I work for a large investment firm; yet, I hate talking about money. Actually, I need to clarify my statement. I hate asking people for money. I have no difficulty in talking about it. Money is good. It puts food on the table, clothes on the back, and a roof over the head. Money can be bad. Some people think they never have enough; some people can’t manage it well; and some people spend money they don’t have. It is often said that money is the source of all evil. I disagree. The improper view and use of money can be a source of evil and destruction.

In a democracy, taxation is necessary for a government to function and to meet it’s obligations. I understand that all citizens have an obligation to pay their fair share of taxes; but I am not a proponent of raising existing taxes or identifying additional taxes because some political party or government official wants more money to spend and use at their discretion. The American-Heritage Dictionary defines the noun tax as “A contribution for the support of a government required of persons, groups, or businesses within the domain of that government.” This same dictionary also offers a second definition of the noun tax: “An excessive demand; strain.” Taxation is necessary; but excessive taxation is wrong and harmful. Every time a tax is levied against people, some one in government will determine how that tax will be spent or used. It’s easy to spend someone else’s money. If you pay taxes, then stay involved with the person elected to spend your tax dollars. Before you spend $10,000 or $30,000 to buy a new car, you will probably research what you want and need, then identify your expectations, and finally grow comfortable with the car dealership and salesman. You should put the same effort into spending $10,000 or $30,000 a year on your federal, state, and local taxes. Get actively involved in the election process and monitor the decisions your elected officials make.

A government has the authority to force you to pay taxes; and a person has an obligation to pay his share of those taxes. Like a government, the Catholic Church needs money to operate. Unlike a government, the Catholic Church does not force anyone to contribute to the support the universal or local Church. The Church relies on the faithfulness of the members of the Body of Christ. The Code of Canon Law states in canon 1254, “To pursue its proper purposes, the Catholic Church by innate right is able to acquire, retain, administer, and alienate temporal goods independently from civil power.” Its goes on to say that “proper purposes” are principally “to order divine worship, to care for the decent support of the clergy and other ministers, and to exercise works of the sacred apostolate and of charity, especially toward the needy.” Canon 1262 states, “The faithful are to give support to the Church by responding to appeals and according to the norms issued by the conference of bishops.” We the faithful are called to contribute to the support of our local parish, diocese, and the universal Church. Christ’s Church on earth is dependent upon your willingness to support her with your time, talent, and treasure. Our love for Christ and our desire to serve the Church should open our pockets to her financial support.

Let’s read this insightful passage from the Gospel of Mark. “He [Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling His disciples to Himself, He said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.’”

Tithe is the term often used to identify money given to a church or religious organization. Specifically, a tithe is a tenth of one’s gross income given as an offering to God. When one gives a tithe, one is tithing. Many books of the Old Testament talk about tithing; but no New Testament book speaks, directly, about it. I am not telling you to give a full tithe (10% of your gross annual income) to the Church. I am asking you to digest and think about the following statements, and then to re-evaluate your annual contribution in support of the Church.

Jesus calls us to love His bride (the Church) just as much as He loves her. He sacrificed His life for her. In spite of the failings of the human beings that are charged with caring for and running her, she is God’s kingdom on earth: she is the path of our salvation. For two thousand years men and women have attempted to deceive her and to harm her. Today is no exception. A few of the clergy have embarrassed and disgraced her in the last half century through their sexual indiscretions. Yet, Jesus has not and will not turn His back on her. It would be easy for you and for me to contrive some lame excuse for not contributing financial support to the Church; then turn around and spend that money on some other want: a new car, boat, or house. If your father, mother, son, daughter, or friend committed a crime or did something you disagreed with, would you stop loving and supporting him or her? I doubt it. Don’t turn your back on the Church in these difficult times. Support her even more.

The Church’s number one priority is the salvation of souls. Don’t ever lose faith in her. Stay actively involve with her. Study her. Support her bishops, priests, deacons, and religious. Dig into your pockets and contribute money beyond your means just as the poor lady in Mark’s gospel did. Never forget: just as you have a right to understand how your taxes are being spent and used, you have a right to understand how your tithing is being spent and used. Stay involved with the Bride of Christ. She loves you and only cares about your eternal salvation.

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 2449. Also, pull out your “Catholic” Bible and reference Gen 14:20; 28:22; Lev 27:30-32; Num 18:21-32; Deut 14:22-29; Neh 10:37; 1 Macc 10:31; 11:35; Amos 4:4; Mal 3:8-12; Mt 23:23; Mk 12:41-44; Lk 11:42; 18:9-14; 21:1-4; Heb 7:1-10.