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In August last year, the Church had decreed that Catholics should contribute one per cent of their monthly income as �tithe� to their parishes. However, according to Church estimates, less than 50 per cent of Catholics actually do so.
The Church has, however, refrained from calling the contribution �tithe� to avoid its medieval and obligatory connotation. Instead, it had termed it �community fund� for �new needs�.
�Medical services have become so expensive, that people now come to us for aid. We hope to meet such needs through the fund,� said a priest.
Many of the 120-odd parishes in the city have started the scheme, though some like the St Stephen�s Church, Cumballa Hill, have yet to do so. �I do not know whether the idea will be a success. I will have to try it out and see,� said parish priest Father Donald Rodriques.
However, those that have started the collection say response is poor.
Priests said only about 45 per cent of parishioners were making a contribution.
Father Hugh Fonseca, parish priest of I C Church, Borivali, said he met with opposition when he introduced the practice at his parish.
�People are used to just dropping contributions in the box. We are trying to do it in an organised way,� he said.
Father Joseph D�Souza, parish priest of Our Lady of Dolours Church, Marine Lines, said the Bible recommended 10 per cent of one�s income as tithe to the church.
�We have watered it down to one per cent, yet people don�t pay,� he said. In D�Souza�s church, monthly collections have fallen from Rs 48,000 in the first months of the scheme to Rs 22,000 last month.
Father Pravin Fernandes, spokesperson for the archbishop said, �The figure of one per cent has had people questioning the decree. But we have said that this is just a recommendatory figure.� |
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Voices
People still do not know what they are expected to contribute. There are different ways of contributing to the church. Instead of giving one per cent of my income to the church, I can put in two per cent of my time to help in church activities.
Cedric D�Souza, Member, Dominic Savio Church, Wadala
My church started collecting tithe two months ago. I am contributing to it.
Dereyk Rose, Member, Good Shepherd�s Church, Four Bungalows
I am paying because it is for a good cause. It is optional.
Freddy Mendonca, member, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Malad | |
