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"The CCD suffered a body blow in the 1960-70s. It is coming back, but if it was healthy, we would not have as many catholics, and we would instead have more Catholics."

That is all fine and well, but how do I, as someone interested in adult education in the Church, bring people to classes? How do we go about educating the adults with such crazy ideas of what the Church teaches? When we initiate classes here at our parish, it seems the same few people are showing up, with exception to some classes we did on the Passion movie last year.

I say it has to start in the pulpit. The homily is going to have to begin teaching the faith, with the assumption that those in the pews have a first grade CCD level education. How many Catholics do you think read the Bible? The Catechism? I would venture to say that it is proportional to the numbers of people who do not believe in the Real Prescence, or that the Church has a DUTY to excommunicate those within the fold who scandalize the flock. Read Paul's 1 Cor 5 to see this stuff is even in the Bible!

Regards

That is all fine and well, but how do I, as someone interested in adult education in the Church, bring people to classes?

Well, to steal a phrase, take the mountain to Mohamed.

I am a Knight of Columbus, and I have been having great talks with the help of our Seminarian, over chicken wings and beer. A lot of info gets across, and guys listen to other guys in the presence of Budweiser. Depth doesn't get across, but if I get them interested while they chomp down on a flapper, maybe I can get them reading a "Catholic Answers" tract when their hands are free.

I am reading Catholicism for Dummies, I like what I read so far. I am handing this copy to a friend, after I check it out, but I may buy a second copy for a different friend.

I guess the answer to your question is one by one. You reach and save souls one person at a time.

I know other parishes have classes as does mine, and you are spot on, the same people come. Something different has to happen, if you have an idea tell me.

How many Catholics do you think read the Bible? The Catechism?

I think when it affects them it gets read. That is the bottom line.

The Church has a duty to excommunicate, you are correct, but it also has a duty to save as many as possible. I guess with one hand the Church must offer grace, and with the other uphold justice. In some cases where people are spreading error, the Church must act to make it clear that what they teach is an error, but on the other hand, most pastors would never take the case of an individual parishioner to a Bishop.

In the case of "Public Sinners" like politicians, Bishops tend to be soft because of other factors, like the reality of running a multimillion dollar organization. It may not be right, and we are amazed when a Bishop gets a backbone, but more often than not, the "public Sinner" impeaches himself with fuzzy ideas formulated out of politics, rather than a excommunication.