Youth Minister

[phil8888]

I am 25 years old and for the last several years, I have been studying my Catholic faith and listening to Catholic Answers Live Often, and purchasing and reading many many Catholic books.

I am wondering people’s thoughts on becoming a Youth Minister. Specifically, I am not sure about the financial resources for such a position, but I know one does not currently exist in our diocese. I was thinking of getting donations from organizations such as Knights of Columbus, or the Legion of Mary, or other Catholic organization, as well as businesses, to do this ministry.

Actually, there is a lady, and I just looked her up, and she is apparently involved with Youth Ministry, but in my opinion, she is doing a poor job in teaching, because her beliefs seem heterodox. For example, we engaged in a debate over male-only priesthood, and she seems to think that this will change, and she believes it should. Also, she has a painting on her wall of the last supper, but in this poster are about 45 people, and many are holding a Eucharist-type bread, including women and children. Also, I have been to her house several times, and at one time we discussed sin, and I said should children receive their first penance before their first Eucharist because you must confess mortal sins before receive the sacrament of the Eucharist. Her response was something like children who receive the Eucharist do not need to go to confession, and that she didn’t believe terms like mortal and venial were important to children.

Also, this lady seems so interested in ecumenism that she’s afraid to say anything that would distinguish herself as a Catholic. She even sent me an email about a “Christian” conference, saying she could not attend and asking others if they might be interested, but the letter was written by a Pentecostal Minister. In fact, everything she seems to organize for children seems to be a general Christian or Pentecostal event, and I have not seen her organize a Catholic event at all.

Anyway, I know I described this lady to a large extent, but basically I think our youth need much better direction, and I feel I can supply them with this. I believe in obeying the Magisterium of the Church in matters. She seems to only believe her own magisterium. I am just afraid of what else she may be telling children. She is probably aware of my orthodoxy and when I have encountered her, she may have withheld some of her more heterodox opinions. Please let me know what you think I should do about this whole situation, please. Thanks.

 

[Image_of_God]

Do you have examples of her heretical teachings?

I am not asking this because I don’t believe you, just so you know.

 

[Madaglan]

Originally Posted by Phil8888:

Also, I have been to her house several times, and at one time we discussed sin, and I said should children receive their first penance before their first Eucharist because you must confess mortal sins before receive the sacrament of the Eucharist. Her response was something like children who receive the Eucharist do not need to go to confession, and that she didn’t believe terms like mortal and venial were important to children.

It should be noted that the Eastern Catholics, following a long and valid tradition, administer the Eucharist to infants and children. While confession before receiving is strongly advised, it is not required in the case of infants (who cannot confess!).

 

[KCT]

Most of our local YMs have degrees of some sort. In fact, our newly hired YM has a Master’s in Theology (focus on catechesis) from Franciscan Univ. (yeah, we’re pretty happy!!)

The pastor would be your first recourse if the current YM is teaching contrary to the Church. —KCT

 

[daughterofmary]

As a young person, I feel sorry for my fellow young people who are being taught by this person if in fact she is doing all of this. The poor things! I’ll be praying for the whole situation. I have had an experience where I was taught at an all girls school by female “Catholic” teachers many of these things. They thought this same way. It was horrible. If she is teaching this heresy and watered down Catholicism something should be done. She is leading many souls astray who have been placed in her care by innocent parents thinking they are giving their children over to someone who is going to teach them truth. How very deceiving!

If your going to do something about her in particular though then I think you should be cautious. Behind the scenes, if she is teaching this heresy and has been for a while, then there is the possibility that a lot of politics and agendas are going on. From my own experience every good Catholic knew in our diocese what was going on at that school and who was teaching there and what they were teaching, but no one says anything. It is impossible to do anything about it because it has the support of very powerful people in our diocese who influence a lot of what goes on here. Your situation may be much more simple then this, but just be aware of what your getting yourself into when you seek to do something about a heretic. Usually it is not just them on their own. They were given the position by someone who more then likely knew exactly what they were going to teach. I definitely suggest you take this to the Blessed Sacrament. I also encourage you to not abandon these young people to her. We, the future of the Church, deserve so much better then this.

You’ll be in my prayers.

 

[Madaglan]

Originally Posted by KCT:

Most of our local YMs have degrees of some sort. In fact, our newly hired YM has a Master’s in Theology (focus on catechesis) from Franciscan Univ. (yeah, we’re pretty happy!!)

The pastor would be your first recourse if the current YM is teaching contrary to the Church. —KCT

Did he or she just graduate with an M.A.? I might know her.

 

[KCT]

She came to us from South Carolina, where she was the youth minister in a high school. I don’t know what year she graduated.
—KCT

 

[phil8888]

It should be noted that the Eastern Catholics, following a long and valid tradition, administer the Eucharist to infants and children. While confession before receiving is strongly advised, it is not required in the case of infants (who cannot confess!).

I understand what you are saying, however, we are first of all Latin Rite Catholics, therefore we do not receive the Eucharist along with baptism or as infants, and it is usually done around the same time as first confession. I always believed the age of reason to be around 7 years old. I think children around here have first Eucharist first at around the age of 7, and then first confession around age 8 or something, which I think should be reversed. But in any event, I think children aged 7 or later can tell the difference between a serious and a non-serious sin, it’s not that hard of a teaching.

To the other poster who asked her specific heretical teachings, I think there is something we need to remember. When someone is in a teaching position within the church, such as a youth minister or something, they have a greater responsibility to teach according to the Magisterium than an ordinary person. Having said this, I know for certain that some of her teachings are not in accordance with the Vatican. Like I said, she openly says she thinks women should be allowed to be priests and that she thinks this will change. She doesn’t think it’s important to teach children about venial and mortal sins, in fact, she seems to think they can’t understand sin anyway, so they don’t need to know about it. Plus, everything she is involved with seems to be with non-Catholic organizations. For example, all the events she organizes are usually with Pentecostal or so-called “Christian” organizations. She brings young children with her to these things, and you can just imagine what they are teaching them. I think as a CATHOLIC youth minister, she has an obligation to teach these children 100% Catholic Teaching, and not muddy the waters with all sorts of other teachings. Plus, that poster I was talking about, where there are like 40 or 50 men women and children at the last supper, many holding Eucharist-type bread. What does this represent? I didn’t ask her while I was there.

This lady understands that I am a serious Catholic, and she may not be fully open with her viewpoints while I am in her presence. From how she acts with me, I can only assume she’s even more ambiguous and heretical with her children. I think this is a SERIOUS DANGER for children. To have someone teach them whose foundation is wobblier than a see-saw is very scary. If a teacher is 100% orthodox in his/her teaching, we can hope that many of the children will be highly orthodox as well, and perhaps some will be close to that, and so on, but what happens if a teacher is only 50% orthodox, then what can we expect? That the children are 20-50% orthodox. Many will be totally heterodox, which may lead them, unfortunately, to lose their faith. To me, it’s sort of like cooking. If you follow the recipe and do things how they are meant to be done, you will produce a tasty meal, and people will want to come back for more. But if you do not care what you put in your recipe and think that all ingredients are the same and nothing really makes a difference, you’ll end up with something disgusting, and no one will return for seconds. That’s why it’s so important to teach Catholicism in her full beauty. And that’s something I do not think these children are getting. One thing is certain, these children will not receive information about the sacraments at these “Christian” meetings. If they do, it would probably be on why Protestants do not have them. Perhaps that’s why this lady seems so ambiguous when talking about sacraments, why she doesn’t teach the difference between mortal and venial sins, or the importance of confession before receiving the Eucharist.

Anyway, I know I am going on for a long time now, but I just think it is so crucial that children receive the proper training in the faith, and not some watered down version. We need faithful Catholics, not just people who sort-of believe in a vague concept of Jesus. We have such a beautiful and full way of worship, and these children need to understand the fullness of the faith.

 

[Madaglan]

Originally Posted by phil8888:

I understand what you are saying, however, we are first of all Latin Rite Catholics, therefore we do not receive the Eucharist along with baptism or as infants, and it is usually done around the same time as first confession. I always believed the age of reason to be around 7 years old. I think children around here have first Eucharist first at around the age of 7, and then first confession around age 8 or something, which I think should be reversed. But in any event, I think children aged 7 or later can tell the difference between a serious and a non-serious sin, it’s not that hard of a teaching.

I’m glad you understand.

I just wanted to make sure that the focus was not on receiving first Eucharist before first Confession (which in itself is not a sin).

When someone is in a teaching position within the church, such as a youth minister or something, they have a greater responsibility to teach according to the Magisterium than an ordinary person.

If she signed a contract with the diocese, then I wouldn’t be surprised if she promised to avoid speaking or writing anything against the Church or against the Teachings of the Church. She should be under contractual obligation to teach orthodoxy and not heterodoxy.

For example, all the events she organizes are usually with Pentecostal or so-called “Christian” organizations.

Ah, the kids might not understand sin, but she’s certainly trying to get them to understand ecumenism. (per her interpretation)

think as a CATHOLIC youth minister, she has an obligation to teach these children 100% Catholic Teaching, and not muddy the waters with all sorts of other teachings. Plus, that poster I was talking about, where there are like 40 or 50 men women and children at the last supper, many holding Eucharist-type bread. What does this represent? I didn’t ask her while I was there.

Like I said, if she’s under contract with the diocese, she should be obliged to teach only that which is in accordance with the Catholic faith.

If a teacher is 100% orthodox in his/her teaching, we can hope that many of the children will be highly orthodox as well, and perhaps some will be close to that, and so on, but what happens if a teacher is only 50% orthodox, then what can we expect? That the children are 20-50% orthodox.

I thought all my CCD teachers were lunatics who didn’t know what they were talking about. One even told us that masturbation isn’t a sin, but only not clean and not wholly good.

All is not lost with the children. Eventually, some of them will see the truth behind the matter. It may take a while, but it will happen.

Nontheless, I agree with you that orthodox catechists are much preferable.