Catholic church in Leyte mulls tithing
Due to decline in collections during masses
By Joey A. Gabieta
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 17:41:00 06/01/2008
Filed Under: Churches (organisations)
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines--Citing a decline in collections during masses, Catholic priests in Leyte have said they are considering tithing to shore up the local Church's finances.
This was revealed by a high-ranking priest of the Metropolitan Diocese of Palo, the biggest diocese in the Eastern Visayas.
"But there is no [finality] on this yet. We are just exploring that possibility," Father Amadeo Alvero, social communications director of the diocese, said on Saturday.
Alvero said the issue on tithing would be discussed by all the priests within the diocese at their meeting on June 9 to be held in Ormoc City.
Alvero added the priests would discuss how to carry out the tithing.
The Metropolitan Diocese of Palo has under its jurisdiction more than 70 parishes in Leyte province and is under the stewardship of Archbishop Jose Palma.
Alvero said the plan to tithe parishioners stemmed from the decline of their collections during masses experienced by many parishes of the diocese over the past few months.
The diocese has many projects and other financial obligations that needed to be to met, he added.
Collections during mass remain one of the main sources of funds for the Catholic Church, according to Alvero.
Tithing is strictly followed by other religious sects, but not the Catholic Church. A tithe is one-tenth of one's annual income, paid as a voluntary contribution or a tax or levy usually to support a religious organization.
Alvero said the financial difficulties facing the country resulted in the decline of the collections received by the church from parishioners every celebration of Mass.
But while the Church understood the plight of their parishioners, parishes also needed to survive, he said.
"The diocese is growing. We have so many expenses to meet and we cannot just spend freely. So we must have some sort of stable or ready source where we can get when the there is a need for it," Alvero said.
So far, Alvero revealed, only a big parish like the Santo Niño Church is not feeling the financial pinch.
Santo Niño Church is located in this city and considered the biggest in the diocese.
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