[LWalk18]

I'm not Catholic, but I can see the pastor's point. If the parents won't attend mass, then religious education of the children is a waste of time because they won't be attending either. Even when they become old enough to go on their own they will be less likely to attend more than occasionally. Parents must set an example in their children's spiritual lives.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Even when they become old enough to go on their own they will be less likely to attend more than occasionally.

They'll be even less likely to, if they got booted out of CCD for something beyond their control.

[pepperdog]

When I went to a parochial school Mass attendance was mandatory. It was not an item for discussion, you attended every Sunday regardless! It was like a law, in fact I think it was a sin to miss Sunday Mass unless you were sick or had some very good reason. Did the RCC change the law? Can you skip Sunday Mass now? Just curious.

[Aquinasfan]

I'm not Catholic, but I can see the pastor's point. If the parents won't attend mass, then religious education of the children is a waste of time because they won't be attending either. Even when they become old enough to go on their own they will be less likely to attend more than occasionally. Parents must set an example in their children's spiritual lives.

That's the "pro" argument. The same issue arises regarding Catholic baptisms. The priest has the prerogative of denying baptism to infants if the parents have demonstrated only a cultural interest in baptism.