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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
CCD	Frank	Monday, August 27, 2012
Question: Dear Brother - My question is this: Are all parishes required to the best of their ability to have CCD (Faith Formation)instructions for their parishioners? There is this parish who also happens to have a school, pre-k through high school, is in the planning for a new high school, and has a large affluent participation, so it is not as if they are hurting for funds. However, the priest has cut off all CCD classes as he basically is forcing parishioners whose children do not attend the school to send them to the parish school for their religious instructions. Also any youth who is not attending the school, even though their parents are registered and faithful parishioners, cannot participate in CYO. In other words, attend the school or your out of luck getting your children to get CCD instructions and your kids playing CYO. The parents have to go to other parishes for CCD or play CYO. Many parents do not have the availability, money wise, to send their children to school there AND besides the children are accepted only if they pass a very rigorous aptitude test. This has turned many people off and some have left for other parishes and sadly some have used this as an excuse, albeit a lame one, to leave the Faith. As you well know, many non-catholic churches will readily accept whoever wants to attend their Sunday School and not have to pay a cent. Your thoughts.......
Question Answered by Dear Frank: This is an internal matter involving local personalities and politics. If there are several parents not liking these new policies, you need to get together, appoint a spokesman. Then the spokesman, with one or two others, needs to go to the pastor to express your concerns. If the results from this meeting are negative, you can prepare to talk with the bishop. Report to him your efforts to resolve this problem with your pastor, including any written correspondence. Do not exaggerate, or put words in the mouth of your pastor. Do not make assumptions. Be has objective as you can. Leave the emotions at home. You need to have all your ducks in a row, be clear on the expression of your concerns and why, and avoid emotionalism or subjective analysis. In other words, be business-like and respectful. LifeSiteNews has a great guide about how to expression concerns to our sacred pastors. Pray individually and has a group, before doing anything. We will certainly be in prayer for your parish and all those involved. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

CCD

Frank

Monday, August 27, 2012

Question:

Dear Brother - My question is this: Are all parishes required to the best of their ability to have CCD (Faith Formation)instructions for their parishioners? There is this parish who also happens to have a school, pre-k through high school, is in the planning for a new high school, and has a large affluent participation, so it is not as if they are hurting for funds.

However, the priest has cut off all CCD classes as he basically is forcing parishioners whose children do not attend the school to send them to the parish school for their religious instructions. Also any youth who is not attending the school, even though their parents are registered and faithful parishioners, cannot participate in CYO.

In other words, attend the school or your out of luck getting your children to get CCD instructions and your kids playing CYO.

The parents have to go to other parishes for CCD or play CYO. Many parents do not have the availability, money wise, to send their children to school there AND besides the children are accepted only if they pass a very rigorous aptitude test.

This has turned many people off and some have left for other parishes and sadly some have used this as an excuse, albeit a lame one, to leave the Faith. As you well know, many non-catholic churches will readily accept whoever wants to attend their Sunday School and not have to pay a cent.

Your thoughts.......

Question Answered by

Dear Frank:

This is an internal matter involving local personalities and politics. If there are several parents not liking these new policies, you need to get together, appoint a spokesman. Then the spokesman, with one or two others, needs to go to the pastor to express your concerns.

If the results from this meeting are negative, you can prepare to talk with the bishop. Report to him your efforts to resolve this problem with your pastor, including any written correspondence. Do not exaggerate, or put words in the mouth of your pastor. Do not make assumptions. Be has objective as you can. Leave the emotions at home.

You need to have all your ducks in a row, be clear on the expression of your concerns and why, and avoid emotionalism or subjective analysis. In other words, be business-like and respectful.

LifeSiteNews has a great guide about how to expression concerns to our sacred pastors.

Pray individually and has a group, before doing anything.

We will certainly be in prayer for your parish and all those involved.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum