He's exactly right. Some say you can't refuse anyone the sacraments, yet if you know the children will not be reared in the faith...not only is the priest to account for the souls under his watch, but the parents will also have to answer to God.
First off, I should tell you my parish is in the Bronx, NY. As a catechist, I have seen what they call the factory lines...you have a couple that wants two drug-dealers for godparents (money) and they don't get the concept of what a parent's or godparent's responsibility is. You teach them of the seriousness of the sacraments and how they are charged to practice their faith and to make sure their children are taught about their faith.
4 weeks later, baptism, they've got family (despite several requests not to), running all over the sanctuary. They're more concerned about the big party after and the family that comes has no idea when to stand, kneel, pray and they run to get in line for communion (in spite of several talks beforehand on this also). Then you never see them again.
In the RCIA, where you have adults who either: haven't been back since first communion or confirmation, converts, just want to get married...you name it. You catechize them as well as you can... I'm not judging...it does make you wonder why you do it. It doesn't help when you have a pastor that doesn't genuflect (before the tabernacle or during/after the consecration. A sister that teaches 'You can say Our Mother instead of Our Father' (no lie...after 4 years of prayer...she's gone, to spread heresy with Benzinger, maker of a catechetical series...even worse). You would howl with laughter at the face she'd make at the mere mention of EWTN.
I told the head of CCD last year, when she requested help (she must have been in a real spot to ask me, to help the kids with the readings for first communions (we have five Sundays...five masses each Sunday with three languages...yeah, exactly). I noticed not ONE parent was there for either rehearsal...one guy even dropped a six-year old off and turned to leave...I asked him where he was going, he was supposed to stay...his response 'her mother told me to drop her off...I don't have anything to do with that'...Is it me? I told the CCD director (after I asked if she sent letters home for the parents to be at the rehearsals), she needed to get their teachers right now...get them on the cell phones and call every parent...Tell them if they didn't get there right now, their child would not receive the sacraments. That just doesn't make sense...especially in a dangerous place like the Bronx. Some parents use religious classes like babysitters...Don't get me wrong, I have seen nine year olds come to Mass by themselves (praise God), not dropped off...walked to Mass by themselves. A year later, their parents start coming...sometimes it takes the children to bring the parents back.
A rabbi, a Baptist minister, and a priest are sitting around drinking coffee and complaining. The rabbi says, "Oy, I have bats under the eaves of the synagogue. I've tried everything, inflatable owls, wind chimes, birdlime, you name it, I can't get rid of them." The minister says, "Yeah, they're in the steeple at our church, can't get rid of them, called the exterminator, it's no use."
"I don't have a problem," said the priest. "I just baptized and confirmed them, and now they only show up at Christmas and Easter . . . ."