1. Find a non-blasphemous article that challenges their faith, and assign them a one page essay summarizing the main points, taking a position, and defending that position. If they support the author’s heretical views, be sure to take time in correcting papers to give good written responses; but avoid grading a student down for doctrinal, as opposed to stylistic, errors. The idea is to encourage thought, gently correct departures from r/c teaching on faith and morals, while grading them for the literary quality of their essay.

2. When some inquisitive and confident student challenges you – the teacher – on some point of faith; entertain that student with a Socratic sort of interchange. The class invariably gives the matter rapt attention, simply for the pleasure of seeing the teacher challenged. Cheerfully encourage the student, but make sure you can outsmart and out debate him/her, otherwise the effect could be detrimental – to the faith of your “opponent” as well as others in the class.

3. Read a selection from the religion textbook in class. In discussing the passage, play the devil’s advocate yourself. Identify yourself as resembling some anti-Catholic school teacher they might conceivably have in the future. (Under no circumstances select a student to play devil’s advocate on a religious question). Give students participation points for each occasion when they raise their hand and articulate a defense of the r/c position on the particular question. Don’t rebuke anyone for a well-meaning errors or doctrinal blunders, but reward everyone who attempts a defense of the faith against the anti-Catholic view. Encourage students who correct each other’s opinions kindly as regards points of faith and morals expressed in class discussion.

During 13 years of teaching 8th grade religion in a Catholic school found the foregoing pedagogical methods to work quite effectively.

Faithful catechesis is one of our most important

I have developed a hobby of blogging about catechesis to help connect teachers and catechists with the best resources out there. Please join in the coversation and share your ideas: http://thereligionteacher.blogspot.com

Larry

If we sent our children to school to read and write and then change all those rules or completely disregard or never practice them at all in the house would our children be great students? No. Occasionally one or two would break out and be splendid (Hey we see that in faith formation with kids, that one kid that “gets” the Eucharist and wants to go to adoration for lunch once a week rather than to recess.) but in general all would struggle or lack any great skill.

The issue we are running into is that the parents are at a complete loss as to how to teach/support doctrine and scripture because for the last two generations schools and classes left the realm they should have been in (doctrine and scripture) to form the heart and person which is the role of the parents!!

Now these parents that only had a good heart and a desire for truth and right behavior have nothing to “stick it to” because they have no awareness of scripture and doctrine. This “sandy soil” of feelings creates relative judgments that are based on how I would feel. We ask “What would Jesus do?” and they respond with their best guess of what they know about Jesus which was given to them as a merciful loving person that helped everyone and was always happy. They have not had their faith formed on the “solid ground” that helps them to remember the hard teachings of Jesus. The statements that indeed promised damnation for some, some who even called Him by name! Nor do they remember the love He had that accepted sinners but pointed out the sin for what it was and challenged the sinner to sin no more. (Remember the women caught in adultery or the Samaritan woman at the well.)

We not only need to form the young new souls in our schools but we must also form the young souls of their parents. We must find ways to engage them in the process so they too can benefit as we return to a solid foundation. We could use Sacrament Preparation processes to provide retreats/classes for the parents to re-introduce them to the faith on a solid ground. Help to form them up to be the parents that they can be when they know really what Jesus would have done.

Unfortunately, despite many years of “Catholic” education no seeds were planted in my nieces. Both have left the Faith and one is militantly anti-Catholic today. The rest of the younger generation in my family whether here in America, in Mexico, or in Germany are my like my nieces and basically for the same reasons.

… as Mallys wrote, we parents must make up for what is lacking – not rely on others to teach our children the love of Christ.

In these circumstances, prayer is the only option. What man cannot do, God can accomplish (in me as much as in those I am charged with catechizing.)

Now that I am a catechist of adults, I am aware of the weight of my responsibility to authentically transmit the Faith. People go to Hell because of bad catechesis, because the Church isn’t doing her job. But I also keep in mind the words of the Prophet Daniel, “Those who are wise will shine as brightly as the expanse of the heavens, and those who have instructed many in uprightness, as bright as stars for all eternity” (Daniel 12:3). That is my hope for eternal life.