"Catholic" By title, driving me nuts!

[TheRealJuliane]

Yes I would look around for another Catholic school, but I realize this is limited to your area - you may not be within the bounds of another parish, and your kids are at home in this school.

Having put both my sons through religious schools K-12, I would say that faith formation is not something one should ever count on in any school, including Catholic schools. Too many people view private schools and private religious schools as merely a safe haven from the dregs of public schools - drugs, bullying, kids having sex in classrooms, etc. As well, the academics are usually better, so it’s a 2 for 1 win. They don’t pay for their kids to go and catch on fire for Jesus, IOW.

As you know, in a Catholic school, everyone has to take Theology or Religious Ed. classes, even Muslims and atheists. So they may sit in class doodling or even sleeping! Once they get old enough they may question the teacher, which can mean a good exercise for your kids, if they are paying attention and if the teacher knows his/her apologetics!

But it’s a dice roll, really. I’m sure there are some really great, orthodox, very strict Catholic schools in the US. I’m also sure there aren’t as many as there used to be, and I’m sure there are a lot of very lax Catholic schools. You cannot trust your childrens’ religious formation to ANY religious school. Therefore, I highly recommend that parents homeschool their children. Then you control their academics, and you can teach them their faith and YOU can light that spark for Jesus!

:getholy::heaven:

 

[JillianRose]

Wait–you have the right to judge “them”? Is that really what you mean? I thought we have the right to judge their actions, including the things they say–but as to judging “them” the person–isn’t that up to God alone?

I think it best if we avoid calling ourselves “liberal” or “conservative”–these terms have political overtones–and neither are fully in keeping with our faith. I am Catholic–not liberal or conservative…

I have preferred my parish Catholic School–to our public schools–regardless of the parents. At least you can bring up the faith at the Catholic school–try that at your local public school. At least at the Catholic school it is still Christmas Break rather than winter break. Work within the school–in a nice, polite, nonconfrontational way. Over the 17 years we have had children in our parish school–we have seen changes–not in the range of parents but in the school. I was on the school council for 2 terms–and I simply bring up ideas and lobby for them. It takes time and perseverance. We now have morning prayer (I still lobby for daily mass but I don’t think its going to happen–just the weekly mass we’ve always had–but one never knows), our religion texts are now the Ignatious Faith and Life series, and other small things, but it wasn’t always like this. You need to be nice, respectful and you need to let your ideas be known. That’s all I have done. I am not pushy, I present the idea as something I think would be good for the school – especially at times when they are looking for ideas–I make my case and I let it go. That way I don’t become know as that trouble causing religious freak. Have things changed as fast as I would have liked–no, but they have slowly changed. And I know the culture is better than that at our local public school.

I suggest the parish for the type of people you are hoping to meet. Our family is involved with our parish for the people it sounds like you want to associate with. It would be nice if a large portion of the parents in the school were also involved in the parish–but its hard to be involved in the school (auction, volunteer hours etc., and the other obligation of life) and the parish. Most parents are involved in the various school obligations.

Anyway I’d opt for home schooling before I’d opt for public school.

Peace of Christ,
Mark

Yes mark that is what i mean. They are saying things that we don’t need jesus to go to heaven. They are using it as a private school and some are not even Catholic and hate the Catholic Faith…So yes, I will judge them not to have my children hang out with them.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Yes mark that is what i mean. They are saying things that we don’t need jesus to go to heaven. They are using it as a private school and some are not even Catholic and hate the Catholic Faith…So yes, I will judge them not to have my children hang out with them.

YOU MUST teach your children so that they know better! If you leave them with no defenses, they will absorb at least some of what is around them. They can end up apathetic at best, and leave the Church at worst. Be primarily involved with other faithful Catholics at the parish, but if your children have any friends from this group, don’t be afraid to correct them when they speak a lie. "No, actually, Jesus himself said that ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and none comes to the Father except through Me.’ " And know where it came from! You gotta learn some apologetics too.

Think of this as an opportunity to grow and stretch yourself in our faith! It can be a good thing, and can make your kids bullet-proof as they grow up and head out to college. They have to know to watch out for the Campus Crusade for Christ, after all!

 

[JillianRose]

Yes I would look around for another Catholic school, but I realize this is limited to your area - you may not be within the bounds of another parish, and your kids are at home in this school.

Having put both my sons through religious schools K-12, I would say that faith formation is not something one should ever count on in any school, including Catholic schools. Too many people view private schools and private religious schools as merely a safe haven from the dregs of public schools - drugs, bullying, kids having sex in classrooms, etc. As well, the academics are usually better, so it’s a 2 for 1 win. They don’t pay for their kids to go and catch on fire for Jesus, IOW.

As you know, in a Catholic school, everyone has to take Theology or Religious Ed. classes, even Muslims and atheists. So they may sit in class doodling or even sleeping! Once they get old enough they may question the teacher, which can mean a good exercise for your kids, if they are paying attention and if the teacher knows his/her apologetics!

But it’s a dice roll, really. I’m sure there are some really great, orthodox, very strict Catholic schools in the US. I’m also sure there aren’t as many as there used to be, and I’m sure there are a lot of very lax Catholic schools. You cannot trust your childrens’ religious formation to ANY religious school. Therefore, I highly recommend that parents homeschool their children. Then you control their academics, and you can teach them their faith and YOU can light that spark for Jesus!

:getholy::heaven:

Thank you!! It is true. My husband and I sent our kids to Catholic School so they could be with “Like” minded people to build their foundation and INVEST in their heart. We teach them and practice our faith at home. I want them to learn now to talk about Christ and learn about their faith, because in this secular world you can’t. It makes me sick that their are people volunteering and in the administration that hold VERY anti-CAtholic and Anti-Christian beliefs. It should not be ok in a Catholic School to tell other parents, which most, don’t know alot about their own Catholic Faith. I am not going to tattle. I just know that it has been a failed dream of the Catholic School to think that these people are going to turn to the Catholic Faith. They don’t have any intention of being coming Catholic and I think it is time the Catholic Church becomes more exclusive. I hear what they say and what draws the line for me is when they say the bible isnt real and Jesus is not the only way to heaven. Things like that is CRAZY talk!!! IMO I am fine with their nonsense until they start bad mouthings, Jesus, Church and Priest. How is that different then the public schools. I am preparing my Children for when they are out of their bubble and have a strong foundation. For that I will have to answer to God!

 

[TheRealJuliane]

Thank you!! It is true. My husband and I sent our kids to Catholic School so they could be with “Like” minded people to build their foundation and INVEST in their heart. We teach them and practice our faith at home. I want them to learn now to talk about Christ and learn about their faith, because in this secular world you can’t. It makes me sick that their are people volunteering and in the administration that hold VERY anti-CAtholic and Anti-Christian beliefs. It should not be ok in a Catholic School to tell other parents, which most, don’t know alot about their own Catholic Faith. I am not going to tattle. I just know that it has been a failed dream of the Catholic School to think that these people are going to turn to the Catholic Faith. They don’t have any intention of being coming Catholic and I think it is time the Catholic Church becomes more exclusive. I hear what they say and what draws the line for me is when they say the bible isnt real and Jesus is not the only way to heaven. Things like that is CRAZY talk!!! IMO I am fine with their nonsense until they start bad mouthings, Jesus, Church and Priest. How is that different then the public schools. I am preparing my Children for when they are out of their bubble and have a strong foundation. For that I will have to answer to God!

I would take a deep breath and start correcting these statements when you hear them. You have to be prepared to do this in kindness, and with more respect than the speakers are affording the Church. “Excuse me, I don’t mean to intrude, but did I hear you say just now that the Bible is nothing but a collection of stories? Are you implying that the Bible is not the revealed truth of Jesus Christ” And then be prepared to follow up after they answer! If this is a teacher or administrator, be sure to speak loudly enough for others to hear! “Mrs. Smith, does this belief of yours enter into your classroom?”

I would confront it wherever and whenever it reared its head. Also, talk to the principal about your concerns. Do it kindly and charitably, but express your concern that there are people teaching the children what amounts to heresy. If you get nowhere with the principal, consider taking it to your Diocese.

 

[JillianRose]

I would take a deep breath and start correcting these statements when you hear them. You have to be prepared to do this in kindness, and with more respect than the speakers are affording the Church. “Excuse me, I don’t mean to intrude, but did I hear you say just now that the Bible is nothing but a collection of stories? Are you implying that the Bible is not the revealed truth of Jesus Christ” And then be prepared to follow up after they answer! If this is a teacher or administrator, be sure to speak loudly enough for others to hear! “Mrs. Smith, does this belief of yours enter into your classroom?”

I would confront it wherever and whenever it reared its head. Also, talk to the principal about your concerns. Do it kindly and charitably, but express your concern that there are people teaching the children what amounts to heresy. If you get nowhere with the principal, consider taking it to your Diocese.

Thanks…I love the Catholic School. I love the Religous education. I love that the children start with our Faith in Kindergarten. I love that they love MASS!! I love that my three year old runs around the grocery store telling people Jesus died for you but he lives!!! I love that they ask me every nite to read them “Jesus” stories. I love that my son draws pictures of the Crucifiction and reserrection. We love our Priest, We love our Sister. I just don’t know why the care “about things, not your neighbor”, say what ever you want to who ever you want, attitude is coming from. It is not the Catholic School I grew up in. Maybe the first 20 people are just bad seeds. I do have 520 more families at my sons school I have not met yet!!!

 

[JillianRose]

As a parent, you have my sympathy!

I send my children to the Lutheran school - it costs $5000 per year too. They do such a good job in faith formation that my children wind up teaching me! I think it’s reasonable to expect that from your child’s school, so in my opinion, you are wise to be concerned.

You may want to look around for another Catholic school - I know the local parish that is filled with immigrant children would have been a great fit for my child,but we couldn’t get the parish discount

I did get some advice from someone who I respected and they said that any child can survive almost any educational environment as long as mom and dad continue the child’s education at home - I needed that advice when I didn’t know if I could afford a christian school. If you have to pull you child out, and the money savings could free up your family’s time to continue their education at home, you may want to consider that as well.

The LUtheran School in our neighborhood is a lot smaller, but they beat the Catholic School Hands down in religion. I was blown away at their religious education program. I have this root of being Catholic that the Guilt is too great to leave. Not to mention Luther’s catecism and the Catholic Church are very different in a lot of aspects. Its not something I could do lightly. Actual, it would make me just as bad as the parents I complain about!! lol

 

[clem456]

In addition to standing up for the faith when it’s appropriate, we also need to have working realtionships with people who are “deficient” iin their faith. If you don’t have a charitable, patient, and tolerant working realtionship with those who offend you, they will not listen to you anyway. So then, what’s the point? You will be correct on your theology, but people will not absorb it. So that just makes you correct, it doesn’t make you an evangelist. This is one of the huge challenges of the Christian life. It requires humility,wisdom, discretion. We are not called to simply correct people’s deficiencies whenever and wherever we hear them. The world is a difficult and messy place, and if you get this irritated over people’s varying stages of faith, it will be tough for you to find peace, -or to bring it to anyone else-.

 

[clem456]

It has taken 40 years for Catholics to be influenced to live mostly as the world does. This did not happen overnight. Please realize that. The Church needs faithful Catholics like you. No, none of us are perfect, but we are to focus on Jesus and living out our faith.

Peace,
Ed

40 years? (I gues that would take us back to like 1962??)
The struggle with faith starts in the garden.

 

[JillianRose]

In addition to standing up for the faith when it’s appropriate, we also need to have working realtionships with people who are “deficient” iin their faith. If you don’t have a charitable, patient, and tolerant working realtionship with those who offend you, they will not listen to you anyway. So then, what’s the point? You will be correct on your theology, but people will not absorb it. So that just makes you correct, it doesn’t make you an evangelist. This is one of the huge challenges of the Christian life. It requires humility,wisdom, discretion. We are not called to simply correct people’s deficiencies whenever and wherever we hear them. The world is a difficult and messy place, and if you get this irritated over people’s varying stages of faith, it will be tough for you to find peace, -or to bring it to anyone else-.

I never said I know everything. God did not make me an evangelist. I read what the others write and I will never be able to absorb the details they know. I do know not to run my mouth and make statements against CHRIST!!

 

[MarkInOregon]

Yes mark that is what i mean. They are saying things that we don’t need jesus to go to heaven. They are using it as a private school and some are not even Catholic and hate the Catholic Faith…So yes, I will judge them not to have my children hang out with them.

Jullian,

It is one thing to judge “someone” and quite another to make the prudential judgment to limit yours and your childrens contact with them.

I would refer you to CCC 1861 the last sentence of which says, “However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God” Possibly I am incorrect but I have always been taught that the judgment of “persons” is reserved to God.

Do you see the distinction? You have every right to judge their actions and statements and to limit your contact with them based on their actions and statements. But as to judging them, the person, and the state of their immortal soul–that I do not think you have the right to do–and when we do this–we do it at our own peril. If I am wrong I am sure someone will quickly chastise and correct me.

The peace of Christ,
Mark

 

[MarkInOregon]

I never said I know everything. God did not make me an evangelist. I read what the others write and I will never be able to absorb the details they know. I do know not to run my mouth and make statements against CHRIST!!

We are all called to be evangelists. If you live your life in accordance with Christs teachings, if you love your neighbor as yourself, if you pray for your enemies–you will be evangelizing. Do not sell yourself short–you know more than you think. You know enough to answer questions that might arise based on how you live–you can tell people who ask why you live as you do–and you know where to get the answer or where to send them to get the answers that you don’t know.

The peace of Christ,
Mark

 

[feed_me]

or where to send them to get the answers that you don’t know.

Yea, you send them to me, at least if it pertains to scripture