Dear Editor:
While reading your article on the fact that Utah leads the nation in the per capita number of bankruptcies I saw that a number of potential causes were listed. Among these were the high cost of living, easy credit availability, high housing costs, low wages and an achievement-oriented population. While these undoubtedly contribute, I believe that another potential cause needs to be considered, which was not addressed in your article.
This is the amount of money contributed to the Mormon Church in the form of tithing and other donations, in addition to extra costs required to support children on missions, all of which, taken together, may account for 15 percent of someone’s gross income. Unlike other expenses and debts that must be listed on loan applications, contributions to charities are not listed. As a result, the debt to income ratio is actually much higher. While Church contributions are supposedly voluntary, they are actually required for individuals who are employed by the Church, including those working at BYU. As far as tithing goes, a flat 10 percent tithe is analogous to a regressive tax, since it hurts the lowest income earners the most.
Don Robertson
Oceanside, CA and former BYU faculty member
