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I think the Church does not do enough to go out and seek new members like the Evangelicals do. When I was in college I was invited to go to a Bible study with an evangelical youth minister on my dorm floor. I brought my own Bible and that surprised him.
During the discussion I brought up some of the fundamental parts of the Catholic faith as referenced in the Bible such as the sacraments and the primacy of Peter. They told me not to come back.
I wonder how many others were led in that direction instead of to the Church. It is a shame.

I wonder what the level of catechesis RCIA/ RE instructors must display before being placed before a room of students.

Quoting from the CCC verbatim is a sign of lack of confidence (IMHO). Veering from the Magesterium is a sign of lack of conviction (IMHO). Abuse is a sign of lack of disposition (IMHO). None of these is acceptable for an instructor.

(Note: I am not an instructor for the third reason...self identified...i.e., I do not believe myself disposed with a charism for teaching)

We need to keep our instructors in our prayers. We also need to work with our parish DRE’s to make sure the quality of formation these lay people are given before being thrust into the lion’s den is the best it possibly can be.

Interesting article, and I sympathize with him. A family member went to about 2 meetings of an RCIA program in NY, where they spent their time staring at a candle flame and holding hands while the sister in charge told them that they weren’t there to discuss doctrine, because the Church didn’t have any anymore...and she thought this was a good thing!

My would-be convert fled and later was lucky enough to find a priest who gave her private instruction (yes, about that “non-existent” doctrine!) and received her. But it’s really, really hard for converts to find good religious instruction.

I have taught RCIA for 4 years now. It's a six-month course that starts just after Labor day and continues till the Easter vigil.

1. RCIA split into a two-track system

This is a perfect-world suggestion, but hard to implement. It's more than most parishes can do to locate one talented, orthodox catechist. Try finding another, or telling the one you have you've just doubled his work load.

2. RCIA incorporate something like a survey of the gifts and talents of the candidates with an eye to plugging them into some form of service in the community.

Excellent idea; I have started doing this (inviting my class to parish social functions, holiday decorating of church & rectory, etc.) and plan to emphasise it more in the future.

3. Further, I'd love to see Mystagogia

Me too, and I feel rather guilty about this, but to be blunt, after Easter I'm burnt out. I'm a volunteer, with other commitments (including in the parish) and a full life. And frankly, I have my own needs for spiritual refreshment and education. My hope is that if I'm doing my job right and leave the rest up to the Holy Spirit, my alumni will start looking for ways to help out. Converts are generally more energetic than cradle Catholics.

4. Finally, I'd love to see the office (yes, it's actually an office in the Church) of godparent be taken seriously by giving godparents training in what the Church teaches and in what their office actually entails.

Worth considering. Haven't done this up till now, but if it only helps drive home to the catechumen the importance of what's about to happen, it'll have some value.

For the record, the CCC (NOT the American Catechism just published) is the text for my RCIA program. We start at the beginning and work through it all the way to the end. I quote from it a lot, but more often use it as a springboard for commentary. I certainly don’t just read from it, though it’s usually open while I teach, and I use its outline and marginal annotations by me as I cover the evening’s material.

I also distribute copies of the Compendium of the Catechism (the auxiliary bishop to whom I described all this in last Fall’s visitation to our parish seemed unaware of the existence of this Ratzinger-inspired book), but haven’t used it in class. We also discuss sacred art and scripture, literature, liturgy, Church history, and pious customs. I try to avoid current controversies and disputes, and try very hard to keep my personal opinion (including politics) out of it. I ask for questions and welcome discussion (but not dissent or speculative theology). My bride, who happens to be not only a convert but a graduate of last year’s class, helps keep me grounded and attuned to the background and concerns of my students. Finally, I make a point of praying for them all — past, present, and future — and solicit your prayers for them as well.