RELIGION IN EDUCATION and PASSING THE BUCK

The South African Minister of National Education wants to remove religion from state schools, saying religious education belongs in the home. The same has happened in many other countries too. What do we say? Yeah or nay? As parents have you thought about this, talked about it, said your piece? What do we Catholics think? The Evangelical Alliance on behalf of Christian parents is lobbying strongly against this. www.education.ChristianView.org is a dedicated website providing details of various submissions.

It is important to take some facts into consideration and also to consider whose responsibility education and in particular religious education of children really is. Parents are the primary, i.e. the first educators and have the responsibility to make a start with children’s religious education. One parish priest told me recently if children arrive for catechism in grade 1 not knowing their prayers he is loath to accept them because obviously the family has not taken that first step.

Parishes provide weekly catechism classes but these should complement and not be the only source of religious and moral education for children.

“Parent Power” is the heading of an article in this week’s local Sunday newspaper. The provincial education department is running a parents’ rights campaign to boost participation by parents in their child’s schooling. Parents are encouraged to become involved in school governing bodies, to speak out and question what is happening in school, whether it be matters of curriculum, overcrowded classrooms, vandalism, crumbling buildings or absentee teachers. Parents do show their concern when they query school fees, uniforms or policies on language and religion. At the same time there also appears to be a culture of passing the buck. Just as we can’t blame the shortage of traffic officers on the roads over holiday weekends responsible for the high accident rate, or blame the police for the high crime rate, we can’t make the school system take over our responsibility as citizens to do the right and moral thing.

There are some 450 Catholic schools in South Africa and overall less than half of the learners at these schools are Catholic children. More than 90% of Catholic children are educated in the State system. In former times the Christian National Education curriculum used to teach Bible Education and a moral system flowing out of this. Catholic schools have always provided Religious Education but for many years already this has moved from teaching catechism or doctrine to a much broader programme which includes personal growth, spiritual and moral education for all the learners in the school, but with certain specifically Catholic elements.

In state schools Religion in Education is a subject that provides an opportunity to learn about the various religions in our society. The Life Orientation curriculum for state schools includes life skills and moral values surely are fairly uniform.

Most parents would value a place for God and a little spirituality in the life of the school because these are also the stuff of life.

However, irrespective of what the outcome of the Religion in Education debate will be, the ball has been bounced right back into the court of families where it belongs. Religious formation is still the right, privilege and responsibility of families. We should be proud and willing to pass on our faith and we, the whole Church need to bend over backwards to help our families do so. That is one of the main functions of family ministry and behind MARFAM's slogan "Living in the church in the home." We’re here for you, but we need you to help us be there. Read on and see how you can help during this "merrie month of May".

Toni Rowland

MAY AND THE FAMILY.

May is of course Mary’s month. The current MARFAM magazine MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIVING, in the section on Family Catechesis has a Litany of Mary, as model and mother, a thought for every day of May. See further notes below.

May 1 is the feast of St Joseph the Worker and in many societies May Day is Workers’ Day. Some places celebrate the 1st Sunday of May as Worker Sunday. This year’s theme is Unemployment and no one has not been touched by this, directly or indirectly. One can imagine the impact it has on family life, the loss of self-esteem, the stress, the fear, the hopeless, the hunger. The actual figures are widely contested from below 30% to over 40%. But there are places, particularly informal settlements and smaller towns where the rate is 60% and higher. Prayer and action both are needed.

Mothers’s Day is always the 2nd Sunday in May. Show mom how she is valued not by expensive presents but expansive presence, a word of thanks and praise and why not a parish Blessing for Mothers. A simple format can be downloaded from our website.

VERITAS Radio, South Africa's only Catholic radio station will be broadcasting for 24 hours a day on FM 92.7 in the Gauteng area for four weeks from 12th May to 8th June. The TLC slot will be from 10am to 12 noon every weekday morning. Our team of 4 presenters, myself included, will be addressing not just women’s issues but relationship, personal growth and family related issues. I would dearly love to hear your views as to topics you would like to air, or let us know whether you would like to join one of us for a discussion. One of my slots will be KINGDOM PEOPLE, Catholics who are active in the world, the normal place where lay people live out their daily lives as business men, factory workers, teachers and nurses, lawyers, scientists, home executives, students etc.

Another slot will be different types of spirituality, particularly spirituality for lay people and family spirituality.

MARFAM NEWS - More information on all of these from our office.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Saturday 10th May – Parish Family Ministry afternoon WORKSHOP on SINGLE PARENTS AND THEIR NEEDS. (I came across an interesting article claiming that there is no such thing as a Single Parent. There is always someone else behind the scenes, a grandparent or often another male partner, or a series of partners. All this has an affect on the child of course.)

Wednesday 14th May – PLANNING YOUR FAMILY NATURALLY a presentation on Natural Family Planning by Martin and Ursula van Nierop of the Couple to Couple League.

Sunday 1st June – RETREAT FOR WIDOWED PEOPLE

EVALUATION. Some serious evaluation is taking place of various aspects of the MARFAM work. We would very much appreciate your feedback on the reply slip at the end of the newsletter. …………………………….

MAKING MARRIAGE MORE - a focus on marriage in Church and society from 24th August to 5th October linked to the liturgical readings of weeks 21 - 27 of Year B, Year of Mark.

Various resources are being prepared :

Reflection and discussion material for couples and faith-sharing groups

Articles and excerpts from church documents for deeper study.

Lesson material for various age groups

Liturgical resources for a celebration of Marriage on October 5th.

MARRIAGE is FOR everyone, FOR the sake of THE CHURCH

SNIPPETS

South African-born Professor Domeena Renshaw is Professor of Psychiatry at Loyola Catholic University, Chicago, has offered to facilitate a workshop for TREFOIL on the 16 May 2003 on the Subject AIDS : Who nurtures the nurturers? Professor Renshaw, an experienced counsellor and facilitator, is a regular writer for TREFOIL. She is an excellent speaker and has for many years also been Director of the Sexual Dysfunction Clinic at Loyola University.

Catholic Bishops Acknowledge Homosexual Persons but Express Concerns About Same-Sex Parenting Rights

While affirming the equal dignity of all persons, same-sex partnerships cannot be recognised as Christian marriages, the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) said in a statement issued today.

The SACBC reaffirms its commitment to promoting and defending the equal dignity of all human persons, including homosexual persons. The SACBC recognises and welcomes the many homosexual men and women who are deeply committed members of the church and opposes any exclusion from the church, prejudice, or discrimination based simply on sexual orientation.

However, out of concern for the best interests of the child and the Christian sacrament of marriage, the SACBC is concerned about the implications of the recent Constitutional Court decision granting parenting rights to same-sex partners.

Use Google search engine to track down information on Workers and May Day. The subject of Church and Work is usually dealt with by Justice and Peace offices and groups. Or contact pacsa@wn.apr.org Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian Social Awareness (PACSA)

Web site on Religion in Education Crisis. Go to www.education.ChristianView.org to find the information you need to help defend the right to religious freedom in schools in South Africa:

The Ministry of Education has produced a Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy. This is an extract, "South Africa is recognised as being a deeply religious society, and religions offer highly organised and often very effective moral codes upon which value systems are based. We must acknowledge that as cultural systems for the transmission of values, religions are resources for clarifying morals, ethics, and regard for others. Religions embody values of justice and mercy, love and care, commitment, compassion and co-operation. They chart profound ways of being human in relation to other humans.

As has been noted, the Constitution guarantees the right to equality, to non-discrimination on the basis of religion, and to freedom of belief, thought and conscience. Schools can reinforce the Constitution by using "religion education" to reaffirm the values of diversity, tolerance, respect, justice, compassion and commitment in young South Africans. Adopting a multi-tradition approach to the study of religion is one way of achieving this, enabling students to examine, critically and creatively, the moral codes embedded in all religions, their own and others'. If religious education, with specific spiritual aims, is the responsibility of the home, family and the community of faith, then religion education, with clear educational aims, is the responsibility of the school. ………………………………..

Dear Conservative Friend:
The United States is preparing to foolishly spend $15 billion dollars in a likely ill-fated attempt to control the world-wide AIDS epidemic -- UNLESS YOU HELP! The flawed Global AIDS bill needs drastic work, and thousands of lives are at risk as the House considers this legislation this week. Please go to ConservativePetitions.com and read what is at
stake and how you can take life-saving action. Here's the address:
http://www.conservativepetitions.com/petitions/php?id=189
Because the House Committee on International Relations didn't adopt necessary measures to make the bill effective, it is urgent for you to ask your representative to do everything possible to include these amendments:
> Place the highest priority on abstinence!
> Add a conscience clause for faith-based groups!
> Demand accountability from the UN's Global Fund!
White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer correctly points to Uganda, which proved promoting abstinence -- above condom use -- dramatically reduces HIV rates. President George W. Bush, however, reportedly is willing to concede on condom emphasis in order to get fast action on his initiative. Don't let this happen! Act today!

May, Mary's Month, Marian Coronation
http://www.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/crownmed.html M. Jean Frisk For May, often called Mary's month in popular devotion, we offer you two articles for contemplation. The first one, below, is divided into five sections: liturgy, Mary's month, ways to celebrate, a practical suggestion for a Marian coronation, and a sample celebration for use in parishes. The second article shares with you the official church teaching on coronation of images. You will find this in our resource section, Coronation of Mary.

Liturgical Celebrations for Mary in May
Mary Month - Why May?
Ways to Celebrate Mary's Month
A May Crowning Suggestion - Everyone Crowns
A Marian Coronation Celebration for Parishes
Coronation of Mary

MAY - MOTHERHOOD AND PARENTING SKILLS.

I used to hear the explanation that your child's life may depend on it. The following example would be given:
"If your child is running toward a railroad track and you see a train coming, you may not have but one time to tell your child to stop and come back."
Believe it or not, in the last few months, this very scenario happened. The media told it this way. A little 10-year-old girl was running down the railroad track. Her father saw her and saw an oncoming train. He yelled at her to get off the railroad track. She did not follow his instructions. She was killed.
I once had a friend who was also a mother say to me. "You can't expect a child to stop when you tell him 'no.'" Well, yesssirree Bob, I do expect them to stop on the first command. Mom and Dad, you do not need to count to 3 or 5. You do not need to make threats. You give the instruction and let there be a sure and swift consequence, kindly administered, when there is disobedience. FROM aaf@allaboutfamilies/org

Does anyone remember 1994 - the International Year of the Family? 2004 = 1994 + 10. Does anyone have any thoughts on making this a meaningful year? Please share them with us.

Tail-piece.

God is like ABSA Bank - yesterday, today and tomorrow.

God is like BP - he keeps you moving

God is like a cereal - the way to start your day

God is like CAN - first with all the goodies

God is like First National Bank - he puts you first.

God is like COKE - he is the real thing!