Looking for advice on Religious Education

[Vicia]

asquared:

all I can do is point out that the US bishops’ mandate on us to provide this training also includes a detailed letter to be sent to the parents which includes a chance for parents to preview the program before it is presented to children, and a chance sign-off so the parents can formally opt out of the program in writing. The manner of sending the notices is left to discretion of the parish. If you were not given this opportunity the pastor erred. The DRE was following his instructions. We also operate under the discipline of obedience to our bishops and pastors. I hope this discussion has served what I believe to be your original purpose in posting, to alert parents to what is going on in parishes and urge them to be vigilant.

We are supposed to be obedient to Rome. Anyone with a developed conscience would know that the video that was shown to my child and to the other children in our parish is detrimental to their immortal souls. I do not understand why anyone who is in control as a DRE would not fight this tooth and nail. It is their job to protect the children, even from the parish, while under their care. I can only be as vigilant as possible.

I am afraid that you may misunderstand what my purpose is in this discussion. I am trying to get some advice from parents, like myself, who have either pulled children out of CCD or have the same kind of concerns as I do. When they post, I am hoping they give me some kind of advice as to what I should do from here or at least what they have done. There is no ulterior motive.

Thank you for your posts. I also would like you to know that I do not blame the DRE. I am sure she did what she was supposed to do. What I am upset about is that when I asked her about it, she acted like they didn’t exist. I think that would be concerning to any parent.

 

[KCT]

asquared:

My job as a DRE is not only to recruit catechists but to oversee their ongoing faith formation and evaluate their teaching. But also my job is to catechize parents and equip them for their task. Too bad many of them view this as a burden when it is intended as a gift. Every knowledgeable, devout parent who pulls their child out of RE/CCD is one less catechist available for the children who have no parent willing or able to teach them.

God bless you for taking your DRE role so seriously! We need more of you Sadly, many DRE’s around here think their duty is to take over for parents. They think they can dictate what parents must or must not do and even what materials they can use. (as if a DRE can really have control over what a parent chooses to read to her child!)

In general, I think that parents should offer to be involved in religious ed at their parishes. But, I have friends who have been told they’re too conservative and the parish doesn’t want them as catechists.

What would you recommend when a parent knows/ suspects the catechists at her parish are not well instructed but the DRE refuses her offer of help? —KCT

 

[puzzleannie]

virtus.org/virtus/

link to the VIRTUS - Protecting God’s Children - Touching Safety site, this month’s article, monitoring programs your child will be exposed to.

 

[Elzee]

Vicia:

The Faith and Life series has been recommended to me several times. We teach out of the Baltimore Catechism. I understand why parents who have pulled their children out and stayed as teachers, I have thought to do the same thing. Thank you very much for you post, it was very enlightening.

I use the Faith and Life series with my kids at home. It is awesome. We also use the ‘Friendly Defender’ cards. I introduce a new one each week and we then spend the next week reviewing all the ones we’ve covered so far. It is taking awhile to get through them, but that’s okay. The message sinks in and they are great discussion starters.