Posted on 02/04/2012 10:06:44 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
When Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney released his federal tax returns for the past two years, he disclosed that he and his wife, Ann, gave about 10 percent of their income to their church, a well-known religious practice called tithing.
In that way, the Romneys are typical Mormons, members of a church that is exceptionally serious about the Old Testament mandate to give away one-tenth of one's income.
But compared to other religious Americans, the Romneys and other Mormons are fairly atypical when it comes to passing the plate. Across the rest of the religious landscape, tithing is often preached but rarely realized.
Research into church donations shows a wide range of giving, with Mormons among the most generous relative to income, followed by conservative Christians, mainline Protestants and Catholics last.
Over the past 34 years, Americans' generosity to all churches has been in steady decline, in good times and in bad, said Sylvia Ronsvalle, whose Illinois-based Empty Tomb Inc. tracks donations to Protestant churches.
Ronsvalle's research shows that since 1968, contributions have slowly slumped from 3.11 percent of income to 2.38 percent, despite gains in prosperity.
In her view, churches have failed "to call people to invest in a much larger vision." She believes that explains why giving to missions, distant anti-poverty programs or faraway ministries has sunk faster than giving for the needs of local congregations.
A recent poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 79 percent of Mormons said they tithed to their church, a much higher percentage than in the Catholic and Protestant world.
The former Massachusetts governor and his wife slightly underpaid their tithe in 2010 but intend to make it up when their final 2011 income becomes clear, a spokesman for Romney's campaign told The Associated Press.
Under pressure to disclose, Romney recently released his federal returns, showing he is likely to pay an effective federal tax rate of about 15 percent on $45 million in income over two years.
The returns also showed the Romneys have already donated $2.6 million to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the 2011 tax year. That brings their church donations to $4.1 million on two years' estimated income of $42.6 million.
They made other charitable contributions of $3 million as well.
Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich's 2010 return showed charitable donations of $81,000, or about 2.5 percent of his $3.2 million income. About $9,500 went to the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington; the balance of his charitable giving was not disclosed.
President Obama's return showed donations of $245,000, or about 14 percent of his $1.8 million income. The 36 contributions went to a wide range of secular and faith-based health, educational and community development groups.
A broad study called the U.S. Congregational Life Survey found that only about a third of Catholics, half of mainline Protestants and two-thirds of conservative Christians reached even the 5 percent level of giving.
Researcher Cynthia Woolever said mainline Protestants in her study gave slightly more than evangelicals in absolute dollars, but less as a percentage of income.
Her study did not include Jewish or Muslim congregations because of their smaller numbers.
Ronsvalle and others said generosity tends to be higher among evangelicals because of their regard for the authority of Scripture, where the command is repeatedly found, from Genesis 14, describing Abram's gift to God of "a tenth of everything" to Malachi 3, in which God promises blessings on those who tithe.
Rick Warren, perhaps the most famous evangelical pastor in the country, has said he "reverse tithes," giving away 90 percent of his income, including all the profits from his best-selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life."
Woolever said Catholics appear at the far end of the spectrum because the Catholic Church does not stress tithing. In addition, she said, Catholic congregations tend to be larger, diluting the sense of individual responsibility for financial support.
No one passes a collection basket at Mormon services. Instead, offerings are mailed or sent in outside of the weekly meeting rite. Mormon leaders keep an accounting, and once a year Mormon families are invited to sit briefly with their bishop, the head of their congregation, and discuss their donations.
It may sound awkward, but it's not to Brenda Grant, a retired nurse from eastern New Orleans who, with her husband, converted from Catholicism more than 30 years ago.
Grant, like many others who follow the biblical mandate, sees tithing as both a command and a voluntary gesture of gratitude to God. It is also a way to secure continued blessings, she said.
She and her husband, Earl, believe it was partly because of their fidelity through tithing that God sent them blessings after their home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Today, I was driving home from work and I saw two young Mormon "elders" (probably still in their teens) standing next to their bikes waving at passers-by. They were not far from my neighborhood.
I thought, they are looking for little unprotected sheep (those who are young in the Christian faith and not well grounded in God's word).
As nicely as they were dressed, and as pleasant as they seemed as they smiled and waved, they were, in truth, wolves in sheep's clothing.
Actually , you came off as a simple retread, or troll.
When you are in France, say hello to the 13th Regiment for me.
Well I’m glad you have an opinion.
It means little to me.
An honest man would be known as himself.
“I believe one will be judged by their actions here on Earth, rather that through grace.”
Make sure your undertaker provides your corpse with asbestos skivvies.
Shyster Rick Warren gives away 90% of his income??? Yeah right.....unless his income is in the millions or his church pays ALL of his bills, or he is paid by other means instead of income.....which is it?
And we were related. Our Great great grandfathers were the same man with three wives. My husband and I come from two different wives.
And we were related. Our Great great grandfathers were the same man with three wives. My husband and I come from two different wives.
I kind of like that they ask the needy to WORK for their help AND to PAY BACK 10%. I don’t think that’s slave labor at all. Gets them out of the “gimme, gimme” hammock quickly.
Where does it say in the Bible that you should give 10% to the Church? If you are referring to 10%, it was related to the Temple and the Jewish Priesthood. I give a lot more than 10% to charitable causes, but not to churches. Not because of a prejudice against churches, but a need to direct funds to where I feel led to contribute//////One of my favorite charities is the Food Bank, because their overhead is 3% as opposed to the gubmint’s 50%.
Thank you. Be careful to give to organizations, but when the L-RD directs you to give, give cheerfully, and thank H-m for the opportunity..
The way I read the Bible, tithing is an Old Testament practice. For New Testament Christians, it is optional.
Preachers who beat the drum about tithing are very suspect in my view. The “prosperity” crowd is real big on it. I have to question their motives since tithing is not a New Testament requirment.
“Heavenly Father”.
I have a fun way of tithing. I toss my money up in the air. What ever “god” wants he can keep. What hits the ground is mine.
Ya gotta give me a break. I’m 24. I’m trying to get a hang of things on FR.
Wise beyond your years IMHO.
Quite the opposite. I pray he opens his heart to the TRUTH.
Different version, same topic: A man has tried to join a church but they have "standards" and he doesn't meet them. He prays to God about being kept out of the church and one night, God answers him, "Don't take it personally, they won't let Me in either".
Thanks for your service to our country.
Thank you too - I was late for Nam and retired before 9-11, so never had to put it on the line in a hostile arena. My love and respect to all who have and to the folks enlisting in recent times when they know it’s likely they will deploy to a place where people will shoot at them.
Wow, this guy is just more proof we are doomed...
I hope he is a DU troll.
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