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Voices Online Edition -- Vol. XXI No. 2
Pentecost 2006Letters to the Editor
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Sex Ed Concerns ... | ... and Resources | Holy Thursday and Good Friday Obligation? | Power of Touch | Adult Catechesis
Sex Ed Concerns ...
I am writing today to see if there is anyone at Women for Faith & Family that I can correspond with regarding the problem of sex education programs in our Catholic elementary and middle school. We are located within the diocese of Colorado Springs.A small group of parents, of which I am one, has taken on the task of fighting the program currently in use, “Growing in Love”. Margaret Whitehead’s 2003 critique of this program (“Talking about Love...” Voices Lent/Easter 2003) has been very enlightening and well-reasoned. I sensed for years that the program was fraught with problems but could not articulate them as Mrs. Whitehead has done.
For the moment our pastor is sympathetic toward our complaints and assertion that parents need to take over this vital area of education themselves, according to the guidelines given in “Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality” and other Vatican documents.
However, we have learned that the Denver diocese is implementing the new edition of the Benziger Family Life program next fall, and our school and/or diocese tends to copy what they do. Criticisms of Benziger’s 3rd edition were abundant; I was wondering if their latest edition is miraculously any better?
Kathy Brouillette
Parker, ColoradoMargaret Whitehead, a member of our WFF editorial board and Director of Religious Education in the Diocese of Arlington, responded to this query as follows:
“I haven’t seen the latest Benziger Family Life program but I doubt that it is very good. The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Diocese has developed a chastity program that is based on ‘The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality’. We are using it in the Diocese of Arlington and it has much to recommend it.
“The main focus is on the parents and on parental letters giving guidance to the parents. There are zero to three classroom lessons recommended depending on the grade level. The class lessons are based on teaching about virtue. In several of the grades, they also recommend and provide a short safety lesson to be given in the classroom. Information about this program can be found on the Diocese of Arlington website and by contacting the Diocese of Harrisburg.
“There are some other programs that start from Catholic teaching rather than from secular ideas but they are never as extensive as the mainstream family life programs and they are directed more to the parents, as they should be. Mrs. Brouillette should try to find out what rationale the Denver Diocese is giving for using the Benziger program. I doubt that it is based on ‘The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality’. Sometimes these programs are justified on the basis that they ‘protect children’, and allow the diocese to say that they are in conformity to the Charter for the Protection of Children, which the bishops voted for back in June, 2002 at the height of the priestly sex-abuse crisis”.
[note related articles online: Catholic Education in Sexuality: Resources for Study and Instruction & Inside Voices, Talking About Talking About Touching -- And Unsafe “Safe Environment” Programs in Catholic Schools -- by Helen Hull Hitchcock]
We have always taken seriously our parental responsibility to instruct our children on God’s design for sexuality. When we have reviewed materials used at our parish elementary school and found it lacking in clarity or soundness in Church teaching, we have opted out of the program.
Our oldest son will be in high school next year and we are beginning to review the materials used by the parish high school. Quickly we concluded that the main book used for instruction on sexuality is seriously dated and not soundly rooted in Church teaching. From your web site we have learned that this issue is not new, but has been under some sort of discussion for years. Can you help guide us to sound resources that we might recommend to our pastor?
Ron McNamara
Annapolis, MarylandI am sending a list of some resources we recommend, compiled in part by Margaret Whitehead, who writes:
“As to the query about high school sex education materials, the materials under Morality below are adaptable for use with high school students. In addition, parents should read ‘The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality’.
“Three other possible resources that can be used by the parents are: Talking to Youth About Sexuality: A Parents’ Guide by Mike Aquilina, published by Our Sunday Visitor; Real Love by Mary Beth Bonacci, published by Ignatius Press; and Love and Life by Colleen Kelly Mast, published by Ignatius Press. There are some videos that can also be used for students, such as the Jason Evert video, ‘Teen Relationships and Sexual Pressures’. The Ignatius Press catalogue lists some”.
We would also mention programs such as “Family Honor” www.familyhonor.org that base all their material on Pope John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” (see article: www.wf-f.org/04-1-TheologyBody.html) as outlined in Familiaris Consortio and other papal documents (see list below.)
We are working on a list of materials that we can fully recommend to publish in Voices and post online. The need is great!
Basic Resources:
Vatican documents (most on WFF web site)“Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality”,
www.wf-f.org/TruthHumSex. html“Educational Guidance and Human Love”,
www.wf-f.org/EducGuide.htmlPope John Paul II - Familiaris Consortio,
www.wf-f.org/FamCons.html
Pope John Paul II - Gratissimam sane (Letter to Families),
www.wf-f.org/ LettertoFamilies.html“20 years since Familiaris Consortio”,
www.wf-f.org/20yrsFamiliarisConsortio. htmlChurch Teaching:
Catechism of the Catholic Church and Compendium of the CatechismThe Teaching of the Church (Our Sunday Visitor Press): Handbook on the main teachings of the Church correlated to the Catechism of the Catholic Church by the Rev. R. Lawler, Bishop D. Wuerl and T. Lawler.
The Essential Catechism of the Catholic Church (Servant Books) Adult guide to the Catechism by Alan Shreck.
Teen Catechism (Our Sunday Visitor Press): Short guide to Catechism with questions by Father Alfred McBride.
Catholicism and Reason, The Creed and Apologetics (C.R. Publications, 345 Prospect St., Norwood, MA 02062): high school text with a leader’s guide by Hayes, Drummey and Hayes.
Catholicism and Life, Commandments and Sacraments (C.R. Publications): high school text with a leader’s guide available by Hayes, Drummey and Hayes.
Catholicism and Ethics, A Medical, Moral Handbook (C.R. Publications): high school text with a leader’s guide available by Hayes, Drummey, Hayes and Kelly.
Catholicism and Society, Marriage, Family & Social Issues (C.R. Publications): high school text with a leader’s guide available by Hayes, Drummey, and Hayes.
Morality:
Our Moral Life in Christ (Midwest Theological Forum, 712 S. Loomis St., Chicago, IL 60607): high school text with questions and references. General Editor: The Rev. James Socias.Formation in Christian Love: Vol. 1, Christian Family Life Education (Family Life Institute, 7502-B Diplomat Drive, Manassas, VA 20110) by Dr. DeVietri, material for high school and young adult use.
Formation in Christian Love: Vol. 2, The Primary Age of Innocence (Family Life Institute) by Dr. DeVietri.
Formation in Christian Love: Vol. 3, The Secondary Age of Innocence (Family Life Institute) by Dr. DeVietri.
Formation in Christian Love: Vol. 4, Puberty and Adolescence (Family Life Institute) by Dr. DeVietri.
HSP 1: Preparing for a Sincere Gift of Self (Family Life Institute) by Dr. DeVietri.
The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality (Catholic Parents Program, 607-754-1824 or www.catholicparentsprogram.org): 4-part video set on the Vatican document “The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality”.
Taking a Stand — Helping Our Kids Win the Battle for Sexual Purity (Trinity Formation Resources, P.O. Box 24886, Federal Way, WA 98093-1886, 253-922-9114) a 5-part video series based on John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” presented by Mary Beth Bonacci and Dr. Thomas Curran.
Holy Thursday and Good Friday Obligation?
I live in the United States and I noticed that Holy Thursday and Good Friday are not listed as Holy Days of Obligation. I was wondering why. If these days are some of the holiest days of the year, why are they not days of obligation? I have always attended Holy Thursday, mainly because I thought it was a day of obligation.Pam Beard
via e-mailThe point of Holy Days of Obligation is to emphasize as strongly as possible the duty of every Catholic to participate in the Church’s observation of the most significant days of the Church’s calendar — starting with Sunday. An obligation is not an option.
On all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation Catholics are actually obliged by Church law to attend Mass. This means that it is sinful not to attend Mass on that day, unless an illness or some similar reason makes it impossible. The Triduum, as you observe, is a very sacred time, and Catholics are strongly encouraged to be in Church on those days; however, the Church does not consider it an actual sin to miss Mass or other services on Holy Thursday or Good Friday.
Over the centuries, the Church has made only a very few of these “days of obligation” that are not Sundays; and bishops’ conferences may also change these days. In some cases, they may transfer a day of obligation to a different day. In the US, for instance, the celebration of the Epiphany was transferred to Sunday from January 6, though it had never been a “day of obligation” in this country, even though it is in many other countries. In some US dioceses, Ascension Thursday has been transferred to a Sunday.)
See the US bishops’ decisions on Holy Days of Obligation: www.wf-f.org/ CanonSundayHolyDay.html.
Power of Touch
I am so impressed with your last issue of Voices. I was especially moved by Debbie Joslin’s “The Worth of Isaiah”, which demonstrates so well the power of touch.I think we have much to learn about the power of skin-to-skin contact, especially when accompanied by that indefinable, immeasurable thing called love. How much better the baby does at the breast, or preemies do when nurtured kangaroo-style next to the mother’s body. How well children respond to loving touch and even adults to hugs or kisses when seen as more than perfunctory.
But this if the first time I have seen, in baby Isaiah’s story, what might be called a laboratory study of the power of touch. Absolutely amazing that his oxygen saturation monitor would soar with loving touch from mommy, daddy, or big sister!
We need a double blind study!
Dorothy Vining
Danbury, Connecticut
Adult Catechesis
In response to a request from Bob and Ruth Charlesworth (Voices Lent-Easter 2006) concerning adult catechesis, I would like to pass on the following:1) The Catholic Catechist’s Course for Parents and Teachers by the late Father John Hardon, SJ. It is a written course that can be done in a group setting. The best part of this is that, when done, there is a set of books available with more detailed explanations to the answers. A group could probably do it in six months. This is published by Inter Mirifica, Kensingston, Maryland, 1994. (I have taken this course. The chapter I did most poorly on was the Sacrament of Marriage! After 15 years of marriage this was a revelation.)
2) The Apostolate for Family Consecration’s Family Catechism, by Father Lawrence G. Lovasik, SVD. This is cross-referenced with the New Catechism of the Catholic Church and Veritatis Splendor. They have an abridged two-volumed edition as well as the full seven-volume edition. The Apostolate for Family Consecration has the largest video (and now DVD) collection in the world for catechetical information. Their address is: John Paul II Holy Family Center, Seminary Road, Route 2, Box 700, Bloomingdale, Ohio 43910. (My family and I have gone to the summer week-long conferences for the last 19 years. These are truly wonderful ways to enrich family and parish life. Many priests have come with their parishioners and have returned invigorated in their vocations.)
Either of these would be a wonderful resource for any parish, school, or diocese. Thank you for the wonderful articles with which you continue to enrich us.
Jan E. Fredericks
Rochester, New YorkOur readers may not need to be reminded that the Church has responded to the dilemma of choosing sound resources for catechesis — first the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and just this spring, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church appeared in English.
We cannot recommend this highly enough. Every Catholic should have a copy. (See Compendium of Catechism Now Available in this issue)
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