Catholic clergy live in an ivory tower like intellectuals. They have no concept of what ordinary people go through every day. They harp on taking care of the poor, but they don’t understand that just because a person has a job or a home doesn’t mean he has gobs of money to give.
My aunt is still a practicing Catholic. Her diocese assesses a certain amount of money each household must give yearly to the diocese over and above the weekly collection. My aunt told her assessment next year has risen to around a thousand dollars. My aunt is 82, a widow, living on a fixed income. She told the pastor she doesn’t know if she can meet that figure, even though payment can be spread out monthly. The pastor has tried to make her feel guilty for not meeting her obligation. I told my aunt she should give what she can afford, and if her pastor or the bishop don’t like it, they can kiss her backside.
The Church has moved away from its mission. It’s now an extortion racket.
That sure twists the biblical concept of “cheerful giving.” And shouldn’t service count too?