JustFaith Ministries

[C794]

So I started a topic about one of their programs in the Spirituality section, but I wanted to ask a more general question. Since I don’t believe that was the appropriate sub-forum, I felt that it was best to start a new thread. On these forums I’ve read many complaints about JustFaith ministries. I’ve also stumbled across articles about it. Apparently it’s pro-liberation theology and supports gay marriage, but it may actually be pro-life. So are these things true? I’m asking about the organization as a whole; most of what I’ve seen was mostly in regards to their flagship program.

 

[Joe_5859]

If you’re looking for info, you can always look at their website.

Here’s a review of the group from Catholic Culture:

catholicculture.org/culture/reviews/view.cfm?recnum=3568

Catholic Culture gives a few examples of some of the potential problems. Many of the criticisms seem to be of the guilt-by-association variety. Those aren’t the strongest type of criticisms, though I can understand being wary of a group whose founder speaks at “Call To Action” events.

I don’t see anything on their website that jumps out as being unmistakably problematic. But then, they don’t have much in the way of content on their website to evaluate. You only get to see the content after you buy into the program. I imagine they would have to have some way to allow someone to preview the materials before buying. But maybe not.

Is your parish considering the program?

 

[C794]

If you’re looking for info, you can always look at their website.

Here’s a review of the group from Catholic Culture:

catholicculture.org/culture/reviews/view.cfm?recnum=3568

Catholic Culture gives a few examples of some of the potential problems. Many of the criticisms seem to be of the guilt-by-association variety. Those aren’t the strongest type of criticisms, though I can understand being wary of a group whose founder speaks at “Call To Action” events.

I don’t see anything on their website that jumps out as being unmistakably problematic. But then, they don’t have much in the way of content on their website to evaluate. You only get to see the content after you buy into the program. I imagine they would have to have some way to allow someone to preview the materials before buying. But maybe not.

Is your parish considering the program?

Yes, they have already begun implementing their Good News People program. It’s JustFaith’s newest. My youth group also participated in their J-walking program. I was busy with school and so I didn’t have a chance to participate. Granted I doubt that program would have revealed any problematic positions. I don’t think it contained any instruction; if it did, I’d guess it would have been vague. That seems typical of youth programs. JustFaith does provide some program outlines. That’s how I know they are pro-life, but I can’t tell if they support gay marriage and Liberation Theology (it wouldn’t surprise me, the people implementing it in my parish hold all three positions). All I know is that they have been accused of supporting Liberation Theology and gay marriage. I wish there was a clear way to verify this. I’ll check out that link you provided. Thanks.

 

[Joe_5859]

It may be a case of some of the people involved with the group have said some things in other venues about those topics. It may well be that the program itself does not contain any explicit references to such things.

Again, I’m not familiar with this program in particular, but I’ve known other programs where the problems either come in the training materials, the presenters for training sessions that are hand picked by the group, or – most often – in what they do not say. Sometimes such programs are devoid of reference to “little” things like Scripture, sacraments, Jesus, the Church, the Catechism, prayer, etc.

If that’s the case, then you just need to look for places to supplement with those things yourself. Even if the materials aren’t the greatest, they can still be used in good ways by the right people.