How much to give the local priest? (rural living)

One_Of_Shanks · 21-10-2016 08:31PM #1

So....... A knock at the door at 8pm this evening and it's the neighbour next door asking for a donation to the local priest/church.

Brief background probably useful..... We've been here a year, get on fine with neighbours, we're not in the least bit religious.

So I gave her 2.65 which is all I had in coins.

The dog was barking and I didnt want the kids woken and I'm from Dublin originally so the whole thing of person gathering money for local church is foreign to me and I was caught on the hop a bit.
The lady was perfectly polite and said thanks but did seem taken aback by my scant donation.

So I close the door and then get the head eaten off me by my missus saying I should have given at "least a tenner ffs".

Shes from Mayo so shes saying that you should always give a tenner.

How the hell am I supposed to know what you should "always give"?

So should I call round tomorrow and part with a tenner? Or would that look even worse?

I think I should leave it but herself is saying give the tenner tomorrow.

Feckin stupid situation imo. It's a Friday night, kids in bed and here I am worrying about supposedly not giving enough money to a religion that I dont even believe in.

Crazy crap.

Any thoughts?

SEPT 23 1989 · 21-10-2016 08:33PM

Leaving Dublin was a mistake

Allinall · 21-10-2016 08:33PM

One_Of_Shanks wrote: »

So....... A knock at the door at 8pm this evening and it's the neighbour next door asking for a donation to the local priest/church.

Brief background probably useful..... We've been here a year, get on fine with neighbours, we're not in the least bit religious.

So I gave her 2.65 which is all I had in coins.

The dog was barking and I didnt want the kids woken and I'm from Dublin originally so the whole thing of person gathering money for local church is foreign to me and I was caught on the hop a bit.
The lady was perfectly polite and said thanks but did seem taken aback by my scant donation.

So I close the door and then get the head eaten off me by my missus saying I should have given at "least a tenner ffs".

Shes from Mayo so shes saying that you should always give a tenner.

How the hell am I supposed to know what you should "always give"?

So should I call round tomorrow and part with a tenner? Or would that look even worse?

I think I should leave it but herself is saying give the tenner tomorrow.

Feckin stupid situation imo. It's a Friday night, kids in bed and here I am worrying about supposedly not giving enough money to a religion that I dont even believe in.

Crazy crap.

Any thoughts?

If you don't go round with the tenner you'll go to hell.

Up to you really.

Delphinium · 21-10-2016 08:37PM

Let it go. If you are not using the service why should you pay, It is assumed in rural areas that you are a church goer. Might change when your child begins school and you decide that they will take part in religious ceremonies. Worry about something that matters.

deandean · 21-10-2016 08:37PM

2.65 that is simply an insult. I'd have more change knocking around in my pubes.
Either tell her no get lost, or give her a 20 / 50.

gifted · 21-10-2016 08:39PM

Tell the neighbour he can have a night with your missus....for 1 million euros...should keep him away from the door

3 the square · 21-10-2016 08:39PM

Give twenty ul get it back on the double in good fortune.

diomed · 21-10-2016 08:39PM

Do you not know the list of donations are read out at every mass on Sunday?

tomwaterford · 21-10-2016 08:41PM

Tell them to fcuk right off calling to your door looking for money

Grandfather done that 50 odd years ago....the church is the richest organisation in the country

stimpson · 21-10-2016 08:43PM

Put all your money in a trust and when he comes around tell him you're broke.

It's what the church did instead of paying damages to the people they abused so they'll understand.

21-10-2016 08:44PM

You should have told her you're a Jehova's Witness, and would she like to hear The Good News?

Wouldn't be long turning on her old wagon wheels.

ger vallely · 21-10-2016 08:44PM

Blast em with piss.

corner of hells · 21-10-2016 08:45PM

OP , your fcuked.You'll be struck by.lightening the minute you leave the house.

On a more serious note , how hot was the neighbour collecting the cash ?'

diomed · 21-10-2016 08:45PM

tomwaterford wrote: »

Tell them to fcuk right off calling to your door looking for money

Grandfather done that 50 odd years ago....the church is the richest organisation in the country

CRH is number 1 in the top 1000 companies with profit of €1 billion. That equates to about €250 for every man, woman, child. Your stat might be a bit off.
Ok, I know CRH has overseas businesses, but I doubt you have seen the accounts of the Church of Ireland.

BreadnBuddha · 21-10-2016 08:46PM

Tell your missus to go and give them a tenner tomorrow if she thinks it's due.

If you're not 'in' you don't owe them anything more than a "No thank you. Appreciate if you wouldn't come asking again as I'm not Catholic, especially at a time the children are gone to bed. Goodnight".

myshirt · 21-10-2016 08:46PM

Well, someone's not getting the jump tonight.

Fleawuss · 21-10-2016 08:46PM

Why are they calling door to door? They used to collect with envelopes. You get a box of pre printed and some of them are for priest. I'd be very suspicious of what was going on with a door to door. It could well be a nosy git trying to Suss you out. Check with the Gardai if anyone was collecting officially with a permit and if not make a complaint. Be gas to see the outcome.

dmc17 · 21-10-2016 08:47PM

tomwaterford wrote: »

Tell them to fcuk right off calling to your door looking for money

Grandfather done that 50 odd years ago....the church is the richest organisation in the country

They've got a good business model though. You give us your money and we'll give you some imaginary products in return for your money. It keeps production costs down

corner of hells · 21-10-2016 08:47PM

ger vallely wrote: »

Blast em with piss.

Hehehe, the day will come someone in AH will actually blast someone with piss.

And come in here and relate the story to us.

_Brian · 21-10-2016 08:47PM

I'm from rural Ireland and never heard of such door to door collections for the priest.
Wouldn't be contributing anything. Those who go to mass make donations there. If they want more donations they need to make church more attractive to more people which they won't do.

Starscream25 · 21-10-2016 08:49PM

All this door calling looking for
Money should be illegal. All it does is feed on people's Guilt, naivety and innocence, sometimes it can be hard to say no tho when looking someone straight in the eye when you really just want them to get lost.

corner of hells · 21-10-2016 08:50PM

_Brian wrote: »

I'm from rural Ireland and never heard of such door to door collections for the priest.
Wouldn't be contributing anything. Those who go to mass make donations there. If they want more donations they need to make church more attractive to more people which they won't do.

Is it possible you're the priest, father Brian ?

Akrasia · 21-10-2016 08:50PM

dmc17 wrote: »

They've got a good business model though. You give us your money and we'll give you some imaginary products in return for your money. It keeps production costs down

Yeah, and what's with this unleavened ****e they give out at communion. If it was a proper sandwich I might even go to mass.

corner of hells · 21-10-2016 08:52PM

Akrasia wrote: »

Yeah, and what's with this unleavened ****e they give out at communion. If it was a proper sandwich I might even go to mass.

And we don't even get to taste the wine.
Unless you rob it of out of the sacristy.
Not that I know anything about that , no sir.

dmc17 · 21-10-2016 08:53PM

Akrasia wrote: »

Yeah, and what's with this unleavened ****e they give out at communion. If it was a proper sandwich I might even go to mass.

And they hog all the wine for themselves

jester77 · 21-10-2016 08:55PM

I thought they send around a basket during their service? Or do they not to that any more and call around to all the neighbours instead.

super_furry · 21-10-2016 08:57PM

People begging door to door should be grateful for whatever they're given.

JohnCleary · 21-10-2016 08:58PM

"Is the church stuck for a few bob? I'd be delighted to help. Tell you what, i'll call down at a time that suits and we'll look over the accounts. Obviously* they're in dire need. I'll donate and the church can issue a receipt so I can write it off (tax) as a donation"

You'll never hear from the cnuts again

* = sarcasm

corner of hells · 21-10-2016 08:59PM

jester77 wrote: »

I thought they send around a basket during their service? Or do they not to that any more and call around to all the neighbours instead.

People kept putting buttons and tokens in the basket.

tomwaterford · 21-10-2016 08:59PM

diomed wrote: »

CRH is number 1 in the top 1000 companies with profit of €1 billion. That equates to about €250 for every man, woman, child. Your stat might be a bit off.
Ok, I know CRH has overseas businesses, but I doubt you have seen the accounts of the Church of Ireland.

Catholic Church and church of Ireland are different organisations???

They hold vast swades of land in most towns and cities of Ireland.....they are by far and away the richest in ireland

Either way it's 2016.....the days of people feeling they have to give money to them are long gone.....OP should try get his money back

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 21-10-2016 09:00PM

_Brian wrote: »

I'm from rural Ireland and never heard of such door to door collections for the priest.
Wouldn't be contributing anything. Those who go to mass make donations there. If they want more donations they need to make church more attractive to more people which they won't do.

Never heard of a collection when a priest was leaving after years in a parish? What part of rural Ireland has never had a collection for something like that?

OP, if you're not a practicing catholic then don't contribute if you don't want too. It's not expected.

How much to give the local priest? (rural living)

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