Why don't priests catechize anymore?

[Annsy]

Why don’t priests talk about confession, the rosary, eucharistic adoration, and voting for pro-life candidates in their homilies? Don’t we have the right to be catechized? This is a source of constant frustration for me.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Although it can be done in certain circumstances for appropriate reasons, the homily ordinarily is not the time or place for catechesis:

The homily is part of the liturgy and is strongly recommended, for it is necessary for the nurturing of the Christian life. It should be an exposition of some aspect of the readings from sacred Scripture or of another text from the ordinary or from the proper of the Mass of the day and should take into account both the mystery being celebrated and the particular needs of the listeners (GIRM 65).

Although this is not to say that priests shouldn’t catechize, catechesis usually is a task delegated by the priest to a deacon, consecrated religious, or trained layperson. What the priest must do is to proclaim the Gospel, and that is what he is called upon to do by the Church during the homily.