Diocesan Newspapers

[Brownginger]

How sad it is that local diocesan papers are turning from news and intellectual columns on various Catholic topics to the spoon-feeding of basic, sometimes childish, articles on the basic tenets of the Catholic Faith. When I recently questioned this drastic turn in the local paper, the editor told me that, well, I seemed to be informed about Catholicism, but there are so many Catholics who know relatively nothing about their Faith that the powers-that-be have determined that it is up to their periodical to begin the very daunting task of educating their readers.

This is sad for two reasons: one, young Catholics are not being taught their Faith in the home, and two, Catholics who attend Mass on a regular basis are not being instructed in their Faith from the pulpit. It is** daunting to realize that possibly a majority of those who feel they are “Catholic” have not the faintest idea of the truths on which they base that feeling. Perhaps it might be reasonable for homilies to return to the substance of sermons so that parents have the opportunity of hearing about the sacraments and the saints and morality and so that families will once again grow up with more than an emotional connection with Heaven, Hell, and the occupants thereof.

 

[pianistclare]

Well, since the Archdiocesan papers are the mouthpiece of the Archbishop, why wouldn’t they be instructive? I don’t understand why you object to this. Why wouldn’t you want people to get correct answers to what they are misinformed about? How is that a bad thing?
Kids and young people are being catechized. It’s often (not always) their parents whose formation is lacking in many areas. Those are the people who read these periodicals. The go out to people who registered in parishes. Those tend to be the parents and grandparents.

 

[TheLeastofThese]

Well, since the Archdiocesan papers are the mouthpiece of the Archbishop, why wouldn’t they be instructive? I don’t understand why you object to this. Why wouldn’t you want people to get correct answers to what they are misinformed about? How is that a bad thing?
Kids and young people are being catechized. It’s often (not always) their parents whose formation is lacking in many areas. Those are the people who read these periodicals. The go out to people who registered in parishes. Those tend to be the parents and grandparents.

 

[commenter]

How sad it is that local diocesan papers are turning from news and intellectual columns on various Catholic topics to the spoon-feeding of basic, sometimes childish, articles on the basic tenets of the Catholic Faith. When I recently questioned this drastic turn in the local paper, the editor told me that, well, I seemed to be informed about Catholicism, but there are so many Catholics who know relatively nothing about their Faith that the powers-that-be have determined that it is up to their periodical to begin the very daunting task of educating their readers.

This is sad for two reasons: one, young Catholics are not being taught their Faith in the home, and two, Catholics who attend Mass on a regular basis are not being instructed in their Faith from the pulpit. It is** daunting to realize that possibly a majority of those who feel they are “Catholic” have not the faintest idea of the truths on which they base that feeling. Perhaps it might be reasonable for homilies to return to the substance of sermons so that parents have the opportunity of hearing about the sacraments and the saints and morality and so that families will once again grow up with more than an emotional connection with Heaven, Hell, and the occupants thereof.

I’m not sure what you mean by “childish” articles on the basic tenets. For 45 years my own diocesan newspaper has been almost a clone of the secular daily newspaper. I would love to see articles on the basic tenets of Catholicism. I think, perhaps, there has been partial improvement in catechetics in religious education. But a whole generation - almost 2 generations - grew up with no doctrinal content in most schools and ccd programs.

I agree it takes reinforcement from home to teach the Catholic faith. But today’s parents didn’t get the content when they were children. So diocesan newspapers can partly fill the gap. In terms of the pulpit, I agree preaching can impart doctrinal content. We went through a long period when maybe half the priests were giving bible studies, and half were preaching the priorities of CNN. Things are somewhat better now. But some things are better communicated in writing, while others are better communicated orally. Also, preachers can impart only some doctrinal content, a lot of the effort has to be fostering conversion.

 

[TimothyH]

How sad it is that local diocesan papers are turning from news and intellectual columns on various Catholic topics to the spoon-feeding of basic, sometimes childish, articles on the basic tenets of the Catholic Faith. When I recently questioned this drastic turn in the local paper, the editor told me that, well, I seemed to be informed about Catholicism, but there are so many Catholics who know relatively nothing about their Faith that the powers-that-be have determined that it is up to their periodical to begin the very daunting task of educating their readers.

This is sad for two reasons: one, young Catholics are not being taught their Faith in the home, and two, Catholics who attend Mass on a regular basis are not being instructed in their Faith from the pulpit. It is** daunting to realize that possibly a majority of those who feel they are “Catholic” have not the faintest idea of the truths on which they base that feeling. Perhaps it might be reasonable for homilies to return to the substance of sermons so that parents have the opportunity of hearing about the sacraments and the saints and morality and so that families will once again grow up with more than an emotional connection with Heaven, Hell, and the occupants thereof.

Regarding the red/bold, I think both you and the editor give too little credit to Catholics in the pew.

-Tim-

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

**

Regarding the red/bold, I think both you and the editor give too little credit to Catholics in the pew.

-Tim-

I’m with Brownginger on this. 30- and 40-something adults today are survivors of the burlap-banner-and-coloring-book era of CCD, and in my work with such and their children, it has been shocking what they misunderstand or don’t know - even on something as basic as what goes on at Mass.

 

[phil19034]

**

I’m with Brownginger on this. 30- and 40-something adults today are survivors of the burlap-banner-and-coloring-book era of CCD, and in my work with such and their children, it has been shocking what they misunderstand or don’t know - even on something as basic as what goes on at Mass.

I agree. I’m 37 and I learned the following in 9 years of CCD. The Our Father and that God is good.

I remember studying the Hail Mary and the Apostles’ Creed. But we never prayed them and hence I never learned them. I never memorized the Hail Mary until I started praying the Rosary in my 30s. I still often have to look at the Apostles Creed to recite it (though I can happily say I don’t read the Nicene Creed, unlike 90% of the people in the pews including the Deacons and Priests).

We need all Parishes to buy Symbolon to educate the parents and grandparents, that way they don’t destroy their kids’ Faith.

 

[Brownginger]

My sadness stems from diocesan newspapers having to use language directed to parents and other adults that when I grew up was used in grade school – e.g., how to act at Mass. I have nothing against these papers stepping up and doing what the Church has otherwise failed in doing.

There are so many other Catholic resources one can draw on today for those who have been blessed to have been taught the basics correctly. It is almost as though we will all have to be missionaries in our own country. This is a double tragedy when taken together with the failure of secular schools properly to educate our children in subjects they require to succeed in life in the world.

 

[ccmcmg]

My sadness stems from diocesan newspapers having to use language directed to parents and other adults that when I grew up was used in grade school – e.g., how to act at Mass. I have nothing against these papers stepping up and doing what the Church has otherwise failed in doing.

There are so many other Catholic resources one can draw on today for those who have been blessed to have been taught the basics correctly. It is almost as though we will all have to be missionaries in our own country. **This is a double tragedy **when taken together with the failure of secular schools properly to educate our children in subjects they require to succeed in life in the world.

What a blessing and great opportunity we have to be able to share the Faith not only with non-Catholics, but our fellow Catholics who don’t have the blessings that we do, to know the Faith! While it is sad that we need to be directed on how to act at Mass, or how to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we all need refreshers on some things, for none of us is perfect. I wouldn’t say that the Church has failed, but us Catholics have. I have failed; I have failed my family, my friends, but most of all, my God. I’m doing my best to rectify that now, praying it isn’t too late, but giving it to God to work out for me, and to follow what He leads me to do.

If someone were ever to call my a missionary of God and the Faith, I would be quite flattered. I’m not in a position to go to Africa or other foreign countries to share His Love, but I will do what I can from within my own family, community and country.

 

[TimothyH]

**

I’m with Brownginger on this. 30- and 40-something adults today are survivors of the burlap-banner-and-coloring-book era of CCD, and in my work with such and their children, it has been shocking what they misunderstand or don’t know - even on something as basic as what goes on at Mass.

I agree. I’m 37 and I learned the following in 9 years of CCD. The Our Father and that God is good.

I remember studying the Hail Mary and the Apostles’ Creed. But we never prayed them and hence I never learned them. I never memorized the Hail Mary until I started praying the Rosary in my 30s. I still often have to look at the Apostles Creed to recite it (though I can happily say I don’t read the Nicene Creed, unlike 90% of the people in the pews including the Deacons and Priests).

We need all Parishes to buy Symbolon to educate the parents and grandparents, that way they don’t destroy their kids’ Faith.

Maybe it is regional but this is certainly not the case in the deep south. Catholics are very strong in their faith. Those who are not become Baptist or move to Evangelical coffee bar rock and roll churches pretty quickly.

I would respectully respond to Phil by pointing out memorizing the creed is not the same as understanding it and that understanding the doctrine behind the creed is not the same as having faith. Knowing about God is not the same as choosing to trust Him.

-Tim-

 

[ProVobis]

I would respectully respond to Phil by pointing out memorizing the creed is not the same as understanding it and that understanding the doctrine behind the creed is not the same as having faith.

This is sort of in line with what one of my former bosses kept harping on back around 1970. He claimed praying in cadences, which group praying tends to be, wasn’t really praying. For one thing, you spend more time focusing on trying to keep up or to slow down rather than the content. The creed seems to be one of those prayers. And you’re right about the doctrinal understanding (among other things). And I feel it doesn’t help changing the translation every so often.