I. Effects on the Tither

One thing tithing does for the individual is that it settles once and for all that frequently puzzling question: How much should I give to the Church? People are preached to “ad nauseam” on giving. They hear “be generous,” “be sacrificial,” “give a little more.” But how often are they actually told exactly what is God’s fair share? They know the precept of the Church dealing with support, but how much is fair? The answer is found in tithing. People will know what to give and their conscience will be perfectly at ease.

One of the greatest effects is that tithing produces a spiritual transformation in the tither. It gives a proper sense of values. It helps one see things as they really are: That God comes first before everything else, and everything one owns comes from God.

II. Effects on the Parish

Every parish that has adopted God’s plan for church support has improved its spiritual and material status. If a substantial number of parishioners give 5 percent, 6 percent, or 7 percent of their income to the parish there would be enough for all the necessary parish buildings. There would be buildings benefitting the dignity of the Church. After all, our Catholic churches house Our Lord’s special presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

The parish would be able to pay decent salaries and living wages to its employees: office staff, youth ministers, music ministers, maintenance people, etc. How can we preach social justice unless we practice it?

With the problem of the scarcity of religious sisters, there is an increasing need for hiring lay teachers for our schools. All necessary teachers must     be hired and adequately paid. Even if we had religious sisters teaching currently in our schools, it would require higher salaries because of long term sickness and skilled care needed for the retired religious.

Another effect is that the parish will be blessed with only one parish collection weekly. In so many of our churches the collection basket goes around numbers of times and every time the poor worshiper turns a few pages of his missal, the basket is under his nose once again. It’s a distraction to the proper attendance at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Tithing (actually 5% to the parish) means only one collection at the Offertory of the Mass along with the true spirit of offering of self with the Offering of Christ. In many dioceses the bishop may have his own Special Collections every two months.

The bingo games and raffle wheels will be stopped because their need will be eliminated as a source of parish support. A once a year festival should not be to raise money, but for family fun. An annual church supper for parishioners is a great idea for the sake of parish spirit. The purpose of this is to encourage parishioners to get better acquainted; not for the purpose of raising money.

Another very beneficial effect is that the parish priest will have more time to worry about the people and their spiritual needs, instead of people’s money. These are the blessings which the Lord’s way of financing brings to the parish itself.

III. Effects on the Diocese

There are many diocesan projects with which the bishops are heavily burdened. The diocesan high schools have to be built and maintained. Seminarians must be educated. Orphanages, hospitals, and charity bureaus have to be financed. Diocesan offices and ministries supported by Catholic Charities will be adequately financed, along with the education of seminarians.

IV. Effects on the Missions

It is surprising how little we Catholics with the true faith give to the missions in comparison to the Protestants who give so generously to spread faith in the mission fields. The difference is basically that our Protestant friends tithe, and many don’t support schools. When all our people tithe, there will be more money to support the missions.

The bishops of Africa turn away 50 seminarians a year because of insufficient money to educate them. There are schools in Africa, India, and Latin America where the children cannot be taught our Catholic faith because there is not enough money to pay the catechists. There are more missionaries in the mission field when there are more funds. Many more souls could be sharing the true faith in the world when we help the missions more by tithing.

With the proper motive for tithing, people will grow strong in the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. They will have greater interest in their parish, their diocese, and in the missions.

These effects of tithing have been seen when a parish is giving to God His fair share of their earnings.

Look for the last chapter of Msgr. Muller’s book in the November/December 2025 issue.