You might think it would be otherwise, but a story out this weekend indicates bad times are good news for charitable giving to churches:

Frank Berning, a lifelong Roman Catholic, has upped his church giving as the economy drooped.

“I always try to contribute what’s possible, and our priest stressed that there are unemployed people in our parish,” the 77-year-old Cincinnati man said.

“There was a time I didn’t have a penny to give. Now that I do, I try to help pick up the slack for those who can’t give.”

Berning doesn’t disclose donation amounts.

Many factors, including diocese size and location, the ways appeals are presented and the strength of parishioner support can affect church fundraising, but Roman Catholic leaders believe the tough economy is helping their annual fund drives this year as hard times hit people closer to home. Fundraising or the size of gifts is up in Cincinnati and some other cities.

“We asked that people consider giving $50 more for those out of work and unable to give,” said Greg Magnoni, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Seattle. “The number of people giving is up, and the average gift is way up this year.”

The Seattle Archdiocese expects to receive more than $13 million this year compared with about $12 million in 2008. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati raised $3.4 million — below the more than $4 million collected in 2001 but almost $1 million more than last year.

Read on at the link.