Schools need Catholic foundation

by Letters Editor · January 31, 2013

From John Lee, Johannesburg

Congratulations to our Catholic schools for the good results achieved for their matric students. I also promise to pray for Andr� Gildenhuys (�Catechism classes�, January 16), as well as all catechism teachers and students.

“It is no secret that the number of young Catholics practising their faith , even in formerly traditional Catholic countries, is at an all-time low.” (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Recent letters have highlighted the so-called �Catholic ethos� in our schools where, sadly, Catholic learners are in the minority. Also, apparently, religious instruction as such is no longer taught in many of our Catholic schools, but human values and respect for life are stressed to all pupils.

It is pointless stressing human values without laying the foundation, the source and power that enables one to live out those values, Jesus Christ. It is akin to expecting apple trees to produce grapes.

We cannot teach human values without stressing Christ, the key, the centre and purpose of human history, as stressed by Pope Benedict recently to young people.

Frank Bompas, in his letter �Retaining young Catholics� (January 16) points out, correctly, that our young people are leaving the Church in droves for the fundamentalist anti-Catholic sects.

A very weak basis to the faith is evidently occurring at home and, possibly, by many of those catechising who often teach Catholic Christianity as a philosophy rather than stressing the absolute necessity of knowing and experiencing Jesus Christ in a dynamic personal relationship empowered by the Holy Spirit, daily prayer, Bible reading and the Eucharist.

Our schools need to be equally proud of their success in communicating Catholic Christianity to their school leavers. Jesus� words are as relevant as ever: �What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world but suffer the loss of his soul�.

It is no secret that the number of young Catholics practising their faith , even in formerly traditional Catholic countries, is at an all-time low.

Let us pray for our young people, who are easy prey for the deceiver.