Neither had I... until that day. Having been born in Spain, I was not surprised whenever I found out that certain things were done different over here, for example I was used to wine for communion and the first time I saw grape juice I was amazed! So, I thought this was another difference, especially since the other graduate students, protestants, talked openly about tithing. What got me was the idea of posting the names of the members who did not tithe. First, I couldn't imagine anything more embarrassing than having your name in a big poster on the wall, as you entered the church, as someone who "owed money to God". Secondly, I couldn't help but thinking that the priest was having to guess peoples' salaries to decide whether or not they were tithing. Then, there was the little detail of people like me, who don't believe in keeping a record of money given to the church, and put cash in the collection plate.
I wish I knew if tithing is common in local Catholic churches, but shortly after I stopped attending that church, I was invited by a friend to worship at a Southern Baptist church. I asked for baptism about a year later and now I don't worry about how other people think they ought to worship. I'm perfectly happy with my relationship with Jesus Christ and He's held me in the palm of His hand through good times and hard times. But several months ago, an old lady at our church was scolding a visitor for not wearing a suit... I stopped her on her tracks and told the visitor that Jesus loved him no matter his clothes. He's now a student in my Sunday school class and, while not yet a member, he worships with us.
You said you were born in Spain,maybe you were not familiar enough with the language to know you were not in a Catholic Church.
But in any case,as I remember your first post,you should never have shoved or pushed the minister,I never thought of Spanish people as being boorish and/or disrespectful.
Finally,it may be only in Phoenix,but all of my several Baptist friends are required to tithe,I agree with you,it is awful. I am assuming you don't do that in your Baptist Church in your area? Or,are Sothern Baptists different than just plain Baptists?