This week in Christian history: Catholic theologian dies; pope martyred; France abolishes tithes

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Twitter

France abolishes mandatory Church tithes — August 4, 1789

The Storming of the Bastille in 1789, which began the French Revolution.
The Storming of the Bastille in 1789, which began the French Revolution. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when the French National Assembly, having only recently taken power during the French Revolution, abolished the national tithe.

Part of the August decrees, which were aimed at abolishing feudal law in general in France, the measure greatly reduced the income for the French Catholic Church.

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

“Tithes of every description, as well as the dues which have been substituted for them, under whatever denomination they are known or collected (even when compounded for), possessed by secular or regular congregations … are abolished,” read Article Five, which provided a few exemptions.

As the Revolution continued, however, the National Assembly would take greater measures to marginalize the Catholic Church and even attempt to violently stamp it out.

Follow Michael Gryboski on Twitter or Facebook

Was this article helpful?

Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone.

By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount, you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone.

$25/month$50/quarter$100/yearOne-time

We’re sorry to hear that.

Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage.

Most Popular

More Articles