THE SIXTH PRECEPT OF THE CHURCH
From The Precepts of the Church by Bernard Clements O.S.B. (1936) pages 55 and 56
To give regularly to the support of the Church and Ministry.
THIS covers, of course, not only the personal giving in support of one's favourite clergy-man, but the whole business of seeing that clergy are supported in places where they are needed, and where, it may be, the local inhabitants are not able to support them themselves, e.g., in very poor districts, or in parts of the mission field. It will include also the providing of opportunities of training for men whom God destines for the priest-hood, and for whose training He may very likely destine us to find the means. The Church is a Body, not a collection of individuals who happen to be trying to serve God. And each member fulfils his function as an agent of the whole Body, a living and active limb of Christ's Mystical Body on earth. And all the other members must render every assistance in their power. And naturally if we are going to provide clergy we shall also have to provide buildings in which they may minister the Sacraments, and in which they may conduct the worship of God, and these buildings, being in God's honour, must be seemly, and so far as possible places of beauty. And if our clergy are to do their work for God adequately, then they must be free from the continuous strain of financial anxiety under which many of them at present have to live. It has generally been held that a minimum of one-tenth of one's income should be expended in this way, but it is apparent that where personal income is either very small, or is non-existent, this rule has no force. But it has force where it can be observed, and it should be noted that it is a minimum of obligation, not a maximum of charity.
Michael Fighting
