Letters

Teaching the faith (letter)

Fr James Brasier

Contents - Jul 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Archbishop Pell: the '60 Minutes' beat-up - Michael Gilchrist Saints: Padre Pio canonised: "a model of the priesthood" (John Paul II) - Paul MacLeod News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 '60 Minutes': Archbishop George Pell puts the record straight - Archbishop George Pell Tablet article prompts critical response from Archbishop Pell - Michael Gilchrist Interview: George Weigel: the impact of John Paul II's pontificate - Zenit News Service Chavagnes International College for boys - Paul Russell Cardinal Avery Dulles: US Jesuits need 'wake-up call' - Michael Gilchrist Events: The Italians: Three Centuries of Italian Art 1500-1800 - Francis Young Vatican II, church architecture and "reform of the reform" - Sidney Rofe Letters: Zero tolerance (letter) - Alan A. Hoysted Letters: 60 Minutes attack (letter) - Sam Lynch Letters: Beat-up (letter) - Frank Bellet Letters: Short-changed (letter) - Mrs Carol V. Phillips Poetry: It Is (The Alternative to 'Star Wars') - Andrew Huntley Letters: Teaching the faith (letter) - Fr James Brasier Letters: Catholic chaplains (letter) - Charles G. Jarrells Letters: Women's Commission (letter) - Gillian Gonzalez Letters: Missal translation (letter) - Philip Robinson Letters: Accuracy (letter) - Fr Austin Kenny CP Letters: Vatican II (letter) - Peter D. Howard Letters: Abortion (letter) - George F. Simpson Letters: Obituary - Fr Patrick Cosgrove, South Africa (letter) - Fr E. Lumley-Holmes CSsR Letters: Fr Des Jenkins Golden Jubilee (letter) - Gordon R. Coomber Events: Cathedral painting - Hollywood Ball - Josie di Mauro Catholic Truth Society in Brisbane - B. Massey Books: A Pope and a Council on the Sacred Liturgy, by Aidan Nichols OP - Msgr Peter J. Elliott (reviewer) Books: The Greatest Marvel of All, by Pierre-Marie Emonet OP - Michael Casanova (reviewer) Books: The Modern Rite, by Mgr Klaus Gamber - Fr Peter Joseph (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: John Paul II clarifies Vatican II teaching on lay and priestly roles - Pope John Paul II

I was saddened reading the article by Mark Power, in the latest copy of AD 2000, about how the faith was not being taught in many Catholic schools and I began thinking of my experience of this.

As a child I was taught the faith very well by two Presentation nuns, Sr Agatha and Sr Bonaventure, at St Joan of Arc's primary school in Dendy Street, Brighton. I knew how it felt to be a Catholic.

But over the years the teaching of the faith has been watered down and everything has been made easier. The "trendies", as I call them, have been listened to by many of the bishops while people like Bob Santamaria and Bishop Brennan of Wagga were ridiculed. These people have a great deal to answer for.

I think about how a Muslim feels to be a Muslim, with the difficulties involved. It's no wonder that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.

No doubt, once the sauce is out of the bottle it is impossible to put it back in; but a start has been made recently by Archbishop Pell to have the faith taught in the schools. It is never too late, but terrible damage has been done.

Fr James Brasier
Clifton Hill, Vic

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 6 (July 2002), p. 15