A catholic priest, Rev Fr. Oluoma Chinenye John also known as Fada Oluomo has said the catholic church does not in any way preach tithing as a doctrine.
He however pointed out that members of the church who feel obliged to pay tithe are not prevented from doing so.
Oluoma made the observation in an online video interview with Ifedayo Olarinde a.k.a Daddy Freeze; published on Oluoma’s Facebook wall on October 30.
In the interview, the catholic priest said it is not a tradition for any catholic priest to preach about tithing. “In the catholic church, tithing is regarded as one of the many ways one can give to God. Tithing is not a doctrine in the church. It is not a dogma. It is optional.” He said.
Oluoma disclosed that the several other ways of raising funds in the church include; offertory, free-will donations, bazaar. adding that “what the church does is to encourage members to give freely and willingly.”
Asked if he collects tithe in his church, he said, “I collect tithe because there are people in my church who are always eager to pay. They tell you their faith is tied to it. But we don’t preach that if you don’t tithe things will be tight for you. We don’t attach any blessings to tithe. I have pastored a church of about 5000 people, those who pay tithe were not up to 5 percent in that church.”
He said further that, “God does not bless according to your tithe. God does not single out tithers to bless above those who don’t tithe. If God blesses tithers especially, non-Christians should not prosper. There are many Christians who tithe who are still poor. You don’t give because you want your needs to be met but because there is a need. God rewards generosity in his own time. Tithing is not a watertight sure cocksure way of becoming prosperous. The apostles did not preach tithe. Paul campaigned for generosity”
Oluoma who talked on a wide range of issues also lampooned pastors who rain curses on people under whatever guise.
He opined, “it is unchristian to curse. Jesus asked us to bless and not curse. It is not right for pastors to curse people who disagree with them. Jesus himself did not retaliate when he was insulted. Those curses are useless and meaningless. We can’t play God.
Some pastors according to him, “think they can tell God what to do. If it happens like that, we would have seen dead bodies everywhere. It is not the best way to go. I am not encouraging people to disobey the men of God but men of God should be big enough to allow some things. God said to Abraham that he will curse those who curse him. We are not the ones to lay the curse. It is not biblical. God is the one who said he would curse those who curse us.”
Oluoma believes “those who pray the “fall down and die prayers” for any perceived enemy don’t have faith in God. If the. “fall down and die” prayer works, I would have loved to pray it for the politicians who steal our money. But it does not work. If it works, nobody will have enemies again because they would all have died by now. God is the one who decides what prayers to answer. Christians should pray for protection from enemies but should not pray they should die. Prayer for people to die is a prayer of those who don’t have faith.”