# for those who tithe

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-tithe/691113>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [June 18, 2014, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-tithe/691113 "2014-06-18T23:28:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-tithe/691113/61 "2014-06-23T17:55:37Z")

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> [@Urbanredneck](#):
>
> I have been in churches where every member got a detailed and audited financial statement every year. I’ve been in others where they only gave out a general statement to where the money goes. I quit the 2nd church.

We get an unaudited balance sheet and budget versus actual, but the total budget is \<$400K. It’s easy to see where it goes, since we know all the employees and basic needs of the church. A chunk of it goes to the diocese (Roman Catholic) and some of that subsidizes poorer parishes.

There are separate collections for our parish’s work locally and in Africa, as well as separate collections for various needs throughout the year. We can always target our contribution but again, we are the ones who need to cover the parish’s expenses.

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**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-tithe/691113/62 "2014-06-24T06:48:45Z")

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> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I think any responsible church should adopt a “no conflict of interest” rule. If they’re going to have a policy on tithing, the church itself should stay out the charity business. Tell your congregation to tithe to worthwhile charity organizations that have no connection to the church. That way the church wouldn’t have a financial stake in how it makes its moral proclamations.

Taking the other side of the argument, this isn’t especially realistic though it’s an interesting idea. Given it’s long history, the RCC has quasi-governmental scope and ambitions (health, education, welfare, plus saving souls and yes advancing morality). It’s what they do. That said, I understand there are parishes where the priest recommends 5% for the church and 5% for other charities. And these aren’t requirements.

I do think the books should be subjected to outside audit periodically. Though that of course is an expense. Transparency is a relatively new virtue, but I think it’s a good one.

As for blood donations, I did receive reminder phone calls. Also I stopped giving years ago, so my info is somewhat dated. It seems there’s some variance in local practice.

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