Editorial

New religion texts for Melbourne schools

Michael Gilchrist

Contents - Feb 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: New religion texts for Melbourne schools - Michael Gilchrist Tasmanian priest to be Lismore's new bishop - AD2000 Report Bishop Wilson of Wollongong to be the future Archbishop of Adelaide - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World New RE texts launched in Melbourne's Catholic schools - Michael Gilchrist The finest RE texts produced to date - Anthony Cappello Liturgy: when will the 'Statement of Conclusions' make an impact? - Michael Gilchrist Religious persecution continues in Vietnam - AD2000 Report The "priest shortage": natural or artificial? - Larry A. Carstens Successful Thomas More Spring School in Wagga - Paul Sheehan A former heroin addict's personal testimony Archbishop Pell opens drug rehabilitation centre - Dr Joseph Santamaria Letters: Feminist book (letter) Letters: Church in China (letter) - Angela Martello Letters: Limbo (letter) - John Young Letters: Waste of resources (letter) - Shane Dore Letters: Vocations (letter) - Mrs Irena Nagy Letters: G.K. Chesterton (letter) - Tony Evans Letters: 'Creating Our Future' (letter) - Mrs Jeanette Joseph Letters: Consecrated life (letter) - Sr Mary Augustine Lane OP Letters: New Age spirituality (letter) - Frances Grundy Letters: Recipe for decline (letter) - K. Logan Letters: Sermons (letter) - Bernie Lewis Letters: Anti-Catholicism (letter) - Kevin Tighe Letters: Christian art (letter) - Kim Portelli Letters: Science and Christianity (letter) - Mrs Carol V. Phillips Books: 'The Essence Of Feminism' by Kirsten Birkett - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: 'The Sacred Liturgy', 'Discovering the Mass', by a Benedictine monk - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Books: 'Pope Pius XII: Architect For Peace' by Margherita Marchione - Michael Daniel (reviewer) New patterns of religious vocations in France Reflection: The essential role of the Catholic priest - Fr John A. Hardon SJ

In a historic move, the first of a series of new religion text books are to be used in Catholic primary and secondary schools of the Melbourne Archdiocese from the start of the present school year.

It is now about 30 years since text books were a regular feature of religion classes, with the present move reflecting an awareness that illiteracy in the Faith has reached crisis proportions, following a long over-emphasis on methods and activities at the expense of sound doctrinal content.

Monsignor Peter J. Elliott, the Episcopal Vicar for Religious Education in the Melbourne Archdiocese, appointed by Archbishop George Pell, has spent the last few years working with a number of experts in the field to develop a series of religion texts covering all grade levels of the primary and secondary schools. And while the latest teaching methods and educational principles are not overlooked, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the key reference point for what is to be taught.

However, given the current state of the Church and society, there are major challenges to be faced if the new texts are to be effectively implemented. Many Catholic homes reflect the widespread breakdown of the family in Australia while, as recent research shows, a large proportion of teachers graduating from Australian Catholic University are out of step with Church teachings. It is one thing to produce doctrinally sound and attractive-looking religion texts; it is quite another to have them put to effective use.

These and other questions were addressed during a recent discussion with Msgr Elliott reported on in the present issue (see pages 6-7).

AD2000 readers will no doubt hope and pray that the present "experiment" will prove a resounding success and that other dioceses follow suit.

Michael Gilchrist: Editor (E-mail - freedom@connexus.net.au)

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 1 (February 2001), p. 2