A Debate With My Husband

[Quietfire]

After a lengthy discussion with my husband, I would like some answers from my Phamily on some issues. Feel free to post as much information as you'd like. I would also ask any clergy to chime in as this is not the first time I have had this discussion with my hubby.

1. Do priest earn a salary?
I said no. He said yes. I said they get an allowance which is nothing really, but enough to buy a few things they may personally need. Everything pertaining to their vocation is (hopefully) provided for by the church.

2. Priests can receive monetary gifts?
We both said yes. But I pointed out that a gift should first be given to the Church. Which led to this one....

3. Money to the Church is a 'charge' and not a gift. He claimed that he was 'charged' a fee by the church. I claimed that it was only a charge if you were using Church facilities to pay for lights, water, etc. Everything over that is a gift.

4. He claims a priest can make a salary of about 50-60k a year. I laughed. I stated again that a priest doesnt 'earn a salary'.


Theres more, but we have a dinner date. Gotta run.
Come on. Spill it.

Peace. :peace:

[Mary's Knight, La]

1) They do get an allowance but it's a regular amount and it's not a whole lot (not the ones I know anyways) but it's more than a pittance they pay for vehicles, retirement plans, entertainment (ps2, yes 4 priests i know own ps2's), food, etc... from this and it's considered a salary by the gov't they're taxed like 3 times though i dont remember how that works .

2. yes they can

3. church's incur costs for electricity etc... and even propert taxes if they allow you to use any facilities including grounds, etc. they have the right to charge you to cover costs incurred

4. from what i understand the priest's allowance/salary is determined by their diocese...

[Mateo el Feo]

Just some more answers...

[b]1. Do priest earn a salary?[/b]

Yes...and no.

The general rule is: priests who are religious (in an order like the Jesuits, Franciscans, etc) do not earn a salary from the order. This is because they take a vow of poverty. Sometimes they fill positions that do have a salary: let's say, for example, a Jesuit working for a university, or a non-profit organization, or a parish. In these cases, the position may have a salary; in that case, the salary must be given entirely to the order.

On the other hand, secular priests (those who are associated with a particular diocese) do receive a salary, and generally must save for retirement.

Also, if a religious priest were to write a best selling book (as an example), all of the money would go to the order.

[b]2. Priests can receive monetary gifts?[/b]

Again, same rule applies. A gift to a religious priest should (must) be given to the order. A gift to a secular priest is a gift to him.

[b]3. Money to the Church is a 'charge' and not a gift...[/b]

The church can charge for services. If I remember correctly, our "payment" to the church for our wedding was a donation (gift), not a charge. This of course may vary.

[b]4. He claims a priest can make a salary of about 50-60k a year.[/b]

Sounds like Episcopal priests. LOL. Anyway, here is a link to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics for Catholic priests:

[url="http://www.bls.gov/oco/print/ocos063.htm"]http://www.bls.gov/oco/print/ocos063.htm[/url]

They report salaries that range from $15k-$19k on average for the country. I thought it would be up around $29k, but maybe that's only for expensive parts of the country. One must take into consideration that diocesan priests do get extra $$$ for baptisms, weddings, etc (from gifts). Also, housing is usually paid for. So, if you adjust their wages based on the extra benefits, the $15k-$19k salary isn't so bad; it may feel more like $50k, even if it's not their real salary.

[Born Again Catholic]

1. Some priest don't receive ant compensation it depends on their order, in fact the priest we are closest to has never had a paycheck and has almost no personal possessions. But as far as I know most diocesan priests do earn a limited salary/allowance in my parish our Monsignor (who leads the parish an two other priests) earns $6,000 per year although their has been talk of the Bishop raising his salary to 18-20K yr.

2. Depends on their order see above.

3. I am not sure what the question is.

4. 50 -60k a year. A 55-yr old former missionary priest came to our diocese looking for a position (I guess he was getting to old for the jungles). While he wasn't expecting much I doubt he expected as little as he received. No salary, but room and board plus medical benefits at a small parish church. If your husband knows where he can get a paid position at 50--60k please let me know I will pass on the information to this priest.

Being a priest is such a huge sacrifice, these men do us a tremendous service.

God Bless

[MorphRC]

Here in Australia, Priests have no income at all. All there needs are met by the community. The parish I use to go to. Sacred heart of Mary, in Adelaide, the priests there had no salary, or income at all, and all their food, car money, parish building support etc was supported by the other churches, and my the local parish. THey were MSC's.

[qfnol31]

[quote name='Quietfire' date='Jun 27 2004, 03:11 PM'] 4. He claims a priest can make a salary of about 50-60k a year. I laughed. I stated again that a priest doesnt 'earn a salary'. [/quote]
In the diocese of either Dallas or Ft. Worth, a Priest averages about 13,000 a year. The same goes for the Bishop.

However, for the Episcopalians, I know the bishop makes about 130,000 a year. Big contrast.

In other words, Catholic Priests don't make very much.