A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr Anselm Onyeka has condemned the continued collection of tithe from worshippers in some churches, describing the act as stealing from the people.
Speaking in a homily during the dedication of little Obinna Duruiheoma, son of Damian Duruiheoma, the Imo State correspondent of The UNION newspapers, at St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Church, Nekede Mechanic Village, Owerri the Imo State capital, Onyeka, who is the parish priest of the church, said tithing was no longer obtainable because, according to him, Jesus Christ never spoke of it all his life time on earth.
He said it amounted to surcharging the people after tasking them to contribute for the building of the church, training the priest and other forms of offerings in the church, saying that all the priests collecting tithes do not account for it as the bishop or higher authority in the church was not aware of it.
The priest said in the Catholic Church for instance, apart from the special contributions meant to take care of other works in any diocese, the only money that is given to the bishop is 20 percent of the Sunday offering from all the parishes that make up the diocese while another 20 percent is kept for the old peoples homes and that tithes collected in any Catholic Church were never accounted for.
He lamented that because of the zeal to satisfy priests for tithes, some people engage in kidnapping and all sorts of crimes.
The clergyman further lamented that tithing had become a big business for some priests who now build mansions and live expensive lifestyles.
He used the opportunity to advise parents to train their children in the way of God, saying lack of proper training of children had left the society with the current problems ravaging it.
Onyeka said any parents whose six year-old child cannot pray and read should be blamed for not giving the child a good parental care and upbringing.
