No .. you can't hold priests responsible for proper catechesis of all their parishioners. Give credit to a society and psychologists that place greater strain on the individual to enjoy life. Let's face it, most Catholics are poorly catechized. In my diocese, the bishop has now made religious education optional, except when the child has chosen to receive a Sacrament. In that case, the onus is on the parents to pick up the prescribed books and educate the child at home. Yes, you read that correctly.
Since our parish does not fall under his guidance, we have taken a very strong approach to religious education for our children. Even so, I have to call the families each week to remind them about classes. The parents are also ignorant of their faith - something I am now pursuing in terms of adult education. Our priest uses his homilies to educate but unfortunately, those in the pews oftentimes tune out what they don't want to hear. And they don't want to hear about marriage vs living together, no artificial contraception, no gay marriage, the need to attend Mass weekly, etc.
As I said in my previous post, it is so much easier to leave the Catholic Church and adhere to some protestant sect that elevates the Bible and allows for artificial contraception. The majority of converts to the Catholic Church are theologians who have studied the bible and read the Early Church Fathers. They make up the great influx into the Church of Jesus Christ vs the simple individual who wants to be his own pope.
You make valid points; however, if a large portion of the congregation leaves en masse, I would have to conclude that there has been some sort of failing at either the parish or diocesan level.
Did I read that correctly?
You will love this.
My son just received first holy communion. He had to attend classes every Sunday....but the parents were required to attend four mandatory classes held on Saturday mornings as well, and were assigned great swaths of scripture to read, at home. When our children made their first confession the parents were required to make confession as well. Instead of all the kids sitting together to receive first communion as is customarily done ( I have never seen it otherwise ) the children sat with thier families, and the families all received as a family. Then he told all the first communicants to wear their beautiful white dresses and their suits and ties for the next three Sundays. He made them all attend 10:00 a.m. Corpus Christi mass, so that they could join him in the procession. All the boys, now that they have received first communion are required to be altar servers. No girls ever. When they make their first appearance as servers he makes a big to-do by intrroducing them to the parish, and boy do they feel special when they are applauded. My son begs me to take him to daily mass so that he can serve. My daughters want to sit up front so that they can see everything better, now that their brother is serving.
This priest really knows how to inculcate a love of the faith, the importance of the sacraments, and has the huevos to harangue if necessary. When attendance at rel. ed. classes began dropping off this spring, he let the congregation kknow of his disapproval. He knows how to get to the parents through the kids. A wonderful, wonderful priest.