Mrs. Dono's Leaflet to Catechists

a tiny whispering sound | June 16, 2018 | Mrs Don-o

[Mrs. Don-o]

Pay close attention to your life and your teaching.
Persevere in these things, because if you do so,
you will save both yourself, and those who listen to you.
1 Timothy 4:16

Dear fellow catechists,

How do you feel when you read headlines like these?

• "Purge" at Vatican Doctrine Office

• Are We Still "One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic"?

• Parish Displays Banner for "Pride Month"

• Divorce - Remarriage: the New Normal?

• Doctrine Chief Sees "Well-Defined Attack on Doctrine"

• USCCB Fires Doctrine Chief

• Humanae Vitae to be Revisited, Revised

• Vatican Spokesman: No Comment

• Church Should Apologize on Sex, Gender

• Last Rites for Voluntary Suicide?

• Synod Considers Women Priests

• Did Pope Say God Makes People Gay?

---

I'll tell you how I feel. Disoriented.

Am I the only one?

But even stronger than my feeling of disorientation, is my feeling of growing concern that our youth, our students, our RCIA catechumens and candidates --- soon to be new Catholics --- are reading the same headlines I am.

As responsible catechists, we need to talk about this. We need to sort out what is real Catholicism vs. what is manifest error --- even error disguised as "progress," "mercy," and "surprises of the Spirit."

But I also know we have to go beyond "feeling". We need to equip our students with the tools they'll need to confront the perplexities which are sure to arise in the weeks, months, and years ahead.

I am no spring chicken. I have been involved in catechetics-related ministries for almost four decades. I devour Church History. I know the Catholic Church has been through many crises in her long pilgrimage through the ages. As St. Teresa of Avila says, "All times are dangerous times."

In the End, "the Gates of Hell will not prevail." But between now and the End, many hearts can be deceived and many souls can be lost. And according to recent research, for every one Catholic convert, more than six Catholics leave the church.

(Source: https://cruxnow.com/church/2015/05/12/pew-survey-percentage-of-us-catholics-drops-and-catholicism-is-losing-members-faster-than-any-denomination/ )

Friends, that is simply staggering.

We're tempted say, "Everything is normal." Or "Things are going to get back to normal pretty soon. All we need to do is wait." But --- No. We can't just keep our heads down and hope that all this will blow over.

I am calling for a conversation among catechists. We need to think this through, and let each other know what we're thinking. Am I completely off the mark? Then I need you to tell me so. Should we be issuing statements of loyalty to the Truths of the Catholic Faith? Shouldn't we be urging --- imploring --- our priests, Bishop Stika, all the bishops of the United States, to reaffirm the beautiful teachings of the Church in a clear and open and direct way?

I communicate best by e-mail, and I ask you, please, to engage with comments, questions, hopes and fears, and the courage that comes from Jesus Christ Our Lord. Let's help each other serve Him. Can we talk?

[ealgeone]

I think they’re pretty clear. Notice no one is debating the actual content of the thread. That’s why I suggest to let it go. As the thread count increases it draws curiosity.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Amen.