How Does The Church Spend Our Dollar?

[Vincent Vega]

I still still think that Brother Adam gave the best answer to the question in the original post.

I think that's why the thread descended into quagmire so quickly. Not having anything to argue about has never stopped phatmassers from arguing before, why let it stand in the way now?

[Apotheoun]

I think that's why the thread descended into quagmire so quickly. Not having anything to argue about has never stopped phatmassers from arguing before, why let it stand in the way now?

This thread did give me the opportunity to post my Bothan hijacked thread picture.   :woot:

[blazeingstar]

so in your world asking questions equates to attacking.  yeah that makes sense.

 

Because obously the OP is curious.  Regardless of their status it would be kid (and not harassing) to give them an answer.

 

My answer-  The priest often knows this information, and every parish I have see prints their budget and insertes it in the bullitian at least once a year.  For parishes that have schools, this seems to be during the summer, for parishes that don't it's often Feb/March (for the close of their fiscal year).  

 

Most will keep extra copies in the office so parishoners can stop by.  If your parish is a Franciscian/Vincentian/Jesuit parish there may actually be multiple annual reports about money since some will go to or come from.

 

On the diocean level  they will report the money given to parishes, or recieved from them, as well as the support of the staff, the care for elderly priests, usually soup kitchen and diocean nuns and several different funds that they build....like heating funds.

 

On a global vatican level, Im not sure what reports you would get becuase it's a city.  I don't know of any dioceses that sends money to Rome...though many protestants seem to believe that.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

If your parish has a school, a large portion goes to subsidize the school. Part of the tithe supports the diocesan assessment (much like a "tax") to support the operation of the diocese. Another portion usually subsidizes a religious education program, and the rest supports the day to day operation of the parish.

 

 

And maintenance of the parish building and feeding,clothing,housing/transport for the priest/s at the parish

[blazeingstar]

And maintenance of the parish building and feeding,clothing,housing/transport for the priest/s at the parish

 

That would be day to day operations.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

I think he is "spiritual, but not religious."

 

 

Jesus biblical defenition of true religion is something like this " to tend the orphan,minister the widow and feed and clothe the poor." and i guess you could add visit the sick and dying,people in jail, the elderly and a whole host of other charitable acts, which are of course according to saint paul usless without love, st paul " i can set myself on fire and give to the poor, but without love whats it for?."

 

Of course praying is good, as are the holy sacraments, meditation and holy scripture and other spiritual written works, which are more spiritual works and needed to keep the love to be truly religious/charitable, but in light of what jesus says these are not necessarily religion. :P

 

Possibly alot,half or a large minority of all church goers that are more spiritual then religious.

Edited September 21, 2013 by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye

[Brother Adam]

That would be day to day operations.

 

Yes. The average parish budget has at around 600 line items. The major categories are:

• Income (Sunday collection, special collections, bequests and donations, fundraising, literature sales, votive candles, school tuition)
• Parish expenses (Staff, maintenance, mortgage (if any), utilities, sacramental expenses, priestly expenses, assessments, insurance, etc)
• School expenses (Staff, books, supplies, utilities, development, etc)
• Religious Education expenses (Staff, program costs, textbooks and instructional, sacramental preparation, retreats, RCIA, adult ed, etc)

I have been working with a parish budget and on a finance committee for 6 years now. It costs a lot more than people think it costs to run a parish. Even if you think you know how much staff are paid you have to add 30-50% of their wage for taxes and benefits. It is critical that staff are good stewards of your gifts. When our families suffer, we suffer with you. We are very aware when our families are out of work or underpaid. Not because we don't get as much in tithing, but because we care about you.

[Brother Adam]

The other thing most people don't realize is that when you don't give like God commands, someone else in the parish is probably making up your tithe for you. I can't tell you the number of times that priests will go to certain parish families and ask for help because 20-30% of the parishioners are giving nothing even though they could. I see those parishioners writing checks for $5,000-10,000 and they are not necessarily wealthy.

[Luigi]

There is no THE CHURCH when it comes to finances. There are only churches. Those could be individual parish churches, or local diocesan churches, and the Vatican has funds of its own. But the Vatican doesn't tell the dioceses how to spend their money, nor do the dioceses tell the parishes how to spend their money.

 

So, to answer the original question, it depends on the individual church. See Brother Adam's post for more details.

[Brother Adam]

There is no THE CHURCH when it comes to finances. There are only churches. Those could be individual parish churches, or local diocesan churches, and the Vatican has funds of its own. But the Vatican doesn't tell the dioceses how to spend their money, nor do the dioceses tell the parishes how to spend their money.

 

So, to answer the original question, it depends on the individual church. See Brother Adam's post for more details.

 

Yes and no. That is very true when it comes to the Vatican and individual bishops. Canonically the pastor makes most financial decisions for the parish, however the diocese carefully supervises the parishes budget and can direct the parish in one direction or another. The diocese audits the parish (through third party independant auditors) and reviews all financials every year. The bishop ultimately owns all property in the diocese. So if he decides to close a parish there is nothing you can do about it legally. Some dioceses even have software to track the day to day finances of each parish.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

Jesus biblical defenition of true religion is something like this " to tend the orphan,minister the widow and feed and clothe the poor." and i guess you could add visit the sick and dying,people in jail, the elderly and a whole host of other charitable acts, which are of course according to saint paul usless without love, st paul " i can set myself on fire and give to the poor, but without love whats it for?."

 

Of course praying is good, as are the holy sacraments, meditation and holy scripture and other spiritual written works, which are more spiritual works and needed to keep the love to be truly religious/charitable, but in light of what jesus says these are not necessarily religion. :P

 

Possibly alot,half or a large minority of all church goers that are more spiritual then religious.

 

 

Not saying the spiritual is bad, but we need the mainly spirituals praying for the religious . And we can't do everything at once when it comes to religious, though perhaps some can. One body different members.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

I said to a former arch bishop once at a conference as to whether it is time to re encourage the 10% tithe in the holy roman catholic church to get us out of debt. Which when you look at it is only 10 cents per dollar, you get to keep 90 cents. He said if the church wasn't in debt he would think we weren't doing our job, whether everyone was paying a 10% tithe or not we should still be in debt doing more. 

Though i still think encouraging tithing for all with money would be nice.

 

Also a little perhaps less known biblical verse from the book of Tobit when Tobit gives his son his final doxology kind of thing before Tobit dies. Tobit says and it's not everything he said, " If you have alot of money then you have to give alot, but if you have a little then only give a little and don't be ashamed of the little you can give."

 

God bless.

 

Onward christian souls.

Jesus is LORD.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye

[havok579257]

Not saying the spiritual is bad, but we need the mainly spirituals praying for the religious . And we can't do everything at once when it comes to religious, though perhaps some can. One body different members.

 

 

I find it amusing when you quote yourself

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

I find it amusing when you quote yourself

 

 

Doesn't anyone else do that? It's called re-iterating, expanding or enlightening to what i fully meant, after the edit option has died out. :) lol.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Tab'le Du'Bah-Rye