[Bigg Red]

...break down of the family is the main reason..

I agree with you. Compounding the problem mightily is the lack of Catholic culture observed in Catholic schools. They are so determined to be inclusive of their non-Catholic students that often the word Catholic is discouraged in favor of the generic Christian. Also, there appears to be little effort to screen teachers for their commitment to upholding Catholic teachings, or, at the very least, to not speaking against Catholic principles.

[maryz]

They are so determined to be inclusive of their non-Catholic students

Sometimes this is the case even where there are no non-Catholic students to be considered. I saw a 7th grade CCD text with a chapter on mysticism, in which not one Catholic mystic was mentioned (I forget now who they used -- Hindu maybe and a couple of others)!

(The same book also had a chapter on why it's better to work together than alone -- in a CCD text, mind you -- but that's another story.)

[american colleen]

...Catholic is discouraged in favor of the generic Christian

A phenomenon in my parish, too. I'll bet I've heard the word "Catholic" in homilies maybe 2 or 3 times over the past few years because they use "Christian" instead. This is also a concern in the Catholic HS my daughter will be attending next year. It sort of subtly promotes religious pluralism, IMO.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

JMO, but I don't think any of these things would matter if the family was living their faith. Schools responsiblity should be to teach the 3 R's:). As far as religious beliefs a school should at most be supplamental.

I have met a few (LOL, very few) children who do attend public schools that have a good understanding of their religious beliefs. Why? Because they have PARENTS that teach them, parents who did not throw that responsibility on to the school and church. It would be nice to have a school or church that taught well, but, I think blaming schools and churches for the lack of understanding of religious beliefs among the young is a cop out on the part of parents.

Becky

[ultima ratio]

But why the breakdown of the family? That too is part of the cultural collapse of Catholicism.

[TotusTuus]

They are so determined to be inclusive of their non-Catholic students that often the word Catholic is discouraged in favor of the generic Christian.

Also, "inclusive language" Scriptures for the catechetical material (not approved), the use of "BC" and "BCE" instead of "AD" (now exactly what happened 2,000 years ago to form the origin and starting point of our calender?), and get this, "First Testament" and "Second Testament" as opposed to "Old" and "New" to apparently not offend Jewish people? The list can go on and on...