Harcourt Acquired by OSV

Hmmmm...I just stumbled across this article.  I am not sure I am as excited about this as they are.  Here is the link entitled "A New Day in Catechesis-Our Sunday Visitor Acquires Harcourt Religion Publishers from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt".  My sights would be set on an entirely new program and a thorough re-evaluation of content.  No one asked me to vote when they were giving all of those accolades to "Call to Faith".  I'm not quite as enamoured with it as they are.  P.S.-My picture to the left is not entirely accurate, I realize, but it can get hard to think of images to go along with these posts, although it was my first passing thought when I read the title of the article.  I will admit readily, I am not too familiar with OSV except to have seen it in the back of church and do not really have any knowledge about it one way or the other.  It is Harcourt that troubles me. 

"Three to Get Married"

If we only understood this! ("Three to Get Married", by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen)
Here's an excerpt in regards to this site, but you've got to read the whole thing it is magnificent!

"Purity, then, is not mere physical intactness. In the woman, it is a firm resolve never to use the power until God shall send her a
husband. In the man, it is a steadfast desire to wait upon God's will
that he have a wife, for the use of God's purpose. In this sense,
true marriages are made in heaven, for when heaven makes them,
body and soul never pull in opposite directions. The physical
aspect, which is known to everybody as sex, is never alienated
from the invisible, mysterious aspect which is hidden from
everyone except the one willed by God to share in God's
creativeness, in God's own good time. The pure in heart shall see
God, because they always do His Will. Purity does not begin in the
body, but in the will. From there it flows outwards, cleansing
thought, imagination, and, finally, the body. Bodily purity is a
repercussion or echo of the will. Life is impure only when the will
is impure.

Experience bears out the definition of purity as reverence for
mystery. No one is scandalized at seeing people eat in public, or
read in buses, or listen to music on the street, but they are
shocked at dirty shows, foul books, or undue manifestations of
affection in public. It is not because we are prudes, nor because we
were educated in Catholic schools, nor because we have not yet
come under the liberating influence of a Freud, but because these
things involve aspects of a mystery so deep, so personal, so
incommunicable, that we do not want to see it vulgarized or made
common. We like to see the American flag flying over a neighbor's
head, but we do not want to see it under his feet. There is a
mystery in that flag; it is more than cloth; it stands for the unseen,
the spiritual, for love and devotion to country. The pure are
shocked at the impure because of the prostitution of the sacred; it
makes the reverent irreverent. The essence of obscenity is the
turning of the inner mystery into a jest. Given a hidden presence
of a God-gift in every person, as there is a hidden Divine Presence
in the Bread of the altar, each person becomes a kind of
unconsecrated host. As one discerns the Bread of Angels under the
sign of bread, so one discerns a soul and potential co-partnership
with God's creativeness under a body. As the Catholic craves the
embrace of Christ in the Sacrament because he first learned to
love Him as a Person, so he reveres the body because he first
learned to revere the soul. This is adoration in the first instance,
and purity in the second.

Educators who hope to make sex 'nice and natural' will end in
confusion worse confounded because, while sex is natural, it is vet
a mystery. It is not body wholeness but body holiness, and to be
holy means to live in correspondence with God's creative purpose.
Educators who assume that purity is ignorance of life are like
those who think that temperance is ignorance of drunkenness."

Blood Money

This is a must watch trailer!  Notice the mention of "sex education"  as a tool in the hands of Planned Parenthood in the first few lines or so, but beyond that, support this film-click on this link to show your support!!!  God bless you!

Email Group Anyone?

Would anyone be interested in an email group if I can figure out how to start one? (I know it is simple, I've just never done it).  I like having the blog, but I'd love to connect and have a two-way conversation about the topic.  If you are interested, leave a comment under this post and we'll go from there.

I noticed on my daughter's regular religion chapter this week, the "Call to Faith" book (Harcourt Religion Publishers) heavily waters down one of the Ten Commandments.  The Sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" is explained thusly:

"Be respectful of all people."  (I'm paraphrasing because her book is at school now, but it's very close to that.  The setup is that they list the Ten Commandments on one side of the table and an "explanation" of that commandment on the other side).

 Huh????? 

I can't even begin to make the jump there.  I told my daughter to just use that answer for school on the test, but to forget it after that.  Of course, I can't continuously do that.  Then I explained to her what it really means in very simple terms.  I think a second grader can comprehend that marriage is meant to be a lasting thing between one man and one woman.  They don't even mention marriage in the explanation!  Why not?  Is it because marriage is under such severe attack these days?  The vital cell of society is so unimportant that we can just "skip" that one, meanwhile the child is "old enough" in "whoever-makes-the-decisions-on-the-curriculum's" opinion to learn all sorts of body parts and other such things in a big group-like happy slappy setting without any parental involvement?  Hmmm...or could it be that it would not be politically correct these days to insist that marriage and its vows be respected and taught because we might offend someone?  We couldn't possible mention that a sin against marriage would be a bad thing.  We just need to respect everybody.  That's all.

It's so relative of them, isn't it?

My point is, whatever the reasons behind the weak explanation (and perhaps my conclusions are a stretch, but if you're like me, aren't you feeling a little defensive about everything "good" these days?), this Commandment, which ought to be clear and can be easily explained to a child in simple terms, has been heavily watered-down and disfigured and now I realize I really have to be on guard even with the regular religion text.

To explain further why this annoys me so much, I can draw a small parallel.  I was watching dear Father Tom Euteneur on EWTN's "Life on the Rock" last night.  He was talking about exorcism and how the devil can tempt us, but was very clear to underscore that the devil only has power over us if we allow it.  (In other words, a state of grace is far more powerful and not to fall too hard into being extremely fearful of him.  I figured I'd stress it since he did.)  And he made a certain point about all the crazy things flying around in this culture that are aimed at desensitizing our children to evil.  So, when speaking of, for instance, "Harry Potter"...(sorry to any Harry Potter fans, but we steer clear of Harry Potter in my house), Father begins by stating that clearly the Bible forbids us to mess with witchcraft (my paraphrase) and this is exactly what Harry Potter is all about.  And then, playing the devil's advocate (no pun intended), Father talks about the questions a parent might pose in defense of allowing a child to read/see it, "But will the child become possessed by reading Harry Potter?"  No, certainly not.  "Will the child fall into the practice of witchcraft for reading Harry Potter?"  No, not necessarily.  But the point is this:  These little bits and pieces (and some with more a strong pull than the other) of seemingly benign  "you are going too far and making too big a deal about nothing" elements ever-present in today's society, whittle down and water-down the Commandments of God and the fullness of the Faith and do so by desensitizing (word of the year here) the youth to these awful realities.  I think one of the enemy's greatest tricks is to be so subtle, especially in this regard.  My first temptation when I notice something that the Holy Spirit has probably pointed out is to say to myself, "you are being a fanatic, that's ridiculous, stop making such a big deal about every little thing!"  But I shove it aside if I can.  And if it continues to bother me, I send those thoughts right out the door because I realize I am being tempted to drop the topic when it needs to be addressed!

So, am I a making a big deal about this watered down version of the Sixth Commandment?  I don't think so.  I think it's totally lame and my children are in Catholic school and for goodness sake couldn't we use a better text that is not trying to slowly rob my children of their Faith?  I do understand, however, that it is my (and my husband's) influence over them in this matter that will have the greatest power.  But I think it is terribly important that my school be cooperating and confirming what I teach at home, not turning the solid beautiful Faith we are trying to pass down into senseless mush.

UPDATE:  In discovering a few new articles from St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers, I found this interesting paragraph that may just prove my instinct wrong on the Sixth Commandment.  If so, I stand corrected!  The Church is wiser than I, so I will look into this further, but wanted to offer it to be fair.  Here it is and I link to the two new articles under "Relevant Articles" to the right.  "Sex Education: Protecting Your Children from Something Worse than Herod's Troops" and "Flawed Catholic Education".  Please read them, they are excellent!

The article states, "Can morality in sexuality ever be legitimately taught in Catholic classrooms? Yes, but only in a specific way. For almost two thousand years sexual morality has been taught in the course of catechesis. Children and teens were taught the sixth commandment along with the other nine commandments. Yet the Catechism of the Council of Trent along with Pope Pius XI's encyclical on Christian Education urge caution, delicacy, and moderation in teaching the sixth commandment." (from "Sex Education: Protecting Your Children from Something Worse than Herod's Troops", by Steve Wood).

UPDATE #2!!!  If I must admit, after reading a little further, I'm kind of confused about the teaching of the Sixth Commandment.  It would seem you don't have to talk about "mommy or daddy cheating on eachother", and I can completely comprehend that logic, but not sure if I am correct in finding my daughter's text explanation too vague and watered down....because reading further in Steve Wood's article, he writes (let me be clear, I'm sure he is being clear in his writing, but my brain is not registering on this one)...

"The historically-proven method of teaching sexual morality is simply to teach the sixth commandment along with the other nine. Ditch the sex-ed and chastity programs and teach the third pillar of the new catechism. You will not only save tons of money by not purchasing these expensive programs, but you will save souls from over-exposure to sexuality and sexual immorality." ("Sex Education: Protecting Your Children..."by Steve Wood)

Please watch EWTN tonight (10/28) at 10:00pm ET!!!!!

I just received the most wonderful email from Catholic Parents Online telling me to watch EWTN tonight (information follows).  This is SO IMPORTANT!  And so WONDERFUL!!!  (I'm jumping up and down in my seat, can you tell???)  Praise God! and it's so wonderful to see that the bishops are supporting this.  Ordering CPO's one hour video of helping parents to teach the "Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality" was one of the first things I did and it was tremendously helpful and supportive in such an up-hill battle!  If you are feeling brave, considering letting your school principal and pastor know this will be on for them to watch!   Praise God!-did I say that already?  This is so exciting.  Let all your friends know.  Here is the email I received:

"Dear Friends,
We are very happy to announce that EWTN will be featuring our film,

A Parent's Guide: Teaching the Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality - TONIGHT - Wed. 10/28/09 at 10:00pm ET -- 9:00pm CT -- 7:00pm PT
and also Saturday 10/31/09 at 5:00am ET -- 4:00am CT -- 2:00am PT

EWTN has our show highlighted on their site... A Parent's Guide: Teaching the Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality where you can watch the 40 second trailer they've put together of our show.

We are pleased to see that the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is promoting our film on their site... USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting - scroll down to the bottom... Oct. 28th!

Please pray to our Blessed Mother and St. Philomena that many people around the globe will tune-in and our efforts will be fruitful!

Pass this on and let others know, thank you!

God bless you and yours,

Colleen

Catholic Parents OnLine

"Maintain the Truth Lovingly and always Love Truthfully" Pope John Paul II"

This one is not about Catholic schools, but...

...some of the lessons they mention sound awfully similar to the safe environment programs that are in the schools.  See who is sponsoring these similar programs in our public schools in this article.

Quote from Catholic Medical Association

'"The Charter of the Rights of the Family, Article 5(c) states: "This primary task of the family includes the parents' right that their children should not be obliged to attend a course in school on this subject [sexual issues] which is not in harmony with their religious and moral convictions."  A recent change in the USCCB regulation allows "parents to remove their children from diocesan-sponsored training programs in child sexual-abuse prevention," (Bishops' Committee for the Protection of Children and Youth, Memo, March 2006), but this change fails to recognize that "the family has an affective dignity which is suited to make acceptable without trauma the most delicate realities and to integrate them harmoniously in a balanced and rich personality." (my emphasis) [Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality, #64, citing Congregation for Catholic Education, Educational Guidance in Human Love: Guidelines for Sex Education (C.C.E., 1983), #48.]  The removal of a child from a safe environment training program in school signals the child as different from the rest of the class, raises questions about why the child is removed and what is being taught, and provides exclusive information for discussion among the child's classmates that will have a direct effect upon the absented child.  This has the potential to disrupt the dignity fo the family and to cause trauma to the child. (my emphasis)
     In summary, the child-empowerment prevention programs in use today are not effective at preventing sexual abuse, are not consistent with the science of child development, and are not consistent with principles of the Catholic faith. (my emphasis)  The Church's response to the clergy abuse scandal must be reviewed and alternatives identified that are effective in preventing abuse and are in accord with normative science and the principles of the Catholic faith."" (pg. 19, To Protect and To Prevent, The Sexual Abuse of Children and Its Prevention, Catholic Medical Association.)

Posing a Question to Readers

Is the USCCB canonically binding on an individual bishop?  I don't even know if that question makes sense, but I am trying to figure out how the system works.  I heard Raymond Arroyo the other night on World Over Live mention something (in regards to healthcare) to the tune that this is not entirely so.  I know I have read several discussions on whether an individual bishop must be faithful to the particular section in the Charter for Youth and Child Protection that mandates?/encourages? the use of safe environment in schools.  I often write these things from memory based on what I've read over time, so I might be off on details here.  I just want to throw the question out there and I'll try to refine my query when I have a little more time. 

Father Corapi and Corruption in the Church

Thanks to Micaela Swift blog for linking to this today.  As usual, dear Father Corapi's gifts to us need no further comment...

Principle of Subsidiarity & My Personal Enemy "Harcourt Publishers"

"The principle of subsidiarity, which teaches that a community of a higher order should not interfere in the activities of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, is a first principle in genuine Catholic social teaching." (Clint W. Green. "Back to School on Catholic Social Teaching." Acton Institute (September, 2004), linked from Catholic Education Resource Center website)  This principle keeps coming to mind in regards to this topic.  Of course, we are rightfully hearing about it often lately in regards to healthcare, so perhaps that it why.  But it seems to me to be a very sound argument against sex education and safe environment courses offered freely and superflously in the Catholic schools (and public, of course).  It's just such a basic principle that cannot be ignored here.

Fortunately, the entire Growing in Love program and Safe Environment GIL will not be presented to the children until spring of this year, in my child's particular grade level.  This gives me some time to think.  The teachers are allowed flexibility as to when to present the program.  Last year it was throughout the year for the main Growing in Love program, but I was unaware!  I'm still wondering why I did not get a permission slip for the entire program proper, as I am told by experts in this area that there should be an opt-out for more than just safe environment and parents should be made aware.  I still have to inquire further this year as it seems the school might have gotten hip to this problem and changed their policy to at least sending permission slips for both programs.  (I still can't get over the need to sign a permission slip for a course in Catholic school.  That, to me, has RED FLAG written all over it.  It makes no sense if the programs are faithful to Catholic teaching that this must be done.  It's not a field trip, for goodness sake!  I guess it says, obviously, "we need your permission to encroach on your rights".  How kind of them.  So now the children are left vulnerable with no voice.  Oh yuck, I hate it.  And all the while, well meaning teachers and parents are unwittingly cooperating in a spirit of obedience and trust towards the Archdiocese.  It's insane and unfair and terribly clever of the devil in the details.)  Repetitious as I may be, could the Archdiocese not take the approach of trust in the parents and offer them packages of helpful documents and needed information to send home detailing a parent's responsibility in these delicate matters and how to properly educate their own dear children?  I don't see that as being hard.  I just think there is something, some link I am missing in understanding the Archdiocese's obvious "compelling need" to intervene here.  I have found no good arguments for it.  None.

And another thing is bugging me.  My daughter makes her First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion this spring.  We had our parent meeting the other week and it was wonderful.  The part that irks me is, we are handed two very nice looking packages with the materials that will be used to prepare the children for their big day(s) and in big bold letters, I notice, "Harcourt Religion Publishers".  It's like the devil is laughing at me as I sit in my dear child's Catholic school ready to prepare her for such a blessed an extraordinary time in her life.  This is not a slam of the text itself.  It looks lovely, very colorful, full of the faith, although I still have to review it in detail.  The person running the program is wonderful and very faith-filled.  The thing that "gets" me is that in my research on this topic, I've discovered that "Harcourt", who publishes all of our religion texts (and my other foe, "Growing in Love"), is part of a larger company that publishes abortion manuals.  Yes, yes, yes, it may seem picky of me, but even if it is remotely connected, writing that $50.00 check feels very close to co-opertaing in sin.  I have a lot of conscience trouble doing it.  I went ahead and did so, as I am aware that I must choose my battles, but couldn't our diocese find a nice Catholic publishing company to support?  Must we support a mainstream publisher (for whatever reason!), if they are known to also publish death manuals?  If I can find this out in a google search as a little old mom, I would consider the diocese could discover this and look elsewhere also.  I am trying to find a direct link to illustrate that they are guilty (the company) of this, but it is proving more difficult than I have time for.  But it has been cited over and over again in research sites on the topic.  To read more, click on the Veil of Innocence discussion on this topic.  (Just consider the money being forked over to this company considering so many schools all over the country are using Harcourt.)

I make a point in general practice to avoid companies that I am aware support abortion, etc.  And here I am forced to keep them running for the sake of my child's first sacraments.  Ah, it does not sit well with me at all.  I struggle with it.  I realize it might put in the "fanatical" category, but so be it.

A Little Time Off

Please forgive me as I take a little time away from this blog to deal with some personal trials.  May God bless you abundantly and I promise to be back as soon as possible.  If I could beg a Hail Mary for my family now, it would be greatly appreciated, and my prayers for the intentions of the readers are promised.

Powerful Homily!

If you can spare about 18 minutes, listen to this homily by an unidentified priest.  You will not be sorry you took the time, nor will you regret any of your actions that might make you less than the most popular parent with the admin at the school your children attend.

And in no way as an aside, please join me in thanking God for the gift of Our Blessed Mother on this dear celebration of her birth for her constant and unfailing maternal care, without which, I would be lost.

"Opt-Out Special!"

What a treat for Our Lady's Birthday!  I just thought I would make you aware that our Catholic school is planning to air (LIVE) President Obama's Address to Students Across America on this coming Tuesday, September 8th, 2009.  Our Archdiocese has recommended that parents be allowed to opt their children out of watching the speech (which my family will absolutely take them up on), which is appreciated.  It does make me wonder why they have to show it in the first place, but that's for another blog.  I just wanted to make you aware that it could be coming to your local Catholic school so that you are able to make that decision for yourself.  Opt-outs and our family are becoming really good friends.

Getting the Word Out!

I am praying that this is appropriate.  I feel the need to present to you a request from Johnette Benkovic to those on her email list for Living His Life Abundantly for donations as her ministry is in an emergency situation financially.

Living His Life Abundantly has absolutely no idea that I am posting this (I don't want you to think they have asked this at all, I am just on their email list), but if you feel at all inclined and able, would you consider making a donation to LHLA Ministries?  (Through their website-this has nothing to do with this blog and I am asking for no money from you, as you all know-this blogging is free!)

Now, I will tell you as much as I can tell you...if this sex education and safe environment topic is a concern to you and you long for the word to get out so that progress can be made in removing these programs from the Catholic schools, you will not be sorry that you donated to Johnette!