cmotherofpirl Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 [url="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2012/07/fidelity-oaths-spark-controversy-resignations-in-virginia/"]http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2012/07/fidelity-oaths-spark-controversy-resignations-in-virginia/[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 I'd have problem signing one. I wouldn't want someone who wouldn't teaching my children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgiiMichael Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 I think the particular wording is a bit...severe. I wouldn't mind necessarily if there were some sort of "oath" that was simply a proclamation of the Nicene Creed and a statement of belief in the Eucharist. Those are what is going to be taught in a Sunday School setting, and that's what I want the teachers to believe in if they're going to be teaching the faith to children. Obviously, I don't want them straying into some of the more contentious points at all, but seeing as that wouldn't be part of the curriculum, I don't see how it's that big a deal if a Sunday School teacher doesn't necessarily agree with the Church on some of those issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PadrePioOfPietrelcino Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 I have no problem with the text as it was written. I would think that it would be nice to have something to help. Screen out those who are subversive to the faith from representing the faith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fides' Jack Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 I see no problems with this. I wouldn't hesitate signing it myself and making the oath in front of a priest, and I wouldn't want anyone teaching my kids who would hesitate to do so. Moreover, any Catholic who would not sign this should not call himself a Catholic, since it is only asking for what all Catholics are obliged to give of themselves anyway. If you don't believe in all the teachings of the Church on faith or morals, you're latae sentenciae. The one part I had to reread to understand properly was that last paragraph, but that's also in the Catechism; as a teaching of faith or morals, we are required to submit our will and intellect to the authority of the bishops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagle_eye222001 Posted July 13, 2012 Share Posted July 13, 2012 This is a gimmie. Either your a faithful teacher of the faith, or you shouldn't be teaching the faith. This really just makes sense... I don't sympathize with the simultaneity of teaching and dissenting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papist Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Since 1983, canon law has required that a theologian teaching in a Catholic university receive a mandatum from the local bishop. The requirement was pointed out in Pope John Paul II’s 1990 apostolic constitution on higher education, Ex Corde Ecclesiae. U.S. bishops began requiring the mandatum in 2001...although very loosly enforced. As a CCD teacher myself, I welcome such a thing for parish religious education teachers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 It does make a difference even if their dissent is in something they don't teach. That dissent permeates their whole being. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 This is especially important document needed for the RCIA teachers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie12 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 Maybe I'm not seeing something other people are but, I don't see why this is such a big deal. People who teach religious ed should be teaching the truths of the church and not their opinion. That's what they volunteer to do. I had a CCD teacher once who said that abortion wasn't murder and therefor wasn't sinful. My brother also reported dissent from church teaching being taught at an other parish we attended. In my opinion this need a little humility and understanding that the Bishop is asking this because he wants to ensure the adequate teaching of our youth. Professors at devout catholic colleges also take an oath of fidelity to the Magesterium. I don't see the problem here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share Posted July 15, 2012 There is no problem unless you dissent from Catholic teaching. Your CCD teacher should have been immediately fired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie12 Posted July 15, 2012 Share Posted July 15, 2012 I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socrates Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 About time. Kudos for my old diocese! IMO, every diocese should require this oath of fidelity. Those who knowingly and willfully dissent from Church teaching on faith and morals have no business teaching religion for the Church. The damage done to the Church by generations of dissident "Catholic" educators has been great. [quote name='GeorgiiMichael' timestamp='1342204439' post='2455362'] I think the particular wording is a bit...severe. I wouldn't mind necessarily if there were some sort of "oath" that was simply a proclamation of the Nicene Creed and a statement of belief in the Eucharist. Those are what is going to be taught in a Sunday School setting, and that's what I want the teachers to believe in if they're going to be teaching the faith to children. Obviously, I don't want them straying into some of the more contentious points at all, but seeing as that wouldn't be part of the curriculum, I don't see how it's that big a deal if a Sunday School teacher doesn't necessarily agree with the Church on some of those issues. [/quote] How is the wording too "severe"? I don't think there's really any such things as a "small heresy." Any religious education class, including CCD classes, will involve more than simply memorizing the Creed and teaching belief in the Eucharist, and things will probably come up not in the curriculum. Issues like abortion, women priests, etc. can and do come up in grade school level classes. Better if those who knowingly and willfully disagree with Church teaching simply not teach these classes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfink Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 When I was in seminary we all swore such an oath before our rector, since we would be representing the Church and doing things like teaching CCD classes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groo the Wanderer Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Don't wanna sign it? Get yer heretic/pagan/gnostic arse out of our classrooms! werd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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