Making year-end gift: It's now better than ever

		Diocese of Madison  Office of Stewardship  and Development  Daun Maier

Often November comes and we feel like somehow the year slipped away. So many things we wanted to accomplish remain on our "to do" list.

And yet when reflecting on all we have received and accomplishments made, it naturally brings us to a point of wanting to share in thanksgiving. Many people consider year-end to be the time of year they choose to provide a gift to the charitable organizations they care most about.

The holiday season coupled with tax timelines prompt all of us to think about how our gift can help others and have the most favorable tax implications.

Give from your IRA as never before

One benefit that 2006 did bring is the enactment of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. This is an important change for many people to consider. If you are 70-1/2 and receive mandatory distributions from your IRA or Roth IRA, you can now make a direct gift to your parish or the diocese and have the distribution be completely tax-free. There are a few important things to remember when considering this option.

• You must be 70-1/2 or older.

• You must transfer the funds from your IRA directly to the charity.

• Your gift can be any amount up to $100,000.

• This IRA gift option is available only for tax years 2006 and 2007.

This change offers a remarkable opportunity for many people. If you have never considered making a year-end gift, now is the time to consider making one from your IRA distribution.

Don't forget appreciated securities

Appreciated securities offer another great opportunity for year-end giving. By donating securities that have appreciated directly to charity, you are able to save the capital gains on the appreciated amount. This too can offer you a great way to help your parish or the diocese and receive a tax benefit.

Make a gift and still receive income

Another giving option is the Charitable Gift Annuity program offered by the diocese.

Donors must be 65 and the minimum annuity amount is $5,000. Under this plan, you receive quarterly income payments based upon your age for the rest of your life. A portion of these payouts represents a charitable contribution and is tax-free.

You can take the charitable deduction immediately, then at the end of the annuity period, the gift portion is given to the diocesan Catholic organization of your choice. For example, the diocese, your parish, or parish school could be named the beneficiary. Add the tax benefits associated with this program and it may be the ideal giving opportunity for you.

Your gifts should be what you want them to be

Whatever your giving plans may be, it is important to make sure your gifts are in line with your overall financial plan. Make sure to contact your tax advisor to discuss what your desires are for year-end charitable giving.

It is also important to clearly share with your financial professional what you would like to see accomplished through your giving. Simple gifts now can make a big difference for many in the future. If making a gift to the church has been on your list of things to do, now is the time to consider options that best fit your needs.

If you have any questions on leaving a gift to your parish, parish school, or the diocese, contact Daun Maier in the Diocese of Madison Office of Stewardship and Development at 608-821-3046.

Daun Maier is the associate director of the Office of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Madison.

Sacrifice of children:
To the gods of materialism

		A Culture  of Life  Fr. Eric Nielsen

At Mass we sometimes hear Old Testament readings that speak about the tensions between the Israelites and the neighboring Canaanites.

The reason was simple: the Israelites worshipped the true Lord while the Canaanites worshipped false gods - the Baals. Baal worship was a far cry from what the Israelites had inherited from God on Mt. Sinai.

For besides the general sexual immorality that surrounded the temple cult of Baal, Canaanite worship practice frequently included child sacrifice as an attempt to obtain the favor of material wealth.

Whenever the Israelites would stray to Baal worship, God would send prophets calling the Israelites to honor their covenant with the Lord, knock down their altars to Baal, and cease from immolating their children.

Similarities in culture

We could stand to hear this same advice today, for not only are we awash in immoral sexual practice, but we also live at a time when many people see no difficulty sacrificing children in order to gain material wealth.

We see this most commonly in couples who choose to forgo children to maintain a wealthier lifestyle. True, this action does not carry the same horrible stench of actual child sacrifice to Baal, but the motive is the same and the means are similar, even if people do not realize it.

By contracepting they are in effect saying, "We wish to sacrifice children to satisfy our desire for wealth and pleasure."

Minimal responsibility

Forty years ago contraception was primarily used by married adults because of a desire not to have what they considered "too many" children, while today large populations of people use contraception because of their desire for NO children.

This has turned the pursuit of happiness into the freedom to seek sensual pleasure and wealth with minimal responsibility to family, community, or country.

Instead of a culture centered on home and family, we now live in a culture that caters to the desires of self-centered egoists. Children are seen as burdens and are moved to the margins of society; increasingly we live our lives without them. Sounds all rather depressing, doesn't it?

Fortunately for the United States, many young people are consciously rejecting a life centered on personal pleasure in order to find happiness in the pursuit of virtue, and there are few more naturally virtuous acts than sacrificing individual goals in order to marry and start a family.

And thank God for them, lest we face the dilemma of countries such as Russia and Japan that now face serious social difficulties due to their falling populations.

Rewards of family

One of my greatest rewards is working with young people who have made a conscious decision to marry young and start what they hope will be a large family.

Are they a little naive? Of course! I was a little naive when I entered the seminary, but all great adventures require a step into the unknown. And soon enough they will experience great rewards for the sacrifices they are making - sacrifices that can be made joyfully by those who love and follow Christ.

As a parish priest, I have spent many hours sitting around dining room tables speaking with brothers and sisters who are planning the funeral of their father or mother.

While there are always tears, the ones who laugh and cry the most are those from families with parents who were most generous in having children and who placed them above all their own desires and material possessions.

Fr. Eric Nielsen is pastor of St. Paul University Catholic Center in Madison. This column is syndicated by www.OneMoreSoul.com