Many religion textbooks fail the scrutiny of Catholic panel

Omaha World-Herald. All ^

[narses]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Roman Catholic Church is handing out failing grades to most of the religion textbooks used to instruct the country's 680,000 Catholic high school students.

A church committee that studies the material found that some of the textbooks avoid saying adultery and premarital sex are sins. Others depict the Bible as little more than a history book, the group says.

That's not all: It claims one textbook explains that Jesus' miracles were the result of luck.

Archbishop Alfred Hughes of New Orleans, chairman of the church's national education committee, has urged all bishops to pull any high school religion textbooks that have not been pre-approved by his committee.

"There are a number of doctrinally deficient texts that are still being widely used, supposedly to educate and form our young people in the faith," Hughes said in a speech to a general convention of U.S. bishops in December.

Since June 2001, just one-third of texts submitted to Hughes' committee have received its approval. Hughes said the committee found a pattern of deviations from Catholic teaching in the books:

• Tentative language that depicts Catholic doctrine as a matter of opinion, not fact.

• Weak explanations of the importance of church hierarchy and the church's ban on female priests.

• References to "partners" rather than husbands and wives.

• The depiction of the Bible as a historical document.

• Presenting premarital abstinence as a way to avoid pregnancy or AIDS, rather than necessary to avoid committing a sin.

About 25 publishing houses submit religion textbooks to the committee for approval, though that's not required before a book can be used in a Catholic classroom. However, the committee's approval makes books more likely to be approved by the 277 bishops around the country; and the prelates have final say on which texts can be used in the schools in their dioceses.

The review process usually takes at least six months per book

[narses]

Teach the little children -- THE TRUTH.

[Texas Eagle]

A church committee that studies the material found that some of the textbooks avoid saying adultery and premarital sex are sins. Others depict the Bible as little more than a history book, the group says.

Does the textbook explain why Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary?

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

perhaps you can explain to me the subtle distinction I am missing "The Bible as a Historical Document." Are not the Gospel accounts, how it happened. I guess, I read that statement as an argument that the Bible is merely theological reflection, just a little confused. God Bless

[netmilsmom]

bttt

[narses]

The honest ones do. We ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray for us as we ask others to, saints in heaven, family and friends here on earth. God hears all prayers and clearly heeds those of His mother (you do recall the Miracle at Cana, yes?), so asking for her help is both sound theologically and naturally.

[netmilsmom]

No, Catholic mothers like myself teach our children to pray for Mary's intercession. Why?

[narses]

The Bible is historical fact, however; it is much more than "...little more than a history book".

[steplock]

That's not all: It claims one textbook explains that Jesus' miracles were the result of luck

???

Just more attempts from the leftists to denegrate the moral, just, and righteous Christians.

[RobbyS]

St. Augustine, after he became a priests, took two years off to study the Scriptures: Not to improve his powers as a theologian, but to refresh his soul.

[Texas Eagle]

...(you do recall the Miracle at Cana, yes?),

No. Chapter and Verse please.

[Texas Eagle]

No, Catholic mothers like myself teach our children to pray for Mary's intercession. Why?

That's what I'd like to know. Why?

[BlessedBeGod]

Wedding and miracle at Cana: John 2:1 through 2:11.

[Texas Eagle]

Ohhhh-kayyy. Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding.

And you extrapolate this into praying to Mary to intercede for you?

[Frank_2001]

We're getting a little sidetracked here, the point is to have the faith portrayed accurately in textbooks. Books used to get the "Imprimatur" and "Nihil Obstat", if that's not done anymore IMO it should be.

[nmh]

Maybe I can help.

Well, my Bible tells me that Christ is the ONLY mediator and the Holy Spirit is the ONLY intercessor.

1Tim 2:5

[5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

and

Romans 8:26

[26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Christ alone died for our sins making reconcilliation with God possible

2Cor. 5:19

[19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

The Holy Spirit nor did Mary die for our sins. The Holy Spirit prays to the Father on our behalf, based on the redeeming work of Christ alone. The intercession of the Holy Spirit is not in heaven, as Christ's work is.

1John 2:1-2

[1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

[2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Rather it is IN us IF we are believers. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, in believers, pleads in us to the Father on the grounds of the mediating work of the Son.

Sounds like the Catholic church needs to get acquainted with the Bible. A Christian doesn't Mary or any other mortal to do any interceding since according to God in the Bible, the Holy Spirit does the intercessor. Mary isn't mentioned anywhere for that role nor should she be.

If people would just take the time to read the Bible they'd get it right. Hope that helps!

[taxesareforever]

Amen

[battousai]

That's all good and well, can you tell me where in the Bible it tells us that divorce is ok?

perhaps you protestants should get the important things from the Bible correct first.. you know the old plank in your eye before the speck in your neigbours.

[D-fendr]

why Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary?

It's a common misconception. We are not taught to "pray to" Mary - as we would God, but to ask for Mary's prayers.

As in the Hail Mary: "… pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death…"

It's like you asking for another's prayers, except in addition we believe Mary has a special relationship with her son.

[OpusatFR]

I guess I could comment if the track hadn't been hijacked and now completely off course.