Cardinal Burke: Only Sound Catholic Education Can Transform Our Culture

[commenter]

I remember 30 years ago, an article in Catholic Digest, where the author posed the question, “what’s more important, doctrine or love?” That priest-author wrote lots of similar articles, and gave lots of talks, all to deemphasize doctrine. It’s a misleading choice. It is like asking “what’s more important in a doctor: love, or learning medical knowledge?” The reality is that the 2 reinforce each other, rather than compete.

There’s no shortage of loves in today’s world. The sad reality is that the loves are all over the place, contradicting each other, and hurting people as often as they help. Anyone with any kind of desire, opinion, bias, commitment, hormone imbalance, what-have-you will call it “love”. We don’t need more loves, we are wallowing in loves. We do need more Truth, so we can see that having sex with this stranger tonight might NOT be love; that getting TV ratings at any price is NOT love; that pushing my political agenda might NOT be love.

When genuine Catholic education is in place, there are fewer loves; or rather, more room for genuine Love, for God and other people.

 

[TCEL]

I want to take this opportunity to make a public act of gratitude for one of my high school theology teachers. He opened my eyes in many ways to making a choice for Christ. I wonder if I would still be Catholic if not for his college level apologetics. He also introduced me to Blessed Catherine Emmerich. (I believe she’s “blessed.”)

 

[johnnyc176]

I remember 30 years ago, an article in Catholic Digest, where the author posed the question, “what’s more important, doctrine or love?” That priest-author wrote lots of similar articles, and gave lots of talks, all to deemphasize doctrine. It’s a misleading choice. It is like asking “what’s more important in a doctor: love, or learning medical knowledge?” The reality is that the 2 reinforce each other, rather than compete.

There’s no shortage of loves in today’s world. The sad reality is that the loves are all over the place, contradicting each other, and hurting people as often as they help. Anyone with any kind of desire, opinion, bias, commitment, hormone imbalance, what-have-you will call it “love”. We don’t need more loves, we are wallowing in loves. We do need more Truth, so we can see that having sex with this stranger tonight might NOT be love; that getting TV ratings at any price is NOT love; that pushing my political agenda might NOT be love.

When genuine Catholic education is in place, there are fewer loves; or rather, more room for genuine Love, for God and other people.

Excellent post. Jesus warned much about sin, satan and hell. According to some prior comments He would be legalistic. Mercy does not mean anything goes…mercy emphasizes sin…

wordonfire.org/resources/video/bishop-barron-on-pope-francis-and-mercy/4960/

 

[pnewton]

From the article:

“As it is the parents who have given life to their children, on them lies the gravest obligation of educating their family. They must therefore be recognized as being primarily and principally responsible for their education.”

We cannot blame schools or church alone for lack of catechesis. They cannot even be view as being primarily at fault.

 

[Johann_du_Toit]

Cardinal Burke always proves to be very perspicacious. He is a wonderful Cardinal.

He is a remarkable man who has taken a lot of abuse and personal attacks for his defence of orthodoxy, and ye has held firm.

 

[dans0622]

A related story about Catholic education: a new foundation established by the Pope. In so doing, he said:

“I am likewise pleased to learn that the same Dicastery wishes to constitute on this occasion a Foundation entitled Gravissimum Educationis, with the aim of pursuing “scientific and cultural ends, intended to promote Catholic education in the world”, he adds. “The Church recognises the ‘extreme importance of education in the life of man and how its influence ever grows in the social progress of this age’, are profoundly linked to the fulfilment of ‘the mandate she has received from her divine founder of proclaiming the mystery of salvation to all men and of restoring all things in Christ’”, he writes, quoting the conciliar Declaration.

news.va/en/news/chirograph-for-the-institution-of-the-foundation-g

Dan

 

[commenter]

From the article:

“As it is the parents who have given life to their children, on them lies the gravest obligation of educating their family. They must therefore be recognized as being primarily and principally responsible for their education.”

We cannot blame schools or church alone for lack of catechesis. They cannot even be view as being primarily at fault.

In my experience, the school and parish often were directly or indirectly at fault.

Having raised 4 children through parochial schools, there was no encouragement for the parents to be anything other than “good examples”, and fund raisers. The catechetical role was not even remotely encouraged, in fact subtly discouraged. Parents who tried to bring up the “Real Presence” at First Communion preparation meetings were told to go along with the program, and focus only on community aspect. Parents who tried to influence choice of religious ed textbooks or sex ed programs were told they were interfering with “the professionals”.

Restoring the parental role in catechetics will take effort. Let the home schooling parents lead the way, talk to other parents about what works, what doesn’t work. Parishes can set up home school resource centers, provide guidance and support. Parishes and the diocese can provide sound catechetical materials, chosen with parent (name removed by moderator)ut for all families, home schoolers, parochial schoolers, public schoolers.

 

[JimG]

In my experience, the school and parish often were directly or indirectly at fault.

Having raised 4 children through parochial schools, there was no encouragement for the parents to be anything other than “good examples”, and fund raisers. The catechetical role was not even remotely encouraged, in fact subtly discouraged. Parents who tried to bring up the “Real Presence” at First Communion preparation meetings were told to go along with the program, and focus only on community aspect. Parents who tried to influence choice of religious ed textbooks or sex ed programs were told they were interfering with “the professionals”.

Restoring the parental role in catechetics will take effort. Let the home schooling parents lead the way, talk to other parents about what works, what doesn’t work. Parishes can set up home school resource centers, provide guidance and support. Parishes and the diocese can provide sound catechetical materials, chosen with parent (name removed by moderator)ut for all families, home schoolers, parochial schoolers, public schoolers.

I can relate to what you say here. I recall teaching CCD at a time when orthodox textbooks were simply rejected in favor of texts filled with fuzzy theology. At my old parish, the parish school went from orthodox teaching to fuzzy teaching in the space of one school year. Parents were not even aware of what was happening.

 

[TCEL]

Parents who tried to bring up the “Real Presence” at First Communion preparation meetings were told to go along with the program, and focus only on community aspect. Parents who tried to influence choice of religious ed textbooks or sex ed programs were told they were interfering with “the professionals”.

What you said here aligns with my Mom’s experience. After she came back to faith, she volunteered to do some CCD for kids. At a meeting about the Eucharist, she was essentially laughed at for suggesting that the real presence be taught! A nun came up to her afterward and commended her for speaking up. But no one came to her defense during the meeting! I don’t get that one…