Why don't we make catechism / faith formation classes free?

[z_0101]

Poor rural county so all is free. Otherwise we’d have no classes.

I’d still be asking for a free-will donation.
One is often very surprised about how much will show-up in the collection basket once the community is aware of how much it costs to open the building, purchase materials, and pay at least the DRE!

 

[Joannm]

St Martha Adult Faith Formation have archived their classes in mp3 format and available for free here stmarthaaff.com/.

Catholic books have imprimatur, which means approved by the bishop. As for Saints books, aren’t they approved by the pope?

The imprimatur simply means a book is free from doctrinal error. All catechetical texts used with children need approval by the bishops. There are lists of catechetical texts in each diocese that are approved for use in religious education programs. Books not on the list are not to be used except as perhaps a supplement. As a DRE I received a list of approved books and had to choose a series from that list. I did have a video series that I wanted to use with Confirmation that was not on the list. A few other DREs wanted to use it too. We had to get permission from our bishop to use it. But it wan’t free, in fact it cost us a bit more per student since we had to buy the DVDs in addition to the texts and catechist manuals.

 

[KCT]

The imprimatur simply means a book is free from doctrinal error. All catechetical texts used with children need approval by the bishops. There are lists of catechetical texts in each diocese that are approved for use in religious education programs. Books not on the list are not to be used except as perhaps a supplement. As a DRE I received a list of approved books and had to choose a series from that list. I did have a video series that I wanted to use with Confirmation that was not on the list. A few other DREs wanted to use it too. We had to get permission from our bishop to use it. But it wan’t free, in fact it cost us a bit more per student since we had to buy the DVDs in addition to the texts and catechist manuals.

My diocese does not have its own list, but goes by the long USCCB list.

There is a family catechesis program I would love to use, but it’s not a text book, so it was not submitted for approval. Actually, I think my pastor would be OK with it.

What video series do you use?

 

[Old_Sarum]

This is insane. I’ve never heard of a priest charging for catechism lessons, and I’m pretty sure they’re not allowed to do so.
I’ve been to catechism four different times in my life, and never had to pay for any of it.

 

[1ke]

This is insane. I’ve never heard of a priest charging for catechism lessons, and I’m pretty sure they’re not allowed to do so.
I’ve been to catechism four different times in my life, and never had to pay for any of it.

This thread is talking about the religious education classes for children-- the weekly catechism classes that parish children attend. These programs have books and materials that require purchasing.

Some parishes ask the parents to buy the books for their children who are attending, other parishes do not and instead support the religious education program out of the general budget.

And, yes, parishes are certainly *allowed *to ask parents to pay for the materials.

 

[jessica_mars]

My daughter just started her First Holy Communion classes and it’s $45 for each child and it is 2 years long. My husband and I also started RCIA classes but those are free. Both provide books and materials, but it’s just my husband and I and one other person in the RCIA class and there are a lot of kids going to the First Holy Communion and Confirmation classes. I can see why they charge for the kids class and not for the adults.

 

[Joannm]

My diocese does not have its own list, but goes by the long USCCB list.

There is a family catechesis program I would love to use, but it’s not a text book, so it was not submitted for approval. Actually, I think my pastor would be OK with it.

What video series do you use?

We use Chosen for our 8th grade Confirmation Program. The videos are great. The kids watch videos, complete pages in a workbook and then engage in discussion. The videos are well done. When questioned about video series at the last bishops meeting they did say only texts were submitted, as you mentioned. But it seems that the bishops are going to need to look at other formats for catechesis such as videos and even online platforms.

 

[Joe_5859]

We use Chosen for our 8th grade Confirmation Program. The videos are great. The kids watch videos, complete pages in a workbook and then engage in discussion. The videos are well done. When questioned about video series at the last bishops meeting they did say only texts were submitted, as you mentioned. But it seems that the bishops are going to need to look at other formats for catechesis such as videos and even online platforms.

The conformity list is a whole other can of worms. They won’t look at any sacramental prep texts unless they are “attached” to a basal series.

I can understand the need to limit what they review as otherwise you’ll get every Catholic with a knack for writing wanting their self-published book to be “bishop approved” as being in conformity with the Catechism. But it does seem to me that they will need to widen the parameters at some point.

 

[1ke]

We use Chosen for our 8th grade Confirmation Program. The videos are great. The kids watch videos, complete pages in a workbook and then engage in discussion. The videos are well done. When questioned about video series at the last bishops meeting they did say only texts were submitted, as you mentioned. But it seems that the bishops are going to need to look at other formats for catechesis such as videos and even online platforms.

Our bishop specifically approved Chosen for use in our diocese, since as you mentioned multi-media programs are not reviewed by the USCCB.

 

[pianistclare]

Dear OP,

Other people have posted very good reasons why “free” religious education, is never really “free”.

Also, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that because something is free, people will come. Humans need to have some “skin in the game” in order to see the value of something. And in our culture, money meets the requirement for many people.

Now for my totally cynical comment, based on over 40 years of volunteering in parishes, religious education, and running a Confirmation prep program: While there are legitimate cases of individuals not being able to afford these fees, most people, if they did not have the money as an excuse would find another excuse not to send their child to religious ed classes.

Sorry to ruin your enthusiasm.

Agreed. In spades. We have families that once they know that they can have their fees waived…ask for it every year. Meanwhile, their kids are enrolled in high cost private academies.
This year, Father asked those who had their fees waived to actually THEMSELVES show up to Mass, not just bring their kids to Faith Formation. You couldn’t believe the excuses. Once you give something for free they figure it must not be worth the efforts as well. The whole reason Sacramental years are so heavily populated is because they feel they are “getting something”. Like on Ash Weds.
In our case, the Catholic school on the property requires us to RENT the classrooms. People just don’t get it. They think we can use the facility any time we want. We can’t. There’s a contract, and $50 bucks per classroom per day. We in no way break even.
Don’t get me wrong, we’re happy as a parish to offer the classes, it’s what we do.
But we don’t ever break even. Not even close.