Liberal theology being taught in adult faith formation

[grannymh]

Thank you so much for your replies, kentuckyliz and others, I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling horrified at this.

As for the sense of sin debate, I know how important it is to have a clear-cut definition of sin from the Church because my past is one of drifting from God, getting up to my neck in sin (let’s call a spade a spade) and the first stage of my journey back to the faith was painfully purgative. It had to be. Every time I tried to pray I realised that I had these mountains of unconfessed sins between myself and God, and boy did I feel good when they were wiped away in Confession. Plus I read and prayed with the Catechism and realised where I needed to be heading. It spiritually made sense to me, I didn’t feel like I’d read a list of do’s and don’ts, it was within a much wider context of spiritual growth.

This course was supposed to be an aid to my faith development, and it is also seen as a course for wannabe teachers of catechesis. We have now been taught that everyone’s spiritual state within the Catholic Church is equally valid, whether they be regular churchgoers or not. I know where I’m coming from, and when I was out in wishy-washy land, I couldn’t have been further from God if I tried. Also, that totally goes against the idea of the narrow gate. Should we then confirm people in their sin and fail to teach them the truth that can save them?

Everything up to this point was fine, but now I have never felt more disillusioned in my life. The diocese pays for these people to teach the faith. What is going on? And never before have I felt more sapped of the will to evangelise. I honestly feel like I have been slapped back into place, and that I should just go back to my seat in Church and not suggest anything like evangelisation ever again. (Sorry for the rant)

Rant away. You should hear me rant when I am cranky (feminine of snarky)

Your coming back to our Merciful Lord is a powerful form of evangelization. Your continual participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation will affirm the few who are there with you. Tell someone who has a beautiful voice that you are glad to have them near you during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because their voice lifts your soul to God. Scratch that long sentence.

What I am saying is that a short compliment or comment may touch the soul that is about to drift away. Tell a child in hearing distance of the parent that you are very glad to see her or him at Mass. Thank the altar servers for doing a good job. Fold your hands properly on the way to receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion. Stay for five minutes of extra prayer at the end of Mass. Be sneaky and when you find any opening to praise God or Catholicism, go for it.

Blessings,
granny

THE HOLY EUCHARIST
IS THE LIGHT, STRENGTH AND LIFE OF OUR SOULS.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hi all,

I’m currently attending a Catholic faith formation course, and have been horrified at some of the watered down teachings of the Church that are being taught as fact - by very highly respected figures might I add - religious, Diocesan employees. Things like - we don’t talk about mortal sins anymore, we focus on the positive instead, we don’t need to place such an emphasis on Adoration, and Don’t rely too heavily on the Catechism, was the last pearl of wisdom imparted to us.

I .

well I am sorry you are not getting sound teaching, but what you describe is not liberation theology, which is a specifically Marxist application the warps Catholic social justice teaching, lot just “liberal” or heterodox teaching.

YOur examples are not in context or very specific so I can’t comment unless I knew the entirety of what was taught about mortal sin, the Real presence and so forth. Yes it is a sad fact that even diocesan employess are way out there. Some of the classes taught to our Catholic school religion teachers are very sad, and I understand our new bishop is reviewing that program, as well as our current catechist formation.

No what you experience is not the standard or what is prescribed, but sadly it may have become the norm where you are.

You don’t say why you are taking this particular class, or who the audience is for the class. Catechists? Adults of the parish? bible study? RCIA? Adult confirmation.

First go to the pastor, tell him what you have experienced and ask if this type of teaching, which leaves you in tears it is so bad, is what he wants and expects for his parish. If he has no interest in offering sound adult programs, find a parish that is. Become part of the solution and prepare yourself to become one of the teachers. That is my tactic in my own little insinuating way, to try and influence some of those of my peers to be able to discern sound from unsound formation we are offered.

 

[grannymh]

well I am sorry you are not getting sound teaching, but what you describe is not liberation theology, which is a specifically Marxist application the warps Catholic social justice teaching, lot just “liberal” or heterodox teaching.

YOur examples are not in context or very specific so I can’t comment unless I knew the entirety of what was taught about mortal sin, the Real presence and so forth. Yes it is a sad fact that even diocesan employess are way out there. Some of the classes taught to our Catholic school religion teachers are very sad, and I understand our new bishop is reviewing that program, as well as our current catechist formation.

No what you experience is not the standard or what is prescribed, but sadly it may have become the norm where you are.

You don’t say why you are taking this particular class, or who the audience is for the class. Catechists? Adults of the parish? bible study? RCIA? Adult confirmation.

First go to the pastor, tell him what you have experienced and ask if this type of teaching, which leaves you in tears it is so bad, is what he wants and expects for his parish. If he has no interest in offering sound adult programs, find a parish that is. Become part of the solution and prepare yourself to become one of the teachers. That is my tactic in my own little insinuating way, to try and influence some of those of my peers to be able to discern sound from unsound formation we are offered.

I do not believe that liberation theology was the intention. The intention is more the meaning of liberal in the sense that a lot of liberty in interpretation of Catholic dogma is being used to discredit Catholic Dogma.

A while back there was a thread in either Apologetics or Philosophy which gave the code names or euphemisms for liberal departures from actual Catholic teaching.

I think that a previous post somewhere referred to the ban on evolution/atheism discussions in a number of CAF forums because they often leave the realm of civil discourse. I respect those bans.

Nonetheless, the “sense of sin” can also refer to the attack on paragraphs 355-421 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, ISBN: 1-57455-109-4
Link: www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm

I agree with the importance of knowing what was taught about mortal sin, the Real Presence and so forth. However, from reading a couple of CAF posts, I have leaned that there are people who believe in Catholicism but deny Original Sin as taught by the Catholic Church.

Blessings,
granny

*John 3: 16-17 *

 

[puzzleannie]

Thank you so much for your replies, kentuckyliz and others, I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling horrified at this.
…

Everything up to this point was fine, but now I have never felt more disillusioned in my ife. The diocese pays for these people to teach the faith. What is going on? And never before have I felt more sapped of the will to evangelise. I honestly feel like I have been slapped back into place, and that I should just go back to my seat in Church and not suggest anything like evangelisation ever again. (Sorry for the rant)

I completely sympathise as the walrus said to the carpenter

this was my situation in my former Ohio diocese. Since I lived on the border and was minutes from a catechist class in one diocese, vs two hours away from my proper class, I was given permission to begin catechist formation there. The first introductory class was taught by a priest who is highly regarded still in that diocese. We learned that reliable Catholic publications for laity are NC Reporter, US Catholic and America, that John did not write his gospel, that his whole telling of the last supper, crucifixion and resurrection appearances were not inspired, not true, but the “collective meditation on the meaning of the Jesus event of the JOahnine community 100 years after the fact”.

One older lady in the class, who just volunteered to help with first communion in her parish, simply collapsed in tears. I lost it and did what Catholic school graduates never do, challenged the priest publicly. I said Father I am just beginning my adult study of the Faith, but you are wrong, and you have no right to present these ideas in a beginning class for catechists. I walked out and never looked back. I wanted to say “you lie like a dog, you lie like a Calormene”. I protested with details in writing and was informed the catechist formation process was “under review”.

I went to my own diocese and the classes were marginally better, but more how to than what to teach. Helpful but not enough. My brother gave me a subscription to Fr. Hardon’s Catholic Faith magazine, where I saw an ad for the Steubenville summer conference, St John Bosco, for catechist formation. I joined 2nd year of the program, completed catechist certification 5 yrs later and went on for DRE, even after we moved to Texas. For the first time in my adult life I found authentic Catholic teaching and formation.

Somebody, Chesterton or Lewis I don’t recall, says the lie has glimmers, glitters, facets and complexity that defies reason. The truth shines simple, clean and whole like a beacon. I found truth after decades of mish mash pap from Catholic colleges, adult ed, and sadly, the pulpit. God bless Fr Scanlan and his decision to put his school under the guidance of the Holy Spirit because the result is a renewal for the whole church.

 

[trials]

You don’t say why you are taking this particular class, or who the audience is for the class. Catechists? Adults of the parish? bible study? RCIA? Adult confirmation.

First go to the pastor, tell him what you have experienced and ask if this type of teaching, which leaves you in tears it is so bad, is what he wants and expects for his parish. If he has no interest in offering sound adult programs, find a parish that is. Become part of the solution and prepare yourself to become one of the teachers. That is my tactic in my own little insinuating way, to try and influence some of those of my peers to be able to discern sound from unsound formation we are offered.

Thanks for this and your later response - it’s basically a general faith formation programme, which has a sound theological framework, I would describe its general aim as to empower the under-catechised laity, as in, to send out parish catechists who will help the overstretched priests in their pastoral work. Unfortunately, some of the teachers have been teaching the Catechism but throwing in their own personal liberal opinions alongside it, and since they are in a position of authority, it is both confusing and harmful. I’m in the process of acting on it though, so please God the Truth will prevail in this particular case.