the Catholic Church ...owns churches, parish halls and rectories. It does add up in worth but it is in use for Catholics
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Among those “churches, parish halls and rectories” that the Catholic church owns, is there any that the regular Catholic members cannot go into because they havent paid 10% of their gross income ???
“Among those ‘churches, parish halls and rectories’ that the Catholic church owns, is there any that the regular Catholic members cannot go into because they havent paid 10% of their gross income ???”
Rectories include the personal residence of priests, and thus are not entirely open to regular Catholic members, unless invited. Thus, my pastor invites me to dinner at the rectory - he’s inviting me into his personal home. I can’t go into the rectory without an invitation.
Parish halls often host events to which not everyone is invited. As a regular Catholic, I wouldn’t be welcome in the parish hall during a wedding reception to which I wasn’t invited.
Catholic schools often restrict how and where visitors may be on school property. This is especially true of elementary schools, but even my sons’ high school requires all visitors to register at the main office.
However, to the degree that any ordinary Catholic is welcome in a Catholic-owned building, no one gives a lick about who gives what.
As to Catholics that give 10% of their income to the Church, they would be exceedingly rare, as many (most?) parishes only ask that individuals give 5% of their income directly to the Church and another 5% directly to charities, especially those that help the poor and folks in unfortunate circumstances.
sitetest
In most studies of charitable giving it has ben revealed that Catholics donate less than most other religious groups. Jews and Mormons donate the most followed by Evangelicals. The Catholic Church has received numerous donations of large buildings and vacant real estate which has been the source of much litigation over the years as to its intended future use.
The Vatican only possesses a life estate in the art treasures in Vatican City . The treasures are owned by the people of Italy who have the remainder interest. The Vatican must pay for the upkeep of these treasures. This was established by the Concordat of 1929 between Italy and the Vatican.