As a point in the behalf of bishops generally, they provided the initial thrust, the writing and the editting for the Catechism. However, American bishops dropped te ball on the English-language translation, mainly done by some pastor out of Georgia. It had to be revised extensively by a bishop from Tanzania to be fit as the English translation of the accepted and promulgated French-language original. This delayed the actual printing of the English version for over another whole year from when it was anticipated.

Some of the same reasons for rejecting the initial English translation continue to plague American Catholic faith education even today. The Vatican and the bishops seemed to trust that with the accurate catechism available, catechesis would become more ‘truthful’. Didn’t happen – not by a long shot.

BTW, the original writing was done in French rather than Latin, since the various authors were better able to converse and write to each other in more ‘colloquial’ terms in French.

And, homeschooler or not, get and use the Catechism for reference. It is the one book I am always in. I also use the USCCB online edition for its search abilities, too.

I remain your obedient servant, but God’s first,

Pristinus Sapienter

(wljewell @mail.newcesite.com or …yahoo.com)

PS: of a query for zephyr424 – can you explain why . . .

Our Sunday Visitor has gone so far as to publish a pamphlet in English (and Spanish of course) that is entitled “What the Church Teaches About Immigration” this pamphlet states that “it is not the “illegal’s” fault. The system is broken.” The bishops loose all credibility with me when they start pronouncing as binding teachings which aren’t! Why don’t they expound on issues over which they are the authority like contraception, divorce and remarriage, fornication, and piety and regular mass attendance not to mention going to confession at LEAST once a year.

If I didn’t love Mother Church, the scandal of the current batch of American bishops would drive me to worship God some other way, like at the beach or beneath the heavens in the mountains rather than belong to this church currently led by a bunch of self serving politicians called Bishops.

I pray for these men and with all due respect submit this statement.

We home-schooled for a year, but with seven and one more on the way, we have them in public school now. They are no geniuses, but academically they are kicking butt there.

Much of what they were getting was not in accordance to the teachings of the Church, but since it was coming from a Catholic school, our children had no way of knowing it was not what the Church teaches. Most teachers were either not Catholic or not living according to the Church (read: cohabitating, promoting contraception, homosexuality, and/or abortion) Most parents lazily expect the school to catechize and they do little faith formation at home.

We had to fight less in public schools and the children now know they are getting the government line. Parents know they have to do the majority of the faith formation of their children.

We’d rather teach our children to defend their faith in a government school than have them lose it in a Catholic school.

Shame on the “Catholic” school administrators. Shame on the pastors and bishops. Shame on the lazy parents. I honestly think many do not believe what the Catholic Church teaches. Why anyone would want to teach in a Catholic school if they don’t believe what the Catholic Church teaches is beyond me.

I think Eric has a point above.

If they’d be willing to be Catholic, we’d be happy to come back. All evidence indicates most are only willing to water down, not beef up the Catholic content of school.

I am embedded in exactly the same problem.

You are absolutely correct in your research and assumptions about these programs. In fact, when in Boston for their yearly conference, the Catholic Medical Association condemned these “safe environment” programs as well. You can purchase the entire task force report. It is 85 pages supporting their research into these programs and how they are not only ineffective…but just as you would gather from “The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality”, they can also be damaging. Here is a quote (that I credit directly to them), “In summary, the child-empowerment prevention programs in use today are not effective at preventing sexual abuse, are not consistent with the science of child development, and are not consistent with principles of the Catholic faith.”

If that doesn’t say it clearly, I don’t know what will.

The problem really lies in “Article 12″ of the mandated Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People because it requires the education and training of children to prevent sexual abuse, ….. BUT…it also mandates that the education and training of children “be in accord with Catholic moral principles”…and there aren’t many of those out there.

BUT THERE ARE SOME.

You can effect a change. I contacted one of the doctors that presented their request to the bishops that these programs be dropped. I asked his advice about how to get our individual bishops to make the change. He said, “Pray very much and write your bishop directly.”

Minnesota fought this problem, and won: Catholic Parents Online
They now use a CATHOLIC program developed in Pennsylvania: Their Safe Environment Program (click on “religious education” and scroll down)

You said it yourself. Neither the principals nor the school priests want this either. But you have to understand that they are generally not in the position to fight this…or they look as if they do not care about the safety of the children. The priests, in particular, feel very confused, and they are being pressed to “be in obedience” to their bishops…(our diocese sent such a letter to all the non-compliant parishes and schools).

For me? I have a parent-team. We have been given permission to infuse Catholicism into this program. We are currently working on it. It is painful, to say the least that we even have to do this. but there is foolishness abounding. I’m also working on contacting our bishop directly, to ask to make my presentation to him so that he can hopefully allow better programs to cover their “Article 12″ requirement.

OK…I just posted my proposal that we used to be given such permission. But it is a spiritually and emotionally tiring task – but one that is well worth the effort.

Prayer.
Sacrifice.
Action.

Don’t leave one out, and you will have done what is right.
If you have any other questions, let me know, and I’ll get my email address to you.
– Loretta

We don’t live in an information age. We live in a data age. Information is data in context. Often the context is wrong so we don’t have information just data. Even information is hardly valuable. Information analyzed produces intelligence. Dare we dream. Very few sources give you that. Catholic Exchange is actually pretty good on church related matters.

Basically you have to let the people in charge make the decisions. If the local pastor and the school principle don’t like the program they can go to the bishop and see if they can work it out. If you and a bunch of other parents throw your opinions in there it can make a differance.

Lastly, there is always the option of changing schools. There is home school, private school, and public school. Personally I prefer to have the faith not taught than taught badly. I can teach them the facts at home. We go through the compendium at our dinner table. I just don’t want them to build trust relationships with teachers and have those teacher disrespect or misrepresent the faith. It is easier for me to explain why a public or protestant school gets it wrong than why a Catholic one embarasses itself.