In this final installment on our “Precepts” bulletin series, we come to the fifth precept of the Catholic Church: “The Christian Faithful are obliged to assist with the [material] needs of the Church…” (Code of Canon Law, can. 222, §1). What this assistance looks like will vary according to each person’s ability (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2043), but the important thing is that each person honestly and generously responds to this obligation. Because this particular obligation may be the touchiest of all, I want to address the relationship between rights and obligations as a means of understanding the rational basis for the Church’s precepts, which also have a divine basis in her identity as Bride of Christ and teacher in all things pertaining to faith and morals and sound Christian living.
With all of the precepts, it is helpful to consider that these obligations flow from our identity as members of the Household of God; because we belong to God’s family, which is His Church, we have certain rights, but rights mean nothing if they do not have corresponding responsibilities. For instance, a father has the right to establish norms, rules, codes of conduct, etc., within his home, precisely because he is the father – governance of the home is a right that flows from the identity of “fatherhood”. However, that “right” also has corresponding “responsibilities” or “obligations” on the part of the father towards his wife and children – he must also be sure that he is providing for his family’s welfare; if he were to fail in his obligations, any talk or demand of rights would be meaningless, and even preposterous. Furthermore, if someone fails to a significant degree at their obligations, they risk forfeiting their rights; this is why a society can deprive individuals of liberty through imprisonment if a citizen fails to meet the basic obligations of responsible citizenship. In other words, rights and obligations go hand in hand, and a healthy society needs citizens who not only claim their rights but also own their responsibilities. To be concerned with one’s rights but not one’s responsibilities is harmful for the individual and society.
The Church is a society, and the Faithful are the citizens of that society, and the Church’s laws (precepts) are those basic codes of conduct that govern our common life together. To obey the precepts of the Church is to exercise responsible citizenship, which has both rights and obligations. For instance, a member of the Faithful has the right to the Sacraments, but they also have the responsibility to support the Church as she exercises her sacramental ministry. When the Church obliges the Faithful to assist with the needs of the Church, she establishes this obligation primarily that “the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for the works of the apostolate and of charity, and for decent support of ministers” (can. 222, §1). To contribute to these causes is the responsibility of each and every Christian who has the means to do so; to fail in this obligation is, in fact, sinful; even worse, to refuse to contribute to the material needs of the Church as a means of “sticking it to the man” betrays a lack of understanding and gratitude for all the Church does for us. And this is perhaps the most important aspect of this precept: gratitude. We give to the Church as an act of gratitude to God for all He has done for us in and through His Church; to give to the Church is to give to God Himself, because the Church is His Body on earth. Perhaps the Church will “misuse” the gift you give or need to use it for something with which you disagree, but that’s not really the point. God will judge His ministers for how they use the gifts entrusted to their care, but He will judge the faithful for whether or not they gave gifts in the first place. One may contest on judgment day: “But Lord, I only withheld my gift because I didn’t think I could trust them with it!” To which He will respond: “That may be, but what do you have that is truly yours? Is not everything you have merely my own gifts entrusted to you? And are you not also guilty of having abused my gifts from time to time? And yet, did I not entrust them to you all the same?” This precept also protects us from that insidious temptation that always arises when material treasures are in question – we want to hold our treasures close to our chest because we think we earned them by our own hard work; but our whole lives and all that we have are God’s gift. To support the material needs of the Church – which means concretely to support the needs of your parish – is an expression of faith and humility, and God loves a cheerful giver besides.
As a member of the Faithful, I am included in this obligation, and for what it is worth I and the individuals involved in stewarding your contributions take this responsibility very seriously, and would never do anything to betray your trust (though at times we may have to do things you may not like!). But if all of us, the entire Faithful of God, respond generously to our obligations to God and one another, we will form a just and holy society in our parish, and God will cause much fruit to come from that. As we begin this Lenten season, one of the three main areas of practice during this time is almsgiving. If you are not a consistent contributor to your parish, I invite you to consider making a commitment during Lent; if you already give consistently: thank you! And I invite you to consider if you might be able to give more. The Lord is never outdone in generosity, and our treasures become that much more effective when we place them in His hands. May God bless you in the week ahead and may Mother Mary lead you more deeply into the Sacred and Merciful Heart of Jesus. I remain,
Affectionately Yours in Christ,
Fr. Hess
