The Catholic Archbishop of Kampala, Cyprian Kizito Lwanga has proposed to the central government to deduct 10% from people’s monthly salary and forward same to the church.
Archbishop Lwanga who Spoke at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Rubaga during mass on Sunday, explained that many Christians do not tithe and such affects projects being carried out by the church, Kenya’s Citizen TV reports.
“Whenever we ask for tithe, everyone gives only what they have at that time. But the Bible says a tenth of whatever you earn belongs to the church,” said Archbishop Lwanga.
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“Give me your support as I front this proposal because it is good for us. Aren’t you tired of putting money in the baskets all the time?”
Archbishop Lwanga said he wanted Uganda to go the Germany route where Germans who are registered as Catholics, Protestants or Jews have a church tax (Kirchensteuer) of 8-9 per cent deducted from their annual income.
The church tax is collected by the government and channelled to the respective faiths.
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“I was told Germans make agreements with their government to deduct monthly tithe from their salaries and forward it to the church and this money they use to build and renovate their churches,” he concluded.
The Kirchensteuer system which has been in place since the late 19th Century is rooted in the pre-Christian Germanic taxing custom.
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Those who do not want to pay the tax can leave the church by making an official declaration stating they are leaving the faith and millions have left the catholic church because of it.
Once you leave, you are no longer eligible to receive the sacrament, participate in confession, confirmation or take part in church activities in Germany.
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