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amyable
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| Posted: Feb 22 2014 at 8:30am | IP Logged
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I have a feeling this is the wrong forum, but I didn't think it was an educational issue, more like a family issue, so didn't know where to put it! 
So with that run-on sentence introduction  I have a few questions about tithing and related donations to charity.
We understand the Catholic church doesn't require tithing as a regimented 10% thing. That we should give what we can or what our heart leads us to. But we have not given 10% and CAN, and so dh is looking into what this means from a Catholic perspective.
He's wondering if the Church wants all the money you give to be to your parish, or can you choose charities outside of that. I think I know the answer, but he'd like a more official answer than that.  For example, if we don't like how they spend the money, can we give, say 3% of our income to the church, and 7% to charity of our choice and still have the Roman Catholic Church be OK with that? (My dh is a big rule follower ).
Also, he was told as a child that Catholic school tuition can count towards a tithe? I had never heard of that, and if it's true we were WAY over 10% this year.
I guess that's all I can think of. Does anyone know of a good website or have any feedback on church giving for us? THANK YOU!
(and I've missed you all) 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Feb 22 2014 at 9:36am | IP Logged
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amyable wrote:
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I've missed you, Amy! And, I'm so glad you popped in!
We divide up our tithing between charities and diocesan contributions - not necessarily equally. But, I can't give official websites/direction which is what I think you're looking for in brainstorming this with dh...so I'll just say that we certainly do divide up our contributions.
I haven't heard that about Catholic schools tuition as figuring in to part of your contribution though. I don't know about that one?  I wonder if that idea got mixed up in the idea that part of your regular diocesan/church contribution is usually taken by the church (divided up among a number of different "pots") and then part of it is used as subsidies to assist families that enroll in Catholic schools??
Anyway, I'm sure someone has some good answers and resources for you! Just really wanted to wave >>hi<<! 
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Jen Mackintosh
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Feb 22 2014 at 10:41am | IP Logged
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We do like Jen, but I have no official statement either.
I always assumed that tuition was less if you were a member of the parish because they assume you are also giving money in the offering to the extent that you can. But that is pure assumption. No one ever told me that in any official way.
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SallyT
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| Posted: Feb 22 2014 at 10:44am | IP Logged
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We divide ours, too. And I count things I buy for my CCD classroom as part of my parish contribution -- I buy, for example, little blank books for all my children for copywork and narration, and I don't submit receipts for reimbursement. It's not a huge amount of money, but I figure that if I don't ask for it back, that's a little a little bit of funding that can go to something else in the Faith Formation program. We've also given for specific parish needs, like the fund for our new organ.
And yes, I agree with Jen -- it's great to see you!
Sally
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: Feb 22 2014 at 11:48am | IP Logged
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I agree with everyone else--nothing official, but priests I have heard speak in the past have suggested 10%, divided between charities and your parish if desired.
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jawgee
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| Posted: Feb 22 2014 at 1:05pm | IP Logged
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I've heard 5% to your parish and 5% to other charities, but I haven't seen that written anywhere.
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amyable
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| Posted: Feb 22 2014 at 3:23pm | IP Logged
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Dh thought of another question - when you are talking charities, what "counts" there also? I'm big on taking care of the poor, but he also likes to contribute to places like the National Alopecia Areata Foundation in honor of our daughter. It's not even a life threatening disease, but the money does go towards research to improve the lives of those with the condition, and to buy wigs for them if they can't afford it, etc.
I hate to be so nitpicky, but my dh is an engineer. I think some of you understand. (Actually, he isn't even in engineering anymore, he works in IT. I don't know if that makes it better or worse! )
Thank you for your feedback so far and for the welcome-backs...we are pulling 3 of our kids back out of school next year so I hope to be around more often. 
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Amy
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The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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MarilynW
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| Posted: Feb 22 2014 at 3:53pm | IP Logged
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Hi Amy,
Here is what Phil Lenahan has to say on the subject Tithing and Catholic School Tuition
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Feb 22 2014 at 7:40pm | IP Logged
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Amy, I get the engineer thing. I'm the daughter and granddaughter of engineers. I own two slide rules.
We do contribute to charities that aren't necessarily Catholic but that do work we feel is important. Certainly you should support the NAAF, if you wish to. Children who can't afford wigs but really need them rely on NAAF for that support, which is so critical for their self-esteem - you know this from personal experience! Children hold a special place in Our Lord's heart, after all...
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Feb 26 2014 at 12:04pm | IP Logged
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~~~~ waving to you Amy!
We divide between parish and charity. Our parish gets more and it is taken from our bank account via auto withdrawal. We give a flat percentage and we don't give to every other appeal.
As for the school tuition, and I haven't read the article, but I think it is more akin to the difference between giving a kid $10 bucks for his soccer team and buying a $10 bag of popcorn for the soccer team. The IRS requires you to take away the actual value of the popcorn, $5 but you might be able to claim the balance as the donation. So if my family was gaining an education then there is a cost to that which I would not count towards tithing.
Love,
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Angie Mc
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: Tithing?
