US Bishops and catechesis

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To my understanding, the US bishops recently came together to discuss problems with the catechisis of the faithful. I did not follow ongoings closely, but to my knowledge it spoke much more on the catechesis of adults than children.
I was recently told by a collegue of my parish youth minister (the youth minister is also acting as Director of Religious Education for Jr. & Sr. High) that the one thing that was highly stressed by *all * the bishops at the council is that the Catechism of the Catholic Church (the book) should not be allowed within the class; it should stay out of the classroom and catechists were to “keep them at home”. The CCC is a good reference tool for a catechist’s personal use but is not to be taught from etc. etc.
I am uncertain if this is true; it sounds terribly backward (to have a catechism class where the catechism is not allowed?!). I’d like to know where this type of information might be documented – that the Bishops said that we are not read/teach/have the the CCC in the classroom. I do not understand why this would be so if most of the discussion targeted adult catechesis rather than children’s catechesis.
In my own humble opinion, I think as long as you are not opening it up and saying “Alright everyone. Open up to paragraph 1. Read it. This is our faith, the end.” I do not understand where it would be bad have Jr. and Sr. highers (I teach 8th grade) begin to reference the CCC. I understand about the uniformity of curriculem etc, but I do not understand why it might be bad to introduce teenagers to the CCC by saying, “As defined by the CCC 1849 ‘a sin is …’. This means…” Some may agree that many CCE/CCD curricula are mediocre at best. Teenagers stop paying attention etc. Many times a “lesson” my be tailor made for the class, in which case, the CCC is helpful.
If you could help me find documentation/show me documentation as to what the Bishops said and spoke of I would appreciate it; if what I hear is true, please explain to me why.
 
The CCC is written for adults and I do believe there are plans to develop material appropriate for various ages. There also is an educational theory that people learn better not reading from a book as a teacher is instructing. I’m not an educator, so Ican’t defend or critic this theory.

I think most high school students could easily handle the CCC, though the high school aged kids in my parish are mostly disadvantaged and I don’t think could.

This seems a local matter of prudence.
 
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Sur-rah:
To my understanding, the US bishops recently came together to discuss problems with the catechisis of the faithful. I did not follow ongoings closely, but to my knowledge it spoke much more on the catechesis of adults than children.
I was recently told by a collegue of my parish youth minister (the youth minister is also acting as Director of Religious Education for Jr. & Sr. High) that the one thing that was highly stressed by *all *the bishops at the council is that the Catechism of the Catholic Church (the book) should not be allowed within the class; it should stay out of the classroom and catechists were to “keep them at home”. The CCC is a good reference tool for a catechist’s personal use but is not to be taught from etc. etc.
I am uncertain if this is true; it sounds terribly backward (to have a catechism class where the catechism is not allowed?!). I’d like to know where this type of information might be documented – that the Bishops said that we are not read/teach/have the the CCC in the classroom. I do not understand why this would be so if most of the discussion targeted adult catechesis rather than children’s catechesis.
In my own humble opinion, I think as long as you are not opening it up and saying “Alright everyone. Open up to paragraph 1. Read it. This is our faith, the end.” I do not understand where it would be bad have Jr. and Sr. highers (I teach 8th grade) begin to reference the CCC. I understand about the uniformity of curriculem etc, but I do not understand why it might be bad to introduce teenagers to the CCC by saying, “As defined by the CCC 1849 ‘a sin is …’. This means…” Some may agree that many CCE/CCD curricula are mediocre at best. Teenagers stop paying attention etc. Many times a “lesson” my be tailor made for the class, in which case, the CCC is helpful.
If you could help me find documentation/show me documentation as to what the Bishops said and spoke of I would appreciate it; if what I hear is true, please explain to me why.
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The document you should read is “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us”. I have read this several times and do not recall anything specifically saying that the CCC should not be used in the “classroom”. It does however clearly say that the CCC is to be the basis and foundation of all catechesis.

I might agree that a catechist should not shove a CCC into the hands of high schoolers and make it required reading. But they should be familiar with it and be able to use it when they want.
 
I’ve been involved in three separate catechism programs: one in 1988 as I was preparing for confirmation, the next beginning last summer where I sat in with a relative who is preparing for confirmation, and currently another one at the parish where I was confirmed. None of them ever actually utilized the Catechism of the Catholic Church. When I said “programs” I meant it; little series of booklets and workbooks, some video tapes, meditation sessions – you name it. Anything but the actual CCC.

That is positively disturbing. While most of these programs are okay (I agree “mediocre” is an appropriate descriptive term) none of them goes very far explaining Church history, or even explaining its function authentically. People come out of these classes not knowing what sin is or how to go about striving for a state of grace. In fact, the teachers spent a great deal of time lecturing on “Protestants don’t do this” or “Protestants believe that” and it seems to be very defensive. If you are on the defense, you cannot run the ball.

Personally, I think we need to break bad and bring the Baltimore Catechism out of the attic.
 
In our Adult Confirmation classes, the required text for each student is the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (full size edition), Apologetics 101, a prayer book, and a book about examination of conscience. We don’t sit and read it, but we will read short sections having to do with the topic at hand, and give them references for further reading.
 
I thought the intent was that the CCC was to be the basis for regional or national catechisms drawn up under the bishops’ authority.
 
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katherine2:
I think most high school students could easily handle the CCC, though the high school aged kids in my parish are mostly disadvantaged and I don’t think could.
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Talk about an apathetic response/perception to the “disadvantaged”. Why not further disempower the “disadvantaged” by treating them as sub-par intelligence/ learners? My belief is that “you get what you expect”, you set the standard high, why settle for less?; even if it means only a few of the “disadvantaged” will get it. You will never hit something that you are not aiming for. Thank goodness that I didn’y grow up in a “disadvantaged” parish. 😦
 
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felra:
Talk about an apathetic response/perception to the “disadvantaged”. Why not further disempower the “disadvantaged” by treating them as sub-par intelligence/ learners? My belief is that “you get what you expect”, you set the standard high, why settle for less?; even if it means only a few of the “disadvantaged” will get it. You will never hit something that you are not aiming for. Thank goodness that I didn’y grow up in a “disadvantaged” parish. 😦
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Perhaps some felt banners, situation ethics and Cat Stevens songs will properly form a young person’s conscience. It has worked well since the late 1960s.
 
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fix:
Perhaps some felt banners, situation ethics and Cat Stevens songs will properly form a young person’s conscience. It has worked well since the late 1960s.
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Don’t forget a roll of newsprint and some colored markers. :rolleyes:
 
Br. Rich SFO:
The document you should read is “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us”. I have read this several times and do not recall anything specifically saying that the CCC should not be used in the “classroom”. It does however clearly say that the CCC is to be the basis and foundation of all catechesis.

I might agree that a catechist should not shove a CCC into the hands of high schoolers and make it required reading. But they should be familiar with it and be able to use it when they want.
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Am I correct in my assumptioin that the USCCB is the same council that I have been hearing about that met concerning the restructuring (for lack of a better term) of the catechesis classes? Or were there just a select few bishops on the council? It’s by no means a question of authority but rather to help me find more information specific to children’s/teenager’s catechesis versus adult catechesis (which a lot of “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us” seems to address). If there is a smaller council of bishops that specificially meets and prayerfully deliberates on catechatical instruction, they might have a different webpage.
Thank you for the reference of “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us”. It is helpful.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
The document you should read is “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us”. I have read this several times and do not recall anything specifically saying that the CCC should not be used in the “classroom”. It does however clearly say that the CCC is to be the basis and foundation of all catechesis.

I might agree that a catechist should not shove a CCC into the hands of high schoolers and make it required reading. But they should be familiar with it and be able to use it when they want.
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Im Irish and in My family we are taught Catechism by strict word of mouth. This was very important during the dark ages. I dont know what good it is to have people of small faith teach the Catechism from a book.

How do you teach Christian brotherhood from a book?
 
:The bishops of the United States have moved some time ago to clean up the children’s catechetical works, and there are several approved.

They are in the process of cleaning up the high school texts.

There is also a move to prepare an adult catechism. There is at least one good adult catechism about, by a Jesuit, and there may be others; constant footnoting to the CCC would be a guide if you are not sure.

The CCC was not intended as a textbook, and to use it that way, particularly for high school students, would be at best tedious as it is not the most user friendly book around. It is, however, a wonderful reference book, and shopuld be used as such.

I suspect that the original statement may have been an overstatement.

If you are interested in the status of catechetical works, there have been several good articles in National Catholic Register in the last 6 months.
 
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Sur-rah:
Am I correct in my assumptioin that the USCCB is the same council that I have been hearing about that met concerning the restructuring (for lack of a better term) of the catechesis classes? Or were there just a select few bishops on the council? It’s by no means a question of authority but rather to help me find more information specific to children’s/teenager’s catechesis versus adult catechesis (which a lot of “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us” seems to address). If there is a smaller council of bishops that specificially meets and prayerfully deliberates on catechatical instruction, they might have a different webpage.
Thank you for the reference of “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us”. It is helpful.
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Catechesis has been adressed from Rome to the local Bishops. If you have the time it is important to read as many of the documents beginning with the document on Christian education of Vatican II, Catechesi Tradendae, To Teach as Jesus Did, Guidelines for Doctrinally Sound Catechetical Materials, of special intrest might be; The Challenge of Adolescent Catechesis: Maturing in Faith. A very broad document is; The General Directory For Catechesis, This paints a very broad picture covering many different aspects of Catechesis. But the bottom line is that the Church (Rome) since the late 1960’s has been moving towards the idea the all Catechesis should be oriented towards the adult Catholic, enabling the parent to pass on the Faith to their children.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
…the bottom line is that the Church (Rome) since the late 1960’s has been moving towards the idea the all Catechesis should be oriented towards the adult Catholic, enabling the parent to pass on the Faith to their children.
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Objectively, has it produced the results you or I would be hoping for?
That is, where are the objective fruits of this strategy?
There should be a site that examines this strategy. Do you know of any?

I realize parental teaching appeared to be the only thing left after the Catholic school system nearly collapsed… Unless we try what the prot’s have long been doing, which seems to be working for many of them.
 
I use the CCC as part of every lesson plan for my Confirmation students. I have one on hand during class (along with a Code of Canon Law) as a point of reference but, try to plan the lesson to the point that I don’t need to use it. I remember the mediocre formation I received prior to my Confirmation and promised myself that my students would receive a thorough grounding in their faith, its history, how to defend it, and what it means to be a Catholic in todays world. So far, the Confirmandi have done very well.

I can’t understand how someone could possibly create a program of faith formation without the CCC. Actually, I can understand how and the arrogance of some in the religious education field (especially those who actually write those ridiculous texts) disgusts me.
 
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