a letter to the Questins & Answers column written by an Exmormon couple who had converted to catholism. They had concerns about tithing. They explained that they were confused by how to tithe to the Catholic Church. They explained how it was mandatory to tithe 10% of income to the LDS church. They wanted to do the same for the Catholic Church but no one had mentioned anything to them about it.

The catholic Priest replied that tithing was mandatory in the mosaic laws of the Old Testament but not necessarily required in the church. Though tithing is important to run a parish, no one was demanded to pay. Tithing was to be done in faith and the amount determined by your heart. The priest stated that the mandatory 10% tithe required by the Mormon church by means of getting blessings was nothing but extortion.

Do you have a link or a reference? I would be interested in reading that. Thank you

See 1 Corinthians 16:2. 10 percent is the Mosaic Law. Boner

Sorry, I meant the name of the Catholic magazine, or the link to it...

Good for him! And I think he was right.
But I can't help but think about the Vatican on the other hand.

a Church tax is taken by the government from those who are affiliated with official church. The tax seems to range around 1% of income. See this article on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe#Governmental_collection_of_religious_offerings_and_taxes

The idea of the government taxing the public for church support only applies in countries where there are state churches. The answer of the priest about the Roman church's stance on offerings to the church is consistent with many other churches as well.

Average church offerings in the U.S. run between 2-3% of income. Catholics tend to give on the low end of that. The answer given is correct in that individual Catholic church members and their families determine what they wish to give. I never once heard the word "tithing" while growing up Catholic. I believe that the word "offerings" is more commonly used.

I concur with the others. I have been told that you can split up your offerings with the church and whatever charity or charities you chose to support.

The Catholic Church also considers volunteering to be part of tithing as well.

One of the precepts of the Catholic Church is to provide for the material needs of the Church, "each according to his abilities" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2043).

As I understand it, lay Catholics are at liberty to determine how this precept is applied.

According to the New York Times, "Among non-Mormon people of faith in the United States, evangelical Protestants and Pentecostals tend to give the highest percentage of their income to charity, Catholics close to the lowest" (Michael Paulson, "To Tithe or Not to Tithe ...", January 28, 2012).

Authentic Christians need to know that LDS is not donate according to your faith, but pay-or-else.