"mandatory" sacramental prep classes

[Dan_Daly]

So our Parish appears to be following the trend towards “mandatory” catechism classes for children prior to receiving the sacraments.

Our bulletin today stated that children who will be receiving First Holy Communion will need to attend weekly catechism classes every Sunday (except summer) for two years prior to receiving the sacrament.

There are a lot of homeschoolers at our church, and the bulletin addressed that. Parents with questions were invited to speak with the priest, but homeschooled children would be expected to attend catechism classes with the rest of the children. Only under “exceptional” circumstances, the Priest would be willing to consider alternatives.

For a number of reasons, I’m considering not sending our child to the classes. So I’m going to be speaking to the Priest. Before I do so, I’d like to get my facts in order. My understanding is that there is Canon Law that says, parents have the right to prepare their children for the sacraments, and that while a Priest may evaluate candidates, he has no right to REQUIRE attendance at classes.

Can anyone point me to the pertinent documents?

Anyone been in a similar situation before with any tips to share?

Pax and God Bless.

 

[Orleans_Attny]

I don’t know whether authoritative guidance exists. But in every parish I’ve ever attended children approaching their first communion (with the exception of kids in a Catholic school) must attend CCD and if you missed too many classes you had to wait until next year. It was the priests duty to determine if a child had the requisite knowledge and understanding and mindset to receive communion.

Pax,
OA

 

[Dan_Daly]

I found some info that looks helpful:

catholiceducation.org/articles/education/ed0110.html

excerpted from the linked to article:

The Church has reiterated this fundamental teaching many times since Vatican II, including in the Charter of the Rights of the Family and the 1983 Code of Canon Law. The parents’ rights in this context can be summarized as follows:

(1) Parents have the primary and inalienable right to educate their children in the faith.
(2) Parents have the primary right to prepare their children for the reception of the sacraments.

(3) Parents have the right to seek the assistance of the Church in fulfilling their duty as their children’s primary educators without thereby forfeiting their rights.

The obligations or duties of pastors in the area of sacramental preparation can be summarized as follows:

(1) Pastors have the obligation to ensure that suitable catechesis is given prior to the celebration of sacraments. (2) Pastors have the obligation to determine whether a particular child is adequately prepared and disposed to receive a first sacrament. (3) Pastors have the obligation to provide suitable catechists to assist in sacramental preparation when parents fail in their task or seek such assistance.

 

[Dan_Daly]

more:

A recent case from the United States lends considerable support to home schoolers on this issue. In this matter, the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship ordered the diocesan bishop to confirm an 11-year-old girl “as soon as is conveniently possible.” This girl was admittedly well instructed in the faith, but the diocese had withheld the Sacrament of Confirmation because diocesan policy was that Confirmation should be deferred until the sophomore year of high school.

Pastors cannot impose greater requirements for the reception of first sacraments than what the universal Church already requires. Accordingly, the Vatican decreed that the “pastoral judgment” to be made in such a case must be based on the criteria provided by the Church, namely, that the person be baptized, have the use of reason, be suitably instructed, and be properly disposed and able to renew the baptismal promises. Since this girl had admittedly satisfied these requisites, the diocesan rule had to give way to the fundamental right of the faithful — enshrined in canon law (cf. canon 843 §1) — to receive the sacraments.

and most interesting:

An example of guidelines that are more favorable to home schoolers are those issued by the Diocese of Pittsburgh. These guidelines begin with a helpful overview of relevant Church teaching and a look at the diversity within the home schooling movement in Pittsburgh. There is clearly a good faith attempt throughout the document to affirm home schooling as a legitimate response of parents to their role as primary educators, while also affirming that home schoolers should be part of the local Church. In the area of sacramental preparation, the Pittsburgh guidelines offer assistance, encouragement, and direction to home schooling parents, but leaves the decisions to the parents. For example, parents are free to decide whether the child is to receive the sacrament individually, with the family, or within a group. Parents are free to choose the materials they want, while the pastor or his delegate determines the readiness of the child for the sacrament. The guidelines explicitly provide that a child must not be denied a sacrament merely for failure to participate in the parish program.

I say most interesting, because that’s my diocese! I wonder if the Diocesan guidelines have changed, or if the parish and the diocese are not on the same page.

 

[1ke]

I would suggest you follow the links above and look towards Vatican statements expanding on and clarifying canon law. It isn’t an “absolute” right of the parents-- the pastor also has a duty and a role. So, the pastor can quite legitimately state that this is his way of ensuring consistent preparation. I’m not defending such a policy, but I’m merely pointing out it isn’t entirely clear cut from the law itself.

The law simply states:

Can. 843 §1. Sacred ministers cannot deny the sacraments to those who seek them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.

§2. Pastors of souls and other members of the Christian faithful, according to their respective ecclesiastical function, have the duty to take care that those who seek the sacraments are prepared to receive them by proper evangelization and catechetical instruction, attentive to the norms issued by competent authority

Can. 913 §1. The administration of the Most Holy Eucharist to children requires that they have **sufficient knowledge and careful preparation **so that they understand the mystery of Christ according to their capacity and are able to receive the body of Christ with faith and devotion.

§2. The Most Holy Eucharist, however, can be administered to children in danger of death if they can distinguish the body of Christ from ordinary food and receive communion reverently.

Can. 914 It is **primarily **the duty of parents and those who take the place of parents, as well as the duty of pastors, to take care that children who have reached the use of reason **are prepared properly **and, after they have made sacramental confession, are refreshed with this divine food as soon as possible. It is for the pastor to exercise vigilance so that children who have not attained the use of reason or whom he judges are not sufficiently disposed do not approach holy communion.

 

[Bluegoat]

I guess my point would be - if any person is prepared intellectually and spiritually for the Sacrament, and asks for it, what right does the priest or bishop have to refuse that person?

Personally I am not really sure if these long commitment of classes are not missing the point.

OTOH, as far as the parish’s classes to bring people into a more full understanding of the faith, shouldn’t we all want to participate in such things if we can? And often doing this as a group has many advantages.There should be good study groups for all ages of people.

 

[Rence]

So our Parish appears to be following the trend towards “mandatory” catechism classes for children prior to receiving the sacraments.

Our bulletin today stated that children who will be receiving First Holy Communion will need to attend weekly catechism classes every Sunday (except summer) for two years prior to receiving the sacrament.

There are a lot of homeschoolers at our church, and the bulletin addressed that. Parents with questions were invited to speak with the priest, but homeschooled children would be expected to attend catechism classes with the rest of the children. Only under “exceptional” circumstances, the Priest would be willing to consider alternatives.

For a number of reasons, I’m considering not sending our child to the classes. So I’m going to be speaking to the Priest. Before I do so, I’d like to get my facts in order. My understanding is that there is Canon Law that says, parents have the right to prepare their children for the sacraments, and that while a Priest may evaluate candidates, he has no right to REQUIRE attendance at classes.

Can anyone point me to the pertinent documents?

Anyone been in a similar situation before with any tips to share?

Pax and God Bless.

I can’t see why the priest can’t evaluate the candidates and test them. How do they evaluate the other kids? I’m assuming they take oral or written tests, so why can’t the home schooled kids take the same tests? They should be able to accomodate you. Their goal is to insure proper catechism is learned. Parents are just as capable, and in some cases, more capable, to teach proper catechism to their children.

How much are the classes anyway? What will this cost you?

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Parents are just as capable, and in some cases, more capable, to teach proper catechism to their children.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

 

[Rence]

I guess my point would be - if any person is prepared intellectually and spiritually for the Sacrament, and asks for it, what right does the priest or bishop have to refuse that person?

Personally I am not really sure if these long commitment of classes are not missing the point.

OTOH, as far as the parish’s classes to bring people into a more full understanding of the faith, shouldn’t we all want to participate in such things if we can? And often doing this as a group has many advantages.There should be good study groups for all ages of people.

No, because parents may want to teach their children differently. When I attended the same Roman Catholic high school that my mom did decades earlier, all I did was fight with the ‘liberal’ nuns who ran it. Nuns who were pro-choice, pro-gay, taught that the Eucharist was only a symbol, that Mary wasn’t a virgin all her life and had other children, etc. I fought with them, and so did my mother, for four years. The worst of the instructors was asked to leave in my sophomore year, after we reported them to the diocese. But she came back the year after I graduated as the dean. And the following year “married” one of the other SS theology instructors. Regardless of the issues, Catholic teachings were not being taught correctly according to Catholic teachings. While Dan probably most likely won’t have to deal with such extremes, I can totally understand why he wants more control over what his kids learn, especially with them being so little.

 

[Rence]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

The efficacy of the teaching, whether by parent or teacher, can still be determined by testing the candidates.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

The efficacy of the teaching, whether by parent or teacher, can still be determined by testing the candidates.

Yes and no. There’s no test that can ultimately determine the spiritual readiness of a person to receive a sacrament. Some individuals have trouble taking tests but know the essentials.

 

[Corki]

Yes and no. There’s no test that can ultimately determine the spiritual readiness of a person to receive a sacrament. Some individuals have trouble taking tests but know the essentials.

How about just an informal interview? For most parishes, the number of families who both homeschool and who object to the parish sacrament prep program is going to be pretty small. What we do in those cases (which has only been one or two in the decade I have been involved in FHC classes) is to schedule a meeting with the child, the parents and the DRE. If there were any lingering questions, the pastor could be called in to make a final determination as to readiness. We use the same process for children who can’t go to the classes for other reasons (we had a child with a severe anxiety disorder and one that was fighting a life-threatening illness and spending lots of time in hospitals).

 

[maryjk]

OTOH, as far as the parish’s classes to bring people into a more full understanding of the faith, shouldn’t we all want to participate in such things if we can? And often doing this as a group has many advantages.There should be good study groups for all ages of people.

Only if the classes are in fact bringing people to a more full understanding of the faith. What if the classes are so watered down, that the students aren’t really learning anything? I know my son’s class was pretty worthless. What then?

 

[TheDoctor]

Yes and no. There’s no test that can ultimately determine the spiritual readiness of a person to receive a sacrament. Some individuals have trouble taking tests but know the essentials.

Agreed, however an exam (oral with the Priest or DRE or written) can be the best way to determine if the child knows what the sacrament they are receiving is.

At our parish, parents who want to prepare their children for the sacraments must do so but must use, at a minimum, the preparation materials we use in PREP and must pass the same tests / attend the same retreat as the PREP kids.

 

[TheDoctor]

Only if the classes are in fact bringing people to a more full understanding of the faith. What if the classes are so watered down, that the students aren’t really learning anything? I know my son’s class was pretty worthless. What then?

What if the home schooling is so watered down that the students aren’t really learning anything?

Sending children to PREP or CCD does not abrogate the parents duties to instruct their children in the faith. It is a partnership so hopefully we are a “check and balance” on each other.

I will tell you I have never seen PREP materials used at our parish that were “watered down” in any way. Do you recall what they were using???

 

[MissRose73]

I would say that children should participate in sacramental prep classes / catechism classes, and demonstrate to their catechist(s)/teachers, parent(s) and the pastor the basic understanding of the sacrament & tenets of the faith related to it before they receive sacraments of First Communion, First Confession/Penance, and/or Confirmation.

Students who receive homeschooling for their religious education for any reason should sit with the priest or someone in the church’s religious education department without a parent nearby to demonstrate the same readiness as those who attend classes in a group setting. I am sure my sister who got her home instruction due to her sport involvement in high school that conflicted with religious education class had to show readiness to be confirmed, and may have had to go a few times to a formal class with others on nights she didn’t have her sport practice or competition.

Some kids are ready early for sacraments, others may not be. It all depends on the classes they have at their church and also that parents re-enforce the lessons at home with books at home, plus making sure kids are attending Mass too & showing a good example to their kids etc. Parents, pastors and catechists should not feel pressured to force a child or children to receive a sacrament they are not ready to get yet for reasons like understanding or maturity but if a child shows readiness earlier plus understanding & goes through some form of religious education then yes, allow them to receive the sacrament.

 

[Corki]

What if the home schooling is so watered down that the students aren’t really learning anything?

Sending children to PREP or CCD does not abrogate the parents duties to instruct their children in the faith. It is a partnership so hopefully we are a “check and balance” on each other.

I will tell you I have never seen PREP materials used at our parish that were “watered down” in any way.

Sometimes it’s not the materials that are at fault. Our parish uses some very solid material for Sacrament prep. FHC prep isn’t a problem but when you get to the class for Confirmation, the material gets lost. So many of the students haven’t had much formation between FHC and Confirmation that the class turns into a remedial “catch up” exercise. I can understand why a parent that has been more diligent in preparing their children might see the parish class as an ineffective and inefficient method of preparing for the Sacrament.

Remember that parish based programs were started only to fill the gap for families who couldn’t send their children to Catholic school. They are supposed to be the “back up plan” not the default.

 

[TheDoctor]

Sometimes it’s not the materials that are at fault. Our parish uses some very solid material for Sacrament prep. FHC prep isn’t a problem but when you get to the class for Confirmation, the material gets lost. So many of the students haven’t had much formation between FHC and Confirmation that the class turns into a remedial “catch up” exercise. I can understand why a parent that has been more diligent in preparing their children might see the parish class as an ineffective and inefficient method of preparing for the Sacrament.

Remember that parish based programs were started only to fill the gap for families who couldn’t send their children to Catholic school. They are supposed to be the “back up plan” not the default.

Amen. We are just getting ready to start another PREP year at our parish and of the 20 kids in my class I will wager I get about 7-10 parents who will even come to the open house.

I try to send the kids home each session with a “faith sharing” homework that has to be done with mom/dad. I think only about 50% on average get done and then it is mostly by the kids.

A lot of parents seem to have abdicated this responsibility to the PREP program - or religion in general. I have stopped assuming that everyone attends weekly Mass because I no longer want to embarass half the class and although it is not in the curriculum I do spend 3-4 classes teaching “catch-up” on what they should already know.

Sorry, just realized my answer was more of a rant. Anyway, it felt good.

 

[Bluegoat]

Only if the classes are in fact bringing people to a more full understanding of the faith. What if the classes are so watered down, that the students aren’t really learning anything? I know my son’s class was pretty worthless. What then?

Then that is a problem - but I don’t think that requiring the classes for the Sacrament is right in the first place.

The problem from what I can see is bigger than that. Many of these kids are not even going to church regularly, nor are their parents. Why would they confirm kids who are never going to be taught or practice their religion, any more than they would baptize an infant whose parents have no intention of following Catholicism?

People in general should be involved in their parish life - there should be good study groups for everyone, because growing as Christians should be constant.

But IMO there shouldn’t be a requirement other than readiness for sacraments of any kind, and if the classes my parish had stunk, I wouldn’t tend to send my kids. Though if they were just indifferent, I might anyway.

 

[puzzleannie]

SoCan anyone point me to the pertinent documents?

Anyone been in a similar situation before with any tips to share?

Pax and God Bless.

call your diocese and as for the particular law that governs preparing children for sacraments, and the rights of duties of parents in this regard. YOur pastor or DRE should be prepared to give it to you. It may be your diocese is one where for several years almost the entire burden of preparing children for sacraments has been placed on the parents, who are usually given a book, sometimes a short training on how to teach the subject, and instructed to bring the child back at a designated time for a reatreat and sacraments. This is great for homeschooling parents, not so much for parents without adequate background or inclination to do the best job. Not to say the parishes are doing a better job, but possibly experience has shown this system simply was not working, so they have gone back to the traditional class model.

Why not have a conversation with the pastor about it and demonstrate your ability and willingness to do more than the parish can? If you called me I would refer you to him anyhow, because I have no authority to dispense with the program laid down by the diocese, only the pastor can do that. I also will not certify the child is ready, if I don’t have knowledge of that readiness through some means.

another reason this “mandatory” policy has been adopted may be as a means of bringing families, not just the children, in for some basic instruction, with a goal of getting them to actually attend Mass.