How do priests get paid?

[ukok]

Most of you know that i have a knack of asking daft things, so here goes...

How much of what we contribute in our weekly financial offering goes to the priest...does the priest recieve a basic allowance on which to live and is allowed to receive a portion of monetary offerings in addition to this? do different Diocese do things differently? I have read that at times of weddings, baptisms etc, that the priest can be allowed to recieve monetary gifts...i remember at Christmas, it stated quite clearly that monetry offerings on Christmas Day would be offerings to the priest...i myself am hoping to make a small offering at Easter...though it's unlikely to be very much as i am not working and have two children.

I would like to understand this better, and would appreciate your help. Thank you.

 

[epiclesis]

i think in some places, and at least in my diocese... the church pays for his necessities.. like a car or where he stays and stuff, and then he gets "pocket money"...

and again, at least in my diocese, weddings and stuff the bishop tells how much they can receive for them... i know my priest said he can only charge $200 for a wedding (he gets a very small portion of it) but the amount varies by church.

that's about the extent of my knowledge on this subject...

 

[Toney]

Diocesan priests are paid by the Diocese. They usually receive a package of benefits including possibly a car allowance, room and board in the rectory, health and retirement benefits. Most have discretionary funds from monies donated by parishioners. Religious priests, all of whom have taken a vow of poverty, turn any income over to their Order, which sees to their needs. Priests who teach, or have other income-producing responsbilities usually earn a fraction of the job scale average. I am sure there are variations from diocese to diocese, but this is pretty close.

 

[isshinwhat]

Our parish gives out its financial statement at the end of Mass once each year. It had our priest making $22,000 that year, with his salary being a little over $20,000 the next year. Why it was to go down, I have no idea, but tht is what the report said. We had a parish of about 2,000 families, as it wsa the only Catholic Church in town.

Don't know if that helps any, but there ya go!

God Bless,

Neal

 

[garydench]

I know that the offerings at Christmas and Easter go to the Priest but I think that here in the UK they are given food and other living allowances. Money for purchases such as surplices, albs and cassocks are also tax refundable.

I remember one quip about Anglican vicars being told to spell "cottar" as S-U-R-P-L-I-C-E!