What is the purpose of hiring liberals, non-Catholics and even anti-Catholics to teach in religious education at parishes and Catholic Schools?

[Abba]

I really don’t get it.

My youngest son went to a youth retreat this week-end. The youngster were asked questions which they were to answer first with their eyes closed and then with their eyes opened. For the question: Do you think that same sex-marriage should be legalized and that practicing homosexual should have all the rights as other people and be integrated and accepted by society? The question went something like that. Well, out of almost 60 students only one raised his hand to the negative. Only a few thought that abortion and contraception is wrong.

I am so disappointed. These youngsters will be confirmed in the Church this coming Easter.

In a parish that I am familiar with, the Director of Religious Studies once told me that she was pro-homosexuality and believes that women should be allowed to be priests. She told me that she knew plenty of priests that are homosexuals and that she considers them fine priests. At the time, she did not clarify if they were practicing. I did not ask as I stood there in shock and tried to keep my shock to myself.

I just do not get, why a pastor would hire people with such liberal views and such a lack of catechism to teach our youngsters? It’s not enough to hire a teacher who makes clear during the interview that she is a practicing lesbian, (like that story that is now in the news) and just tell the person to keep it a secret. Why hire her to begin with? Why? I do not understand.

There are people in charge of preparing youngsters for Confirmation that have never heard of the Theology of the Body?!?

 

[1ke]

Why aren’t you asking these questions to your priest and bishop, instead of random people on the internet who cannot possibly have an answer for you?

Seriously, things won’t change on the local level until you get involved and make change happen. Bishops have a large territory and don’t know what goes on in every parish. Even priests do not always know what is going on. “Liberals” can hide their views in job interviews.

I suggest you take things up in their proper chain of command-- first directly with the director of religious education, then the pastor, then the diocesan religious director and bishop, and from there the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

 

[3DOCTORS]

This started 40 years ago and is a contributing factor to the mess we’re in with the Obama contraception mandate right now.

 

[Leegal]

I really don’t get it.

My youngest son went to a youth retreat this week-end. The youngster were asked questions which they were to answer first with their eyes closed and then with their eyes opened. For the question: Do you think that same sex-marriage should be legalized and that practicing homosexual should have all the rights as other people and be integrated and accepted by society? The question went something like that. Well, out of almost 60 students only one raised his hand to the negative. Only a few thought that abortion and contraception is wrong.

I am so disappointed. These youngsters will be confirmed in the Church this coming Easter.

In a parish that I am familiar with, the Director of Religious Studies once told me that she was pro-homosexuality and believes that women should be allowed to be priests. She told me that she knew plenty of priests that are homosexuals and that she considers them fine priests. At the time, she did not clarify if they were practicing. I did not ask as I stood there in shock and tried to keep my shock to myself.

I just do not get, why a pastor would hire people with such liberal views and such a lack of catechism to teach our youngsters? It’s not enough to hire a teacher who makes clear during the interview that she is a practicing lesbian, (like that story that is now in the news) and just tell the person to keep it a secret. Why hire her to begin with? Why? I do not understand.

There are people in charge of preparing youngsters for Confirmation that have never heard of the Theology of the Body?!?

Three day retreat – it’s not clear who conducted the retreat. Was it arranged by the parish but through a religious order retreat house or was it entirely conducted by the parish? Who you complain to will vary on who was responsible for the teachings at the retreat. First, whomever at your parish that was responsible for arranging this and the priest/pastor so that this does not happen again and the next retreat is NOT conducted in such a manner.

Who did this actual exercise? Someone from the parish (using a retreat house) or a person assigned by the retreat house? If from the parish, then you start with the parish religious director or the pastor – and then the Diocese if you don’t get satisfaction.

If this was done at a religious Order retreat house, then to the spiritual director of the retreat house for that Order as against the person who conducted the program if that person was provided by the religious order. If you don’t get any satisfaction, I would continue up the line until someone in the Order acknowledges your complaint and takes action.

As to the second scenario with the woman and her beliefs – she’s definately outside of the teachings of the Church – the prohibition against women as priests IS an infallible teaching of the Magisterium and she should have been reported. The rest is gossip. You should have walked away to find the pastor.

I hope you have the opportunity to undo the work of this retreat exercise, explaining to your son that this is not what we believe despite what was presented.

 

[Abba]

Why aren’t you asking these questions to your priest and bishop, instead of random people on the internet who cannot possibly have an answer for you?

Actually, I have received great answers from random people on these forums. You just gave me one.

Seriously, things won’t change on the local level until you get involved and make change happen. Bishops have a large territory and don’t know what goes on in every parish. Even priests do not always know what is going on. “Liberals” can hide their views in job interviews.

You are right.

I suggest you take things up in their proper chain of command-- first directly with the director of religious education, then the pastor, then the diocesan religious director and bishop, and from there the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Good idea! :newidea:

It’s not going to be easy. I belong to a very liberal parish. I will have skip everyone right up to the priest. I will tell him my concerns and propose that the catechism includes teachings that will help the youngsters understand and appreciate the teachings of the Church regarding the Sacrament of Marriage and sexuality. I don’t expect my suggestions to be welcomed with opened arms, but I will in a non-confrontational manner make the propositions.

Thank you for the suggestion.

I do think that the Bishops together need to address this problem and take measure by perhaps requiring certain materials to be covered and for pastors to assure that the intention of the instructors is indeed to teach the material properly.

 

[1ke]

by perhaps requiring certain materials to be covered

They already do.

Additionally, the USCCB publishes a conforming textbook list, meaning that the book is approved for use and conforms to Catholic teaching and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Publishers obviously want their books on the conforming list. There have been a few who had to issue new editions recently because they were too vague on the Eucharist, or didn’t properly teach the Real Presence.

and for pastors to assure that the intention of the instructors is indeed to teach the material properly.

Yes, certainly. But they can’t be everywhere at once.

So, you need to inform the pastor of the specific things being taught that are contrary to Catholic doctrine, and ask for a specific plan of action to correct the issues you have observed. If you don’t get a satisfactory answer, move on up the chain of command.

 

[PJM]

I really don’t get it.

My youngest son went to a youth retreat this week-end. The youngster were asked questions which they were to answer first with their eyes closed and then with their eyes opened. For the question: Do you think that same sex-marriage should be legalized and that practicing homosexual should have all the rights as other people and be integrated and accepted by society? The question went something like that. Well, out of almost 60 students only one raised his hand to the negative. Only a few thought that abortion and contraception is wrong.

I am so disappointed. These youngsters will be confirmed in the Church this coming Easter.

In a parish that I am familiar with, the Director of Religious Studies once told me that she was pro-homosexuality and believes that women should be allowed to be priests. She told me that she knew plenty of priests that are homosexuals and that she considers them fine priests. At the time, she did not clarify if they were practicing. I did not ask as I stood there in shock and tried to keep my shock to myself.

I just do not get, why a pastor would hire people with such liberal views and such a lack of catechism to teach our youngsters? It’s not enough to hire a teacher who makes clear during the interview that she is a practicing lesbian, (like that story that is now in the news) and just tell the person to keep it a secret. Why hire her to begin with? Why? I do not understand.

There are people in charge of preparing youngsters for Confirmation that have never heard of the Theology of the Body?!?

The EXTREMLY sad news is that there does exist a powerful remnant of Post Vatican II Catholics who continue to hold to “the SPIRIT” of Vatican II, not it’s actual teachings. That is why PARENTS like yourself need to be vigliant in what you and your family are being exposed to.

We MUST trust in God and rely not only on the “the Parish” BUT live and teach our Catholic Faith at home too.

God Bless,
Pat

 

[Geist]

Two sponsors in my RCIA class are Communists.

 

[PJM]

=Geist;9071759]Two sponsors in my RCIA class are Communists.

And you know this because?

God Bless,
Pat

 

[Geist]

And you know this because?

God Bless,
Pat

The fact they said so was the clearest indication.

 

[PJM]

=Geist;9076304]The fact they said so was the clearest indication.

WOW!

Does your Pastor and DRE know? IF NOT they shouls; if they do and ignore it FIND ANOTHER RCIA PROGRAM!

God Bless,
Pat

 

[Geist]

WOW!

Does your Pastor and DRE know? IF NOT they shouls; if they do and ignore it FIND ANOTHER RCIA PROGRAM!

God Bless,
Pat

Their political ideology is their own business, it happened to come up in a discussion. They’re good people even though I disagree with them on economic issues. Socially they are actually very in line with Catholic social teaching.

 

[LittleRose]

I suggest you take things up in their proper chain of command-- first directly with the director of religious education, then the pastor, then the diocesan religious director and bishop, and from there the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

I went to a parish in college like this. Most of the people I met there are now no longer Catholic, or are barely so. At the time it was run by an order that, alas, does not have a reputation for orthodoxy. It’s a different parish now, since the order in question left. An archdiocesan priest runs it now.

1ke is right that you should take it to your pastor first. He may understand, or he may not. Some, like the priests that were at my university parish, feel that allowing non-catholics or dissidents into ministry is being friendly and “inclsuive” and see the scandal this causes as a non-issue. If that is the case, talk to someone in your diocese, or if your parish is run by an order, a superior. Write letters, and keep track of them.

 

[Brightest_Star]

My youngest son went to a youth retreat this week-end. The youngster were asked questions which they were to answer first with their eyes closed and then with their eyes opened. For the question: Do you think that same sex-marriage should be legalized and that practicing homosexual should have all the rights as other people and be integrated and accepted by society? The question went something like that. Well, out of almost 60 students only one raised his hand to the negative. Only a few thought that abortion and contraception is wrong.

What is this madness? What kind of retreat for kids even brings this stuff up?
I was pretty shocked and upset, but upon looking closer I see your account is suspended.

If the idea of messing with the morals of our children is a joke - it is NOT funny.

 

[Elisabeth51]

When I lived in TN, you would have been very lucky to get an interview much less a job in the Diocese parishes or schools if you were not Catholic…and if you got the interview part of that was 101 questions on what you believed.

When I moved out here to CA, I asked why our parish has teachers who are not Catholic, a music director that is not Catholic, etc…the answer was simple: no one who was Catholic applied.

I was a substitute teacher in TN, I did not have to have a license, I had a degree and was approved by the Diocese. Here in CA they use a temporary service, I do not qualify because I do not have a teaching license. Being Catholic is not a criteria for them.

 

[Alan55]

This started 40 years ago and is a contributing factor to the mess we’re in with the Obama contraception mandate right now.

Ironically, I think this trend started in earnest with the promulgation of Humanae Vitae, which as you say, was about 40 years ago (1968). Catholic couples faced with violating Church teaching regarding artificial birth control decided to ignore official teaching on the subject and, eventually, on a number of other subjects regarding sexuality and gender: clerical celibacy, women’s ordination, homosexuality, divorce and remarriage, in vitro fertilization, etc.