Dear Mark Shea,
When I take my children to their School of Religion Class I always stay the entire time because I don't like dropping them off and leaving. Because I stay at the church I have come to know the director of religious education quite well. Lately we have discussed many topics such as birth control, Yoga, women priests, etc. I love to research and have found many teachings on these issues.
I try to stay true to the Church and would guess that your opinion would be the same as mine since I have used your writings along with those of Scott Hahn and Patrick Madrid. The writings of the pope, Saint Augustine and others have helped me.
I cannot get over how far from the “truth” this religious educator and many others in high positions at our church are (including our priest). I have tried to refer them to articles and websites contrary to their opinions, but they just call me a radical conservative Catholic. It is hard enough to have differing opinions with my Protestant friends and family members, but to have this similar struggle within the Church is EXTREMELY discouraging.
Do you have any suggestions? I feel my children are at risk even though I try to supplement and teach them the truths of the faith at home.
Thank you for all your hard work. It helps to know I can go somewhere and seek the truth without opposition.
Sadie
PS. I homeschool them in religious education, but they are required to attend the Parish School of Religion for their Sacramental years.
Dear Sadie:
Since I don't know what points you are arguing, nor what the people you are arguing with are saying, it's hard to have anything concrete to suggest.
A couple of general tips: First, never attribute to malice what can be sufficiently explained by ignorance or stupidity.
Second, pick your battles. There's a tendency among conservative Catholics to put all issues on the same level (“He likes guitars in the Mass! He probably denies the Resurrection too!”) Every in-group has its little code words, shibboleths, and signals it uses to judge folks. Ignore all that as much as possible and focus on central things, not peripherals.
Third, ask yourself “Is this really something that is central to the Faith?” or “Are there multiple views here within the pale of the Faith?”
Fourth, ask “Is the problem centered in the will or the intellect?” Lots of Catholics have questions/doubts/notions at variance with the teaching of the Church. If the difficulty is intellectual (e.g., “I just don't see how Mary is immaculately conceived”), then they are simply being honest before God to say that. The responses of a Catholic should not be, “You false Christian! You are trying to deceive my children!” It should be, “Here, lemme try to help you with that difficulty.” If, however, the problem is in the will and the person doesn't want to get it, that's different. You should try to educate them, but if they will not be educated, then our Lord says not to cast pearls before swine.
Fifth, look at this as an opportunity to install a BS detector in your child. Like it or not, they are going to hear bunk as they grow up. Instead of shielding them from it, give them the skills to find out a) it's BS and b) where the truth can be found. Show them how to use the Catechism and where to dig up answers. Teach a man to fish and you've fed him for a lifetime.
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
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