Where Tithe Tradition Becomes Voluntary

Mumbai – In the Bible it is mentioned that God cursed man for man had robbed God in tithes and offerings. Hope that the wrath of God does not again fall on man as it was recently discovered that the tithe tradition, that was strictly maintained for ages, among various Christian groups in India, has now become purely voluntary.

Many parish priests have done away with compulsory tithes and offerings as many “wealthier people are reluctant to pay more.”

“Can you cheat God?” inquired Abraham Mathai, general secretary of the All India Christian Council, agreeing that the tithe tradition had become purely voluntary.

Fr. Pravin Fernandes, spokesperson for the Archbishop of Mumbai, said there was no compulsion involved.

Catholic Bishop Agnelo Gracias said, "It was the church support system where people made a voluntary contribution. However, the negative aspect of this was that someone earning Rs. 5,000 a month and someone earning Rs 50,000 gave the same contribution. Furthermore, since the amount collected was small, it was only sufficient to maintain the parish. There was not much left for community growth and welfare."

Bishop Gracias, who has studied the scheme, points out that at one of the suburban parishes in the city last year Rs. 25 lakh was collected with only 46 per cent of the parishioners contributing to the community fund.

However, Agnes Drego, a housewife and a parishioner of St Anthony's Church, Vakola, said that the fund was getting a good response. "There is no compulsion and so people feel like offering money. People resent it when compulsion is used for donations," she said.

Fr. Larry Pereira, the parish priest of Mount Carmel Church in Bandra, said the fund would be introduced in his parish in January.

"We expect a good response. We have already spoken to the people about it," he said. "The community fund will be managed by a committee and the accounts will have to be audited annually. The earlier method of asking for funds and not having any accountability will stop."