Originally Posted by
tripwire
Not entirely. Most parishes have rectories where the priests get room and board. They get a salary which they are free to use as they wish. They have bank accounts, credit cards, and they make investments. One priest I know makes extra money in the summers by being the spiritual director on pilgrimages and others by giving talks and workshops in parishes. This is his money to keep. Priests have to buy their own personal items...toiletries, clothing, cars, gas, books, etc. Some parishes have TVs and computers for the resident priests to use, but some buy their own...for instance if they wanted a big screen tv or a lap top. Some parishes, like mine, have very nice rectories with housekeepers and cooks, but other parishes the priests basically live on their own and do their own cleaning and cooking. I know quite a few priests who own their own homes or apartments which they use duing days off or on vacation time.
secular priests, that is those attached to the bishop of a diocese rather than to a religious order, receive a salary based on their job--pastor, parochial vicar, chaplain, director of a diocesan office, teacher, or whatever. in most dioceses all priests receive the same salary, unless the work for another organization such as a college or hospital. they usually receive a stipend for expenses such as gasoline, and sometimes a living allowance. Most parishes have residences called rectories. Some live in private homes or apartments near their jobs, and some have rooms at seminaries, colleges or other such places. Retired priests often live in parish rectories with the younger priests, in seminaries, or in nursing homes or assisted living if necessary. they do not take a vow of poverty. If they have private means such as family money they may spend or invest it in any way they choose. They get pay into SS and medicare, and usually into a diocesan pension or retirement plan.
Order priests take a vow of poverty, and usually may own nothing personal, even their clothing is considered to belong to the order, and if they receive gifts, technically they belong to the order, although usually they are permitted to keep and use appropriate personal articles like toiletries, pens, books etc. They generally live in a residence provided by the order and are given an allowance for expenses such as gasoline or whatever is required if their work takes them outside.
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