Want to raise kids Catholic, have some issues with Church

[Anonymous]

DH and I were both raised Catholic (attended Mass every Sunday; the works). Our child is baptized Catholic, and we have taken her to Christmas and Easter masses a few times. She is still little - only 3 - but DH and I are starting to think about how much we want to integrate church life into our life. We'd like her to have the cultural and family background of Catholicism, and be grounded in the basic faith, but I don't think we are ready for the crucifixion discussion or any of the other rather gruesome aspects.

Anyone have any suggestions about ways to carefully raise a Catholic child, without necessarily going the Sunday School route?

Thank you

[Anonymous]

I grew up Catholic, attended CCD, and now we attend a Methodist church, where our three kids go to Sunday School. I'm not sure what is the basis for your concerns. The kids learn that "Jesus died on the cross out of self-sacrifice because he loved us." It's not like they're watching The Passion of the Christ.

[Anonymous]

You have to put her in CCD every year, starting in first grade, if she is to make all her sacraments on time.

The crucifixion is a necessary part of the story. And in every Catholic Church I've been in, there's a huge and often graphic crucifix hanging right in front of your eyes anyway.

- cradle Catholic who is now Protestant

[Anonymous]

^ I mention the above about CCD because you say you don't want to go the Sunday School route. But you HAVE to.

[Anonymous]

I couldn't make it work. We now attend an Episcopal church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ I mention the above about CCD because you say you don't want to go the Sunday School route. But you HAVE to.

+1

If you were both raised Catholic, shouldn't you know this?

[Anonymous]

I have taught CCD for years, from kindergarten up to 6th grade. The gruesome stuff is tastefully dealt with, at least in the Arlington Diocese curriculum. Perhaps at the Confirmation level they get more into it, but overall, there is not a focus on the gory details, just the themes.

[Anonymous]

My kids are in Catholic school... What is the crucifix discussion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I were both raised Catholic (attended Mass every Sunday; the works). Our child is baptized Catholic, and we have taken her to Christmas and Easter masses a few times. She is still little - only 3 - but DH and I are starting to think about how much we want to integrate church life into our life. We'd like her to have the cultural and family background of Catholicism, and be grounded in the basic faith, but I don't think we are ready for the crucifixion discussion or any of the other rather gruesome aspects.

Anyone have any suggestions about ways to carefully raise a Catholic child, without necessarily going the Sunday School route?

Thank you

Oh lord. I think you are a troll because if you were raised catholic you would know no one is going to whip out a bloody crucifix and shove it in a three year olds face. You'd also know to reach holy communion "sunday school" (which a catholic would likely call CCD, catechism or if you want to be fancy confraternity of christian doctrine) is required unless they are enrolled in parochial.

I'm a cradle catholic and honestly until I saw The Passion as an adult I never encountered any "rather gruesome aspects".

If this is a serious question you may want to try being an Episcopalian.

[Anonymous]

I attended Catholic school from K-8 and don't recall any gruesome crucifixion stories or lessons. You learn about what happened and why in the context of Easter, similar to the readings or homily during Mass around this time of year but in a way that younger kids will understand. If you are truly concerned, why not contact your parish CCD teacher to find out how they teach these things to young kids? If you want your child be "Catholic", as in, having all of the sacraments, you can't avoid going either the CCD route or Catholic school. If you simply want your child to have an understanding of the Catholic faith and traditions, then just take her to Mass regularly and talk about it at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have taught CCD for years, from kindergarten up to 6th grade. The gruesome stuff is tastefully dealt with, at least in the Arlington Diocese curriculum. Perhaps at the Confirmation level they get more into it, but overall, there is not a focus on the gory details, just the themes.

Gee, that's nice to know -- personally I think it would be nice to avoid gruesome stuff altogether, especially when teaching morals to children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have taught CCD for years, from kindergarten up to 6th grade. The gruesome stuff is tastefully dealt with, at least in the Arlington Diocese curriculum. Perhaps at the Confirmation level they get more into it, but overall, there is not a focus on the gory details, just the themes.

Gee, that's nice to know -- personally I think it would be nice to avoid gruesome stuff altogether, especially when teaching morals to children

So, what, you want to tell your kids that Jesus climbed up on the cross to take a nap and then got up after three days?


This entire thread is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I attended Catholic school from K-8 and don't recall any gruesome crucifixion stories or lessons. You learn about what happened and why in the context of Easter, similar to the readings or homily during Mass around this time of year but in a way that younger kids will understand. If you are truly concerned, why not contact your parish CCD teacher to find out how they teach these things to young kids? If you want your child be "Catholic", as in, having all of the sacraments, you can't avoid going either the CCD route or Catholic school. If you simply want your child to have an understanding of the Catholic faith and traditions, then just take her to Mass regularly and talk about it at home.

Maybe it was so in context, you didn't notice. If you start going to Catholic mass as a small child, seeing a man hanging on a crucifix in the center of he room seems quite normal. It's hard to imagine caring parents consciously putting their children in such an environment outside the Catholic Church.

Imagine a regular Sunday morning outing that involed gathering around a statue of a semi-naked man hanging from a noose. Or strapped to an electric chair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I were both raised Catholic (attended Mass every Sunday; the works). Our child is baptized Catholic, and we have taken her to Christmas and Easter masses a few times. She is still little - only 3 - but DH and I are starting to think about how much we want to integrate church life into our life. We'd like her to have the cultural and family background of Catholicism, and be grounded in the basic faith, but I don't think we are ready for the crucifixion discussion or any of the other rather gruesome aspects.

Anyone have any suggestions about ways to carefully raise a Catholic child, without necessarily going the Sunday School route?

Thank you

Oh lord. I think you are a troll because if you were raised catholic you would know no one is going to whip out a bloody crucifix and shove it in a three year olds face. You'd also know to reach holy communion "sunday school" (which a catholic would likely call CCD, catechism or if you want to be fancy confraternity of christian doctrine) is required unless they are enrolled in parochial.

I'm a cradle catholic and honestly until I saw The Passion as an adult I never encountered any "rather gruesome aspects".

If this is a serious question you may want to try being an Episcopalian.

No one has too -- the bloody crucifix is in the center of the altar for all to see.

[Anonymous]

Look up "Crucifixion" on Google (web and image search). It's a pretty gruesome way to die.