It is amazing how certain manufacturing companies, or even
military installations, create the identity of communities of those who may not
even be part of the military or factory.
For example, I am leaving John Deere Land
The Quad-Cities has always been working class, but with a
strong middle-class, as wages paid by the a above employers have been good for
a long time.
Pensioners from all three live comfortably.
ADM and Dupont had large companies here, although smaller
than in the past, and one is gone.
Speaking with a clergyman yesterday morning, I was told how
tithing from Catholics is “way down.” Another clergyman shared with me that
although the Catholics are no longer, for the most part, poor, tithing revenues
have fallen.
Because of this, the deaconate bonus, that is, extra money
given to a seminarian in his diaconate year, a very intense years wherein those
deacons serve in parishes, conduct weddings and funerals, preach at Masses,
visit the sick and aged, and so on, have been stopped because of lack of money.
So, the busy, ordained temporary deacon has no more income than a regular
seminarian.
What do people expect? You all know how poor I am and yet, I
bought black socks for a deacon poorer than myself yesterday.
Who do people think are paying for the priest’s salaries,
their cars, their gas money, especially when a priest can have four or five parishes
in the country and not close to each other but hours away?
How do Catholics think the churches will stay open when they
do not tithe?
There are many who work for John Deere or who are retired,
there are many millionaire farmers, and those who have generous military
pensions who never tithe.
Interestingly, the middle class tithe. And, some poor tithe.
I think priests should begin to preach tithing from the
pulpit. I have not heard a tithing sermon in England ,
Ireland , Malta or America
Are priests afraid of being criticized for asking people to
fulfill one of the precepts of the Church?
Yesterday, also, I spoke with someone who said that the
diocese should pay for travel for seminarians or for their clothes and personal
items. I did not want to argue with the person, but dioceses have less and less
money to help.
It remains in the hands of the laity to help support the
needs of seminarians and deacons, who have to buy their own “blacks” and all
personal items, including some travelling for their dioceses, where there may
not be enough money in the diocesan kitty to pay for such.
Churches will close, seminaries will close, other facilities
will close and Catholics will complain.
How many tithe?Do YOu