Letters

Education crisis (letter)

Alex Sharah

Contents - Oct 2003 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The role of the Catholic in public life - Peter Westmore After 25 years: the impact of John Paul II's pontificate - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Ethics: Bishop Fisher and Dr Philip Nitschke in Sydney euthanasia debate - Frank Mobbs Saints: The Beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Youth: Thomas More Winter School in Sale Diocese has Eucharistic focus - Michael Casanova Melbourne Archdiocese responds to John Paul II's Year of the Rosary - AD2000 Report How fatherhood is crucial to children's faith - Fr Robbie Low Why Catholic teaching on marriage is 'good news' for all humanity - Eamonn Keane AD2000 readers' generous response to Queensland Lourdes appeal - Jenny Davies and Nicole King Orthodox US Catholic colleges and universities continue to flourish - Julia Duin Letters: Original Sin (letter) - Niall Browne Letters: Individual confession (letter) - John Cassar Letters: Clerical celibacy (letter) - Gerard Wilson Letters: New bishops (letter) - Anne Lastman Letters: Thomas Groome (letter) - Dr Susan Moore Letters: Education crisis (letter) - Alex Sharah Letters: New RE program (letter) - Paul Chigwidden Letters: Inspiring hymn (letter) - Kevin O'Hagan Letters: Footy Show (letter) - Alan A. Hoysted Books: I The Lord Am With You Always: Prayers and Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration - Msgr Peter J. Elliott (reviewer) Liturgical Time Bombs In Vatican II, by Michael Davies - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) Books: Crisis In Religious Education, by Eamonn Keane - Damien Tudehope (reviewer) Books: Great books at the best prices! Reflection: Why the tabernacle should be centrally located in our churches - Fr Sebastian Camilleri OFM

Having read Eamonn Keane's Crisis in Religious Education, I am not surprised at the failure of our Catholic schools to pass on the faith.

To think that 97 percent of our school-leavers do not hold the Catholic Church as true or go to Mass is to withdraw in horror and demand either the schools be decertified as Catholic or that the one not producing good results be closed; to be re-opened when proper arrangements are in place to assure the parents and the Catholic community that authentic Catholic truths are imparted.

Only two percent of students in training at the Australian Catholic University and other Catholic institutes hold to the infallibility of the Pope and the Church's authority in matters of faith and morals. This is a mighty indictment of the performance of Catholic schools and higher education establishments.

What many people do not know is that the methodology underpinning the RE curriculum of the Parramatta, Wagga Wagga, Wilcannia-Forbes and Canberra-Goulburn dioceses is that of leading dissenter and ex-priest Thomas Groome, who teaches at the Jesuit-run Boston College. He has been the keynote speaker addressing the principals of Catholic schools on RE in Australia.

As a catechist I am bound to follow the dangerously flawed curriculum. What of the other RE teachers who do not know the implications of what they are teaching and have not read deeply in religious matters?

As a psychiatrist for over 30 years, I can say that what is learned as a child usually remains for the rest of life. What an awesome responsibility for our bishops and teachers.

ALEX SHARAH (DR)
Merrylands, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 16 No 9 (October 2003), p. 15