When Robert Brom was in his rookie year as bishop of San Diego, I asked him how Catholic parents could reconcile the deemphasis on material wealth with the need to fund a Catholic education for their children.Brom answered that the average Catholic family gives 1.2% of their income to the church and if that figure was raised to 3%, Catholic education could be provided free to all those who want it.He didn’t exactly answer my question. But he did in a way answer the question of what is needed for parents, Catholic and otherwise, to be entitled to the best education possible for their children.The bishop’s figure of 1.2% falls considerably short of a tithe; however, the Catholic’s contribution to charity greatly exceeds the 10% of a tithe. Taxes today are well in excess of
