Originally published at National Catholic Register
Catholics are often asked whether we are called to tithe. The answer is both simple and profound: Under the new law of Christ, we are called to offer not a fixed percentage, but our whole being — and every gift God has given us — back to him in thanksgiving as a pure offering.
The early Church Fathers made it clear that Christians are not bound by the Old Testament tithe. This doesn’t mean we are required to give away all our material goods; the Fathers were talking about a holistic orientation of life.
The amount we must give is not stipulated by the Church. That decision is a prudential one, best made by the head of the household. This allocation may change from month to month and will depend entirely on the current material circumstances of the household. Some poor families should give no money at all, while some wealthy households may be able to give away as much as 90%.
Offering Ourselves with a Pure Heart
One of my old business mentors, a Protestant, used to say, “All you have to give away is 10% — you can do whatever you want with the other 90%.” That is
