Catholics and Welfare Reform

Some Catholics might like Bethell’s suggestion of tithing to the state. Those who support tax-free churches do not enjoy tax-free status themselves. These citizens pay taxes to the city, county, state and federal governments just like everyone else. Catholics save the public untold dollars by running their own schools while still paying public school taxes.

Aside from nations, the Catholic Church is the world’s largest charitable organization. Catholic charities have a reputation for providing community services at a cost much below that of most other similar groups because of the thousands of hours of volunteer work contributed.

If Catholics paid tithes to the state, they could forget the volunteer hours, close their schools and service organizations and shift all responsibility to state-paid employees. It might cost Catholics less in the long run, but who will pick up the slack?

MARGARET FINLEY

Banning