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As groceries, fuel, utilities, and other necessities claim a larger share of the household budget, even established habits may need to be reconsidered. For many Catholic families, that includes charitable giving.
The Church asks Catholics to support its material needs according to their abilities; it does not impose a universal ten-percent requirement. Tithing can be a valuable spiritual discipline, but a percentage alone cannot account for every family’s circumstances. The more important question may be whether generosity remains an intentional part of the family’s financial life.
Inflation also affects the parish, food pantry, school, or charity receiving the gift. Families able to maintain or increase their giving can help offset that loss of purchasing power. Others may need to give less while finding additional ways to offer their time, talent, prayer, and service. Inflation may change what we can give, but it need not prevent us from considering what we can share.
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