AntcuFaalb said:
I was raised by a Roman Catholic family, but I've been a Strong Agnostic for quite a long time now.
How do you feel about the common practice of Roman Catholic churches taking collections?
It has always seemed a bit corrupt to me to take time away from mass to walk around and request donations from people. My former church, St. Robert Bellarmine, managed to raise $2 million from collections alone while I was there.
Plus, doesn't God have enough money?
The money is not for God, but for the physical aspect of the Church. I'm not sure how else churches (buildings) and other Catholic buildings would be maintained if it weren't for revenue from this. I have never seen a church budget, so I don't know for sure where all the money goes and the collection at Sunday Mass may not be the only source of revenue for maintenance. I know that that money is used for maintenance though, and it is also used for the priests, since they have no salary and rely on that money for purchasing food, clothing, and other necessities.
An additional reason for tithing besides its practical purposes is to encourage people not to be too attached to their money. One of the beatitudes is "blessed are the poor in spirit" and tithing is supposed to help us follow that. Poor in spirit means being detached from physical things (it doesn't mean not having them), so by giving ten percent of our earnings, Catholics are encouraged not to be so selfish with our physical possessions as well as supporting their church and priest.