19-1 SECTION 19: EDUCATION The fllwing plicies shall be fllwed in regard t religius educatin. 19.1 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Religius Educatin in the Archdicese f New Orleans is cmprehensive and embraces early childhd thrugh adult levels. It des nt include seminaries, Cathlic institutins f higher learning, r campus ministry, r the prgrams fr cntinuing educatin f the clergy. The ultimate respnsibility fr prviding fr the Christian frmatin and religius educatin f the peple f the Archdicese f New Orleans rests with the archbishp. (can. 386) He fulfills this respnsibility thrugh the cperative effrt f the parishes and Cathlic schls and is assisted by the Office f Religius Educatin in an executive capacity. 19.1.1 OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION The archbishp entrusts the Office f Religius Educatin with the respnsibility fr religius educatin. The Office f Religius Educatin furthers the effrts f all the faithful t grw in a deeper unin with the Lrd by assisting in prclaiming the Gd News f the Gspel, building cmmunity, celebrating prayer and wrship, and mtivating t service. The Office f Religius Educatin functins as an aid t the pastr in discharging his basic bligatin f prviding religius educatin fr the parish. In all its endeavrs, the Office f Religius Educatin respects and supprts the rle f pastr as shepherd and teacher, under the authrity f the archbishp. The Office f Religius Educatin als wrks in cnjunctin with parish directrs and/ r crdinatrs f religius educatin and administratrs f Cathlic schls in seeking quality religius educatin. The respnsibilities and services f the Office f Religius Educatin include the fllwing: T spread the message f Jesus Christ with a cmmitment t authenticity and fidelity t the teachings f the Church, especially in educating fr the prper use f the Catechism f the Cathlic Church; T fster family catechesis within the parish, schl and family cmmunities; T prmte and assist in the develpment f adult religius educatin; T encurage and prmte the develpment f ministries within the Archdicese; T prmte and assist the develpment f evangelizatin effrts within the archdicese; T prmte and assist in the implementatin f the Rite f Christian Initiatin f Adults in the archdicese; T direct and assist in the frmatin and certificatin f catechists, teachers and administratrs in parishes and Cathlic schls, especially thrugh the
19-2 Archdicesan Catechist Certificatin Prgram; t educate them in the use f The Catechism f the Cathlic Church and ther resurces; T act as the agency fr the evaluatin f the parish religius educatin prgrams and religin prgrams in Cathlic schls; T assist parishes and schls t develp diversity in catechetical prgrams thrugh apprpriate resurces and educatinal methds; T assist pastrs and schls, thrugh cnsultatin and resurcing, t develp prgrams fr the religius educatin f thse with special needs within the archdicese; T establish nrms fr the qualificatins fr Parish and Schl Catechetical Leaders; T prvide the mdel jb descriptins fr Parish and Schl Catechetical Leaders; T present wrkshps, seminars, lectures, retreats and curses which are intended fr administratrs, teachers, catechists, and evangelizers, and t insure that such prgrams and presentatins are faithful t the teachings f the Church and apprved by the archbishp; T issue the curriculum fr (parish and schl) religius educatin frm early childhd thrugh the twelfth grades, including the Catechetical Frmatin in Chaste Living curriculum fr these grades; T assist and advise Parish and Schl Catechetical Leaders in evaluating religin textbks, resurces and materials fr use in Religius Educatin prgrams; T supervise the implementatin f liturgical prgrams related t religius educatin accrding t the directives f the Archdicesan Office f Wrship; T establish archdicesan cmmittees and crdinate the effrts f deanery r reginal parish cmmittees f religius educatin, evangelizatin and the catechumenate; T prvide guidance t parents/guardians wh, under extrardinary circumstances, need t catechize a student at hme 19.1.2 PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Under the directin f the pastr, the religius educatin prgram f the parish is t be directed by ne r mre Parish Catechetical Leader whse authrity and respnsibilities are t be frmulated in each parish by the pastr in accrd with the archdicesan guidelines fr the qualificatins f such psitins. The parish exercises its respnsibility fr Religius Educatin by prviding rganized prgrams in faith frmatin fr all ages, beginning with early childhd thrugh adults. Catechetical prgrams fr yung peple are t respect the rle f parents as primary educatrs f the children (cans. 226 & 793). A family-centered apprach in catechetical prgrams fr children and yuth is cnsidered essential s that family life and parish life may mutually enrich and nurish each ther. The parish prgram is t uphld the value f certificatin f catechists and f regular, frequent class meetings, adhering t the guidelines issued by the Office f Religius Educatin.
19-3 The parish exercises its respnsibility in the parish schl by prviding frmal religius educatin classes as part f the daily curriculum. Prvisin is t be made fr a certified Schl Catechetical Leader wh attends t the implementatin f the religin prgram in the schl. The parish exercises its respnsibility by establishing a catechumenate fr the frmatin f thse wishing t be baptized r cme int the full cmmunin f the Cathlic Church. 19.1.3 NON-PAROCHIAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Under the authrity f the Archbishp as principle teacher f the faithful, the immediate respnsibility fr the ttal religius prgram in nn-parchial Cathlic schls rests with the principal wh is t be assisted by a qualified, certified Schl Catechetical Leader. The schl is t prvide certified catechists and regular, frequent class meetings adhering t the curriculum mandated by the archbishp and fficially issued by the Office f Religius Educatin. 19.1.4 ADMINISTRATION OF CATECHETICAL PROGRAMS Parents are bliged and enjy the right t educate their children accrding t the dcuments f Vatican Cuncil II and ther apprved catechetical writings, i.e., The General Directry f Catechesis and The Natinal Directry f Catechesis. The pastr is respnsible fr chsing the catechetical materials used in the parish and fr their cnfrmity t the teaching f the Magisterium (can. 773). An updated list f acceptable textbks is prvided quarterly by the United States Cnference f Cathlic Bishps (USCCB) n their website (with a link n the Office f Religius Educatin's website t the cnfrmity list). The pastr is respnsible fr the selectin f catechists and, in the discharge f this duty, he must respect the regulatins made by the archbishp cncerning such selectin. In each parish the respnsibility fr each f the levels f the ttal religius educatin prgram (early childhd thrugh adult) is t be assigned by the pastr. Ideally, each level shuld have its wn certified crdinatr. In each parish it is recmmended t have a grup t advise and supprt the pastr and the Parish Catechetical Leader. It shuld cnsist f the pastr, the parchial vicar(s), the Parish Catechetical Leader, tgether with representatives f parents and ther parishiners. Religius educatin in the parish shuld include family and parent educatin, RCIA, evangelizatin, and cntinuing educatin t meet the needs f all adults in the parish.
19-4 Thse respnsible fr these prgrams must take care that prgrams are cnducted by certified persnnel. Pastrs must take care that such prgrams are adequately supprted spiritually and financially by the parish. Sacramental Catechesis in each parish is t include prgrams that are designed t prepare parents and spnsrs t celebrate the baptism f their children (unless they have recently received such instructin) and t prepare parents t share in the respnsibility fr preparing their children fr the initial celebratins f Recnciliatin and Eucharist, as well as the celebratin f Cnfirmatin. N less than thirty (30) classes r sessins are held per year fr the parish elementary and secndary catechetical prgrams. It is apprpriate that parents be expected t pay an equitable amunt t assist the parish in financing religius educatin in the parish catechetical prgrams. Hwever, n student is t be refused religius educatin r sacramental preparatin due t an inability t pay. Parishes and schls are t prvide adequate funding whenever pssible fr the acquisitin f catechetical resurces, including teaching aids and audivisual materials fr bth the parish schl and the parish schl f religin. It is recmmended that the Catechetical Leader and catechumenate directrs be active members in rganizatins where they can meet with ther religius educatin leaders t discuss mutual cncerns. These grups include NCEA (Natinal Cathlic Educatin Assciatin), NPCD (Natinal Assciatin fr Parish Catechetical Directrs), r NCCL (Natinal Cnference fr Catechetical Leaders). Parishes wrking tgether in a deanery r the archdicese shuld develp a prcess fr seeking ut and assessing the needs f persns with disabilities within the parishes and prvide special religius educatin prgrams fr them. When pssible, special needs students shuld be integrated int existing prgrams. Mindful that the faithful have the right t their wn frm f spiritual life cnsnant with the teaching f the Church, parishes are t prvide, guide and allw fr varius expressins f faith in religius educatin ut f respect fr spiritual and cultural diversity (can. 214). 19.1.5 CURRICULUM AND SACRAMENTS The pastr is ultimately respnsible fr the selectin f the catechists and, in the discharge f this duty, he must respect the regulatins made by the archbishp cncerning such selectin (Cann 776). A curriculum designed fr each age level --based n the current dcuments f the Hly See, the United States Cnference f Cathlic Bishps, the plicy and guidelines f the
19-5 Office f Religius Educatin and The Curriculum fr Religius Educatin in The Archdicese f New Orleans -develped by the Office f Religius Educatin -- shuld be implemented in each parish and schl prgram. The gal f the prgram shuld be cmmunicated effectively t the parents and parishiners. Parish religius educatin prgrams are t be available fr children ages 3-5. Such a prgram is t be cnsidered as part f the ttal parish prgram. It is recmmended that an nging prgram f guidance and educatin be prvided fr the parents whse children are enrlled in the early childhd prgram. In additin t the specific curse bjectives in the curriculum prepared by the Office f Religius Educatin fr children in grades kindergarten thrugh twelve, preparatin fr the celebratin f the sacraments f Recnciliatin, Eucharist, and Cnfirmatin, as well as the RCIA, frm an integral part f the children's catechesis. Preparatin fr and the initial celebratin f the sacrament f Recnciliatin is t precede the celebratin f First Eucharist. Prximate preparatin fr the celebratin f First Eucharist rdinarily takes place when the child is in the secnd grade (age 7 r 8). When the celebratin(s) f First Cmmunin takes place, the celebratin(s) shuld welcme candidates frm Cathlic schl and the Parish Schl f Religin t participate. Cnfirmatin is celebrated upn cmpletin f the apprpriate preparatin, accrding t archdicesan plicy. Parishes are t cperate fully with the sacramental preparatin prgrams in accrd with the curriculum published by the Office f Religius Educatin. Sacramental preparatin and first celebratin f sacraments are dne within the parish cmmunity. In regard t preparing disabled persns fr the celebratin f the sacraments, parents, pastrs and catechists are t be mindful that, even thugh sme disabled persns cannt express verbally either their desire r readiness t receive the sacraments, the desire and readiness can be expressed in their eyes, their gestures, r their quality f silence. Cnsult Archdicesan Sacramental Guidelines fr Persns with Disabilities, 1994, available thrugh ORE (based n the USCCB Guidelines fr the Celebratin f Sacraments with Persns with Disabilities). Unbaptized children wh have reached the use f reasn (usually 7 years f age) are t participate in the RCIA as adapted fr children and are t be baptized, cnfirmed and receive first Eucharist at the Easter Vigil with the adult catechumens. Prvisin is t be made fr the celebratin f Eucharist, Recnciliatin and ther liturgies within religius educatin prgrams. Cmmunicatins with the parents are t be made regularly regarding the prgress f thse participating in the religius educatin prgrams in the parish and the Cathlic
19-6 schls. The recruitment f catechists fr the Parish Schl f Religin is the primary respnsibility f the pastr. The Office f Religius Educatin ffers guidance and a prgram fr achieving certificatin fr persns desiring t serve as catechetical leaders in the archdicese. Expenses fr the certificatin and cntinuing frmatin f vlunteer religin teachers are t be brne by the parish. Catechist and teacher training and cntinuing frmatin are the primary respnsibility f the parish and the principals f nn--parchial Cathlic schls, accrding t the certificatin guidelines f the archdicese. Certificatin fr crdinatrs f Evangelizatin r Catechumenate must be sught by thse exercising such ministries. 19.2 RELIGION AS A MAJOR SUBJECT IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS All Cathlic elementary and secndary schls are t maintain the study f the Cathlic religin n an equal basis with ther academic subjects, i.e., in the amunt, frequency and pririty f class time, and in the quality f curses and instructin, and shuld have equal pririty in the budget. Religin shall be taught t every student fr a full class perid every day. 19.3 CATECHETICAL FORMATION IN CHASTE LIVING Cathlic yuth are encuraged t cherish their dignity as a human being made in Gd's image and likeness and t cherish thers in that same dignity f persnhd. These guiding principles and curriculum guidelines are meant t help the yuth f ur Archdicese deepen their relatinship with Christ and the Church thrugh jyfully embracing the call t lve and live chaste lives either as a married fllwer f Christ r as a celibate persn. Our purpse is t fcus n the mral religius fundatins f the teachings f the Cathlic Church. We are guided by the Hly Spirit and the relatinal lve witnessed thrugh the Hly Trinity and thus as fllwers f Jesus, the secnd persn f the Trinity, we are called t live and share in this same lve f the Triune Gd. Faithful t Jesus' teaching and call we urge thse charged with the catechesis f ur yung peple namely Parents/ Guardians and Catechists, t embrace the catechetical call f Chaste Living by witnessing and teaching the imprtance f the sacramental life f the church, the cultivatin f the Cardinal and Thelgical Virtues, The Ten Cmmandments, and the Beatitudes. 19.3.1 Guiding Principles
19-7 Human beings are created in Gd's wn image and created fr lve. Individually human beings reflect creatin in the image and likeness f Gd by having an intellect, free will, and the capacity f perfrming truly human and mral acts. Being created in Gd's image enables human beings t share in Trinitarian lve, express lve in marriage thrugh generating new life, and thrugh selfless giving. Grace and friendship with Gd were lst thrugh a free act f disbedience called Original Sin. The effects f Original Sin are: Lss f Grace Damage t the harmny f bdy, intellect and will Reduced ability t lve unselfishly Experience f shame Cnfusin abut the nature and purpse f the human bdy Being subject t temptatin t sin Death Gd didn't abandn human beings. Gd sent Jesus t accmplish ur redemptin. Jesus knws us and lves us. Jesus taught us hw t live and gave us the gift f new life thrugh the Hly Spirit. Christian mrality cnsists in fllwing Jesus, being transfrmed by His grace and renewed in His mercy. Mral frmatin invlves a jurney f interir transfrmatin and cnversin t Christ. We d nt lead the mral life n ur wn. Gd helps and transfrms us by the pwer f grace. A virtue is a habitual and firm dispsitin t d what is right and gd. The cardinal virtues are acquired by effrt as a result f educatin, deliberate acts, and perseverance in repeated mrally gd acts. All human virtues are related t the cardinal virtues. The thelgical virtues are the fundatin f Christian mral activity. They aid humans t
19-8 grw in a generus and self-giving lve that is fundatinal fr a chaste life. The seven gifts f the Hly Spirit cmplete and perfect the virtues. Christ's gift f salvatin ffers humans the grace t maintain mral balance and persevere in the pursuit f the virtues. The glry f salvatin is experienced thrugh the twelve fruits f the Hly Spirit. The Ten Cmmandments, the Beatitudes, and the Fur Precepts f the Church instruct us in hw humans are t live and act in unin with Gd. Chastity is a virtue that allws us t d right, gd and lving acts in the area f relatinship and sexuality. Chastity prmtes the full integratin f sexuality in accrd with a persn's state f life. Chastity prmtes abstentin frm immral sexual activity. Chastity includes training in human freedm and the result f hard persnal and interir wrk. Chastity flws frm the mral virtue f temperance that helps direct ur sexuality and sexual desires tward authentic lve. It is nt a repressin f sexual feelings but is the successful integratin f the gift f sexuality. Christ's disciples need t be aware f and resist temptatin t engage in activities which are vilatins f chastity. These vilatins are sinful. Fr any wh fail t live chaste lives, frgiveness is given thrugh Christ in the Sacrament f Recnciliatin. We need Gd's grace t help us live a chaste life. Cnjugal lve between a husband and wife is part f Gd's plan fr humanity. It is a mutual gift f self. Married peple are called t lve in cnjugal chastity; un-married peple are called t live in a chastity f cntinence. Prngraphy defames the intimacy f the marital act and injures the dignity f Gd's peple. The unity f the spuses and the gift f life g tgether thrugh the marital act. Any sexual activity utside the marriage defames the sanctity f marriage. (i.e. premarital sex, extramarital sex and chabitatin) The unity f a cuple shwn thrugh the marital act is manifested in creating new life. Therefre n means shuld be used t discurage prcreatin such as artificial birth cntrl. If a cuple is nt able t cnceive a child n artificial means f cnceptin are
19-9 allwed since it is the cnjugal act f lve that results in the gift f new life. The existence f hmsexual tendencies is nt sinful; hwever acting upn these tendencies in hmsexual acts is cntrary t chastity, natural law and is clsed t the gift f life. In this same manner same sex "marriages" d nt cntain the elements essential t Gd's plan fr marriage and therefre lack the benefit f a sacramental cvenant and the ability t generate new life. The Blessed Mther, thrugh prayer and devtin, will assist peple in living a chaste life. 19.4 GUIDELINES FOR HOME-BASED CATECHESIS While we recgnize that parents are the primary educatrs f their children and that sme parents may "chse t prvide catechesis fr their children in their hme, their catechesis must be bth cmplete and authentic." (Natinal Directry fr Catechesis, #3, Hme-Based Catechesis) "Cmplete" catechesis includes n-ging catechesis f children frm Grade 1 thrugh Grade 12, with a minimum f thirty (30) instructinal hurs per year fr all students nt enrlled in a Cathlic schl. The Natinal Directry fr Catechesis states that "the bishp f the dicese, the pastr f the parish, the parents, and the children all have Gd-given respnsibilities that must be respected in cnsidering hme-based catechesis." (NDC, 3) "Parents wh wuld like t prvide catechesis at hme shuld make themselves knwn t the lcal pastr and cnsult with him r his delegate t ensure that the catechesis prvided in the hme is the catechesis f the Church. Dialgue between the pastr and the parents is essential t the cmplete and authentic catechesis f children in their hme." (NDC, 3) With this guidance frm the United States bishps in the Natinal Directry fr Catechesis, the Office f Religius Educatin fr the Archdicese f New Orleans prvides the fllwing guidelines fr thse parents wishing t catechize their children in the hme: "Parents wh chse t be nt nly the primary educatrs f their children but als their catechists must adhere t all guidelines fr catechists utlined by the dicesan bishp." (NDC, 3) Because the Archdicese f New Orleans requires all catechists t be certified as such thrugh participatin in the Archdicesan Catechist Certificatin Prgram, all parents wh wish t catechize their children in a hme-based prgram must als be taking curses tward certificatin thrugh the ACCP. (See the Office f Religius Educatin website, rearchdi-n.cm, fr Certificatin Plicy and dates, times and lcatins f classes.) Catechesis may be permitted in the hme fr a SERIOUS reasn, such as serius illness r in the case f a student unable t take instructin in a regular classrm setting, such as a severe develpmental r cgnitive delay r disability, r physical disability. This
19-10 allwance des NOT cver scheduling cnflicts, such as sprts r ther extracurricular activities. Als permitted t catechize in the hme are thse parents wh hme schl their children in all ther subjects. Families wh wish t catechize their children in the hme accrding t the abve descriptin must fllw Archdicesan Religius Educatin Curriculum Guidelines fr the age level f their child(ren). These may be btained frm the parish catechetical leader. In the Archdicese f New Orleans, parents wh wuld like t prvide catechesis at hme must FIRST cntact the pastr f their parish t determine if this is pssible. There must be sufficient catechetical staff t supervise the catechesis t be dne in the hme. The pastr will make the final decisin regarding hme-based catechesis. Textbks t be used in hme-based catechesis must be the same as thse used in the lcal parish. These may be purchased thrugh the parish religius educatin prgram. Other supplemental materials may als be used fr hme-based catechesis. Hwever, these additinal materials must be apprved by the Archdicesan Office f Religius Educatin and must be in cnfrmity with the teachings f the Cathlic Church. Students wh are catechized in a hme-based prgram are required t take quarterly exams t ensure that prgress is being made in accrdance with the Archdicesan curriculum fr that grade level. Exams may be, but are nt limited t, written questins specifically n material frm the text. In additin, there may be ral exams n prayers and practices/traditins f the Cathlic faith as listed in the Archdicesan Curriculum Guidelines. This accuntability is necessary t ensure that the child(ren) are receiving religius instructin in accrdance with the standards f the Parish Schl f Religin and Cathlic schls in the Archdicese. 19.5 SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION AND HOME-BASED CATECHESIS "Immediate preparatin" fr the Sacraments f First Recnciliatin, First Eucharist and Cnfirmatin is t be dne in the parish. Any family wh is engaged in hme-based catechesis must present their child(ren) fr the immediate preparatin fr the abve-named sacraments, in cmmunin with students in the parish schl f religin and/r the Cathlic schl. Because the parish is the basis f the spiritual and sacramental life f all members f the parish cmmunity, this preparatin, as well as the receptin f the sacraments, is dne within and supprted by the members f the parish cmmunity. "Since the celebratin f the sacraments cntinually integrates the children int the Bdy f Christ, preparing children fr receptin f the sacraments shuld always be undertaken in cllabratin with the lcal pastr and catechetical leader. These children shuld be encuraged t participate in nn-instructinal, preparatry activities f the parish peer grup preparing fr the sacrament." (NDC, 3)
19-11 19.6 PARTICIPATION OF FAMILIES IN THE LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH "All parents have an bligatin t invlve their children in the life and missin f the Church. Since their children are being initiated int the life f the Church, which is fundamentally realized in the lcal parish, parents wh prvide catechesis fr their children in their hmes shuld participate fully in the life f the lcal parish. They shuld celebrate the Sunday Eucharist in the lcal parish, invlve themselves in its charitable wrks, and attend apprpriate training and frmatin sessins the parish r dicese prvides." (NDC, 3) (Issued 8/07) 19.7 RELIGION PROGRAMS IN PRIVATE NON-SECTARIAN SCHOOLS The Archdicese f New Orleans des nt give fficial apprval nr mnitr religin classes fr Cathlics taught in private nn-sectarian schls. Such classes are neither apprved nr allwed t replace catechetical instructin r sacramental preparatin ffered fr yung peple in the church parish. 19.8 COLLECTION OF OTHER RESOURCES The Office f Religius Educatin has develped cllectins f ther resurces which affect religius educatin in the Archdicese f New Orleans. These cllectins are: Archdicesan Sacramental Preparatin and Guidelines fr Children -First Recnciliatin and First Eucharist The Curriculum fr Religius Educatin and Chaste Living in the Archdicese f New Orleans Archdicesan Sacramental Guidelines fr Persns with Disabilities Catechetical Frmatin in Chaste Living (USCCB) Archdicese f New Orleans Plicy Handbk March 2014 Sectin 19: Educatin