Every year before spring, Catholics across the Diocese of Little Rock watch, read or listen to Bishop Anthony B. Taylor’s annual CASA appeal. Over the years, one line in particular has probably grabbed your attention.
“Our diocesan guideline for your 10 percent tithe to the Lord before taxes is 5 percent to your parish, 4 percent to other charities or more to your parish and 1 percent to this CASA appeal.”
How does this look in practicality, and why are there so many layers to financial contributions as a Catholic?
Arkansas Catholic talked to several experts in the diocese to better understand Catholic giving — and how giving can bring us closer to Christ during Lent.
What is tithing?
The Code of Canon Law describes tithing — a contribution of money or other resources that support the Church — as a Christian duty.
“Christ’s faithful have the obligation to provide for the needs of the Church, so that the Church has available to it those things which are necessary for divine worship, for apostolic and charitable work and for the worthy support of its ministers” (Code of Canon Law, c. 222 §1).
Father Andrew Hart, JCL, theological advisor for the Diocese of Little Rock, said that while there is no definite amount for how much to tithe, the traditional rule of thumb is 10 percent of your gross income.
“In fact, the word tithe means ‘a tenth’ and comes from Leviticus 27:32, which states that every 10th animal of the flocks belonged to the Lord,” he said. “The catechism highlights tithing several places the importance of using our material blessings wisely and justly.”
Jeff Hines, director of the Office of Faith Formation, said the Church’s stance on tithing brings this Old Testament concept into modern times in a practical way.
“The catechism mentions tithing (CCC #2449), in reference to Old Testament practices from the book of Deuteronomy that Jesus carries forward to the new law of love written on our hearts,” he said. “The Church helps us fulfill the new law with opportunities to give regularly at Mass, the annual Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal and other special collections.”
Tithing primarily supports Church operations in Arkansas with a set percentage and guidelines to help Catholics. It is meant to be an ongoing, regular commitment.
“Our contributions give us ‘buy-in’ on what is being done in our name as members of the body of Christ,” Father Hart said.
What is almsgiving?
Many Catholics use almsgiving and tithing interchangeably, but this can create confusion, as there is a difference. “Alms” comes from the Greek word for mercy and are typically charitable donations, especially to the poor and marginalized. In many ways, almsgiving fits under the umbrella of tithing, while tithing is more holistic giving. Almsgiving can include financial donations, as well as donations of food and clothing, and even time spent with those in need. Unlike tithing, there are no percentage guidelines for almsgiving, which is especially emphasized during times of increased religious penance and goodwill, such as Lent and Advent — although it certainly isn’t exclusive to those liturgical seasons.
“Almsgiving is a contribution of money or other resources that helps the poor and the needy,” Father Hart said. “It is a work of mercy, and along with fasting and prayer, one of the three traditional forms of piety and penance. These are often associated with Lent, but really, they are appropriate all year round, although perhaps we focus on them in Lent a bit more because we’re getting back to basics. In Christian history, almsgiving is seen as a duty that we have to those less fortunate than us.”
Almsgiving also tends to be more spontaneous than routine tithing.
Both/and
Father Hart said tithing and almsgiving might be different, but both help live out the faith in different ways.
“Almsgiving and tithing are related in that both are contributions of our material blessings — money or other possessions — to others: almsgiving to the poor and tithing to the Church community — whether parish, diocese or universal Church,” he said. “Almsgiving and tithing help us to remember that material possessions are not the highest end of our lives, although perhaps at times we treat them as such.
“And by giving alms, we are reminded that everything we possess has been given to us by God and thus belongs to his purposes. Really, we are merely stewards of his gifts, and someday we will have to make an account to him for how we’ve used what he has given. Almsgiving and tithing give us a jumpstart on making recompense now for some of our selfishness.”
Giving as a spiritual exercise
So what is it about tithing and almsgiving that helps us grow closer to Christ, especially in the 40 days before Easter?
Hines said that every time we give to those who have less than us, we aspire to live more like Christ.
“When we encounter Christ in his word and in the Eucharist, we become more like him. We start to love like Jesus loves. When we give to the poor, we are doing two things: loving like Jesus loves and loving Jesus himself. He said, regarding feeding and clothing the poor, ‘What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me,’” Hines said.
“During Lent, we are looking for ways to clean up our life. Jesus cleanses us from the inside out. He said, ‘As to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you’ (Luke 11:41). He changes our hearts. Almsgiving in secret is a way to deepen our relationship with Jesus and let him transform us from the inside out.”
Father Hart said St. John Chrysostom shows why we should give to our neighbors first.
“(St. John Chrysostom said) ‘Not to share our own riches with the poor is a robbery of the poor, and a depriving them of their livelihood; and that which we possess is not only our own, but also theirs’ as a means of imitating the generous abundance of God who is generous in mercy with us.”
Father Hart reminded Catholics to think of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:8, who gave alms after encountering Christ. Hines pointed Catholics to “The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church” for more details.
“The Church is emphatic about the common good and the preferential option for the poor,” Hines said. “. … The Catholic Church teaches that we should operate under the ‘principle of the common good.’
“We exist with others and for others. The compendium also tells us that the Church teaches ‘the universal destination of goods and the preferential option for the poor.’ To imitate Christ and fulfill our social responsibilities, we will give to help meet the needs of the hungry, the homeless, the poor, the sick and those without hope.”
Different ways to give
Kelly Wewers, director of stewardship and development, said stewardship is “a tenant of our faith.”
Different collections throughout Lent and Holy Week give Catholics an opportunity to give.
“We have the Ash Wednesday collection that helps provide additional ministry personnel — priests, religious sisters and deacons — needed to support our Catholic communities that cannot afford the cost of those salaries and benefits. One hundred percent of the donations support these needs,” she said. “The Holy Thursday collection helps pay for the education of our 22 seminarians, which is approximately $45,000 per year per student. One hundred percent of these donations also go to support seminarian education this year.”
Wewers also emphasized the role that CASA plays in a healthy, well-rounded Catholic diocese.
“The Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal is how everyone can participate in building God’s kingdom in Arkansas,” she said. “Donations to CASA support diocesan departments that support parishes, religious vocations, Catholic schools, Catholic Charities ministries, faith formation, Hispanic ministry, diaconate formation, family life, our tribunal, pro-life activities, youth and campus ministry and much more.”
