Equal Access Act, Young Life, and Religious Activities in Schools

[c0achmcguirk]

bengal_fan:

i liked every part of your post except this. are you saying you are no longer catholic because of studying the bible? or because of some one else’s interpretation of the bible?

Because of the Bible. I’ve picked up a few hermeneutical principles over the years…

in my experience, it is the study of the bible which has brought me back to the catholic church

That’s great, and I hope you are studying the Church Fathers, history, and seeing if what Rome says today lines up with them. Also, make sure you listen to good moderated debates between Catholics and Protestants and decide which group is most faithful to the Scripture. Alpha & Omega Ministries (aomin.org) are a cheap source for debates (many are free) along with Phil Porvaznik’s site (bringyou.to/apologetics/apolog.htm).

Thanks for the tips, I assure you I read Jimmy Akin, Patrick Madrid, (Surprised by Truth) etc… I also listen to Catholic Answers when I can catch it.

Read Romans cover to cover before you “swim the Tiber.” Try to let the text speak for yourself. Does Paul leave room for indulgences in the text? What Would Paul Say?

God bless,
c0ach

 

[La_Chiara]

c0achmcguirk:

Because of the Bible. I’ve picked up a few hermeneutical principles over the years…

That’s great, and I hope you are studying the Church Fathers, history, and seeing if what Rome says today lines up with them. Also, make sure you listen to good moderated debates between Catholics and Protestants and decide which group is most faithful to the Scripture. Alpha & Omega Ministries (aomin.org) are a cheap source for debates (many are free) along with Phil Porvaznik’s site (bringyou.to/apologetics/apolog.htm).

Thanks for the tips, I assure you I read Jimmy Akin, Patrick Madrid, (Surprised by Truth) etc… I also listen to Catholic Answers when I can catch it.

Read Romans cover to cover before you “swim the Tiber.” Try to let the text speak for yourself. Does Paul leave room for indulgences in the text? What Would Paul Say?

God bless,
c0ach

Coach and Bengal Fan–Please do not try to hijack this thread. Keep your comments on target. You can always start your own thread.

 

[c0achmcguirk]

La Chiara:

So your are telling me that Young Life made you a better Catholic but studying the Bible convinced you to leave the Catholic Church? Hmmm, why do I feel like you still work for Young Life and have an axe to grind.

Actually I don’t still work for Young Life, and to set the record straight it was all volunteer work. I stopped being a YL leader in 1998, though I hardly think that disqualifies me from giving my perspective on the whole thing.

Also, don’t misunderstand: I’m not saying that Catholic youth groups are the enemy in the sense that they are turning your kids into devil worshippers…but I’m saying that instead of pursuing litigation to “keep your kids Catholic” maybe you should refocus on ensuring that your kids and community are better catechized and that there are teachers who genuinely care about reaching them, rather than going along with a stale curriculum that does nothing to interest teens.

I’m not speaking from ignorance. I’ve been a High Schooler involved with both YL and CCD, a College YL leader, and now I lead the Youth Group at my church.

My best friend and coworker (a Catholic CCD leader) is one of the few leaders at his very large parish that actually challenges and attempts to catechize the kids. Most of the leaders at the church are content to just check of the list for this week, and make sure the kids shut up so they can watch the low-budget film on sharing. He’s adopted many of the techniques I use with kids in his parish and he hears the kids tell him how much more they enjoy and learn from him in his class. Where did I get the techniques? Young Life.

Again, from someone who has intimate knowledge of youth ministry from many angles (Catholic, Young Life, and Protestant), you’ll do more good reforming your church than suing an organization that does so much good for so many youth.

God bless,
c0ach

 

[c0achmcguirk]

La Chiara:

Coach and Bengal Fan–Please do not try to hijack this thread. Keep your comments on target. You can always start your own thread.

La Chiara, I can tell you’re stressed out a bit, but come on, we’re all members of an online community. I think you could stand to relax a bit.

God bless,
c0ach

 

[La_Chiara]

c0achmcguirk:

Again, from someone who has intimate knowledge of youth ministry from many angles (Catholic, Young Life, and Protestant), you’ll do more good reforming your church than suing an organization that does so much good for so many youth.

God bless,
c0ach

Thanks for your concerns. I am doing both!

BTW, cute son on your web site.

 

[bengal_fan]

c0achmcguirk:

That’s great, and I hope you are studying the Church Fathers, history, and seeing if what Rome says today lines up with them. Also, make sure you listen to good moderated debates between Catholics and Protestants and decide which group is most faithful to the Scripture. Alpha & Omega Ministries (aomin.org) are a cheap source for debates (many are free) along with Phil Porvaznik’s site (bringyou.to/apologetics/apolog.htm).

Read Romans cover to cover before you “swim the Tiber.” Try to let the text speak for yourself. Does Paul leave room for indulgences in the text? What Would Paul Say?

yes, i have read much of the church fathers, listened to many,many debates and read romans through probably over a hundred times. thanks for the suggestions though. i guess (not to stay off topic for too long ) i would say in return, to not just read romans but the entire bible as one whole book inspired by God. in the context of the whole message you do find room for indulgences in many other parts which do not contradict paul, but expound further on him. each book was written with a specific instance in mind and we need to view it that way. i’m not saying that it was “written for another time and some things aren’t meant for us today”, but i am saying that we must see the context of when it was written and for what purpose to see how it applies to other scriptures.

 

[La_Chiara]

c0achmcguirk:

La Chiara, I can tell you’re stressed out a bit, but come on, we’re all members of an online community. I think you could stand to relax a bit.

God bless,
c0ach

That is rather patronizing comment, Coach McGuirk, and it doesn’t address my request that you and Bengal Fan are trying to hijack this thread. Since you are both former Catholics and defenders of Young Life, you apparently don’t want to keep the thread on the topic when you can’t control it. Go start your own thread on your own topic, please.

 

[Anne_Carmel]

Thank you for your participation in this discussion.