IGNORANT CATHOLICS - The alarming void in religious education

Commonweal ^ | April 2004 | John Cavadini

[redhead]

"I have volunteered to be part of the Religious Education committee at my very liberal parish. I have a 1912 Baltimore Cathechism. What else would you suggest I bring into this group in the fall?"

A copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and your Bibles. You can make the class as formal or informal as you like. Poll those who attend and see what format they would prefer. Then start reading around the table. Stop and discuss whenever anyone has a question or observation. Simple as that.

[MudPuppy]

I've taught RCIC for the last 4 years and was Blessed to sponsor a fantastic young couple in RCIA this year.
Our Easter Vigil Mass was almost 3 1/2 hours long and one of the most beautiful Masses I've ever attended.

We welcomed 32 faith filled people into the Church that night.

p.s. I teach my classes mostly from the Baltimore Catechism and the CCC. We spend time discussing applications of the faith in real life. It's awesome!

[fortunecookie]

It may be just that simple - a return to basics.

It would be a welcome change. I can hear some of our Rel Ed teachers - complaining. Imagine my shock when, recently at a meeting with some of the teachers, I found that many of them had read DaVinci Code, and one found it to be an eye opener that 'confirmed some of her suspicions' and earlier teachings. She was irritated when I pointed out a few of the heretical things therein. And almost no one went to see the Passion. Too violent. I think we would lose a bunch of these teachers. But that's better than perpetuating errors.

[NYer]

What a truly sad testimony to how a parish selects its catechetical instructors! It was a real eye opener for me two years ago, when I volunteered to teach the Confirmation class. The instructors manual - all 500 pages of it - was based on New Age principles. The student handbook - all 50 pages of it - was used as a fan by most of the students.

The Baltimore Catechism is a constant testimonial to the quality of solid catholic catechesis. The liberals see it as outdated and less than 'fun'. It was interesting to hear these same teachers discussing the tactics used by the local evangelical church to lure our yourth in their direction. "Hello - how about poor catechesis!"

[fortunecookie]

It was interesting to hear these same teachers discussing the tactics used by the local evangelical church to lure our yourth in their direction. "Hello - how about poor catechesis!"

It almost seems like some of our own 'teachers' are using the same new-agey, bland catechesis, to send them away. Hardly a coup for the local evangelicals in your area, considering how some purportedly Catholic texts, with their new-agey principals and watered down it's-all-good teachings, practically push the kids and adults out the door into the waiting arms of others denominations. A small Methodist church in our area claims as new members, every year(!), former Catholics educated in our Catholic schools from this predominantly Catholic town. And they aren't very nice about their methods, either, telling kids their parents are lying to them and they all are going to hell. With no strong foundation, many, even the adults, are falling away.