correct way of doing it? I often see Protestants quote verses on tithing, especially Malachi 13, but one verse I rarely see is the one from Deuteronomy 14, which says we should eat our tithe the first two times and give the entirety of it to the Church on the third time. Am I understanding it correctly? And why aren't we Catholics taught much about tithing, when it seems to be a beautiful practice, and it is one of the first things taught (subtly) in protestant religions?

Answer: 

Hi, Blessie: You are correct that tithing is an important spiritual practice that is recommended in the Bible. And you are correct that tithing has not been promoted widely in most Catholic churches.
A Catholic term that relates to tithing and is coming into wider use and acceptance is "stewardship". Stewardship has to do with acknowledging and appreciating God's great generosity and responding with gratitude by using our time, talent and treasure to glorify God and serve God's people. I recommend you visit the International Catholic Stewardship Council's website: www.catholicstewardship.org