A new government regulation halving religion classes in public schools is an “unlawful act,” Poland’s bishops said Sunday, ahead of a presidential election that could accelerate the country’s secularization.
Religious education in the public schools is why there is so little native Fundamentalism in Europe. Though while sympathetic to the bishops, as an American, I can't get too caught up as to if one hour or two hours is appropriate for a society I am not a part of.
Yes, it does seem to inoculate most Europeans from having any actual faith in our Risen Lord. If that's done out of fear of creating "fundamentalists," all the more shame.
Poland is obviously a different case than the other more secular European countries, but if we're taking the European church over the American at this point in history... Why in the world?
What is interesting in Poland is that these religion classes are often taught by priests or nuns who are required to spend a certain number of years teaching catechism by the Polish bishops, or at least are taught by lay people with at least a master's degree in theology, so these are not amateur volunteer catechists like in the U.S. teaching CCD.
But Poland is slowly going the way of Ireland. Though the southeast and the most northeastern part of Poland have typically above 50% Mass attendance rate, most other areas have a much lower attendance rate, around 20%. What I have found most disturbing though is that disrespect for the Church is growing. For example, there is a Polish tradition of priests going from door to door in their territorial parish during the traditional Christmas season, from December 25 to February 2, to bless homes and have some conversations with householders. In the past, even atheists would not typically turn away priests who knocked on their door and treated them with courtesy, but these days more and more people turn away the priest or are even rude to them.
Religious education in the public schools is why there is so little native Fundamentalism in Europe. Though while sympathetic to the bishops, as an American, I can't get too caught up as to if one hour or two hours is appropriate for a society I am not a part of.
We have a German priest as a vicar in our parish, and this will be handed to him tomorrow.
Yes, it does seem to inoculate most Europeans from having any actual faith in our Risen Lord. If that's done out of fear of creating "fundamentalists," all the more shame.
Poland is obviously a different case than the other more secular European countries, but if we're taking the European church over the American at this point in history... Why in the world?
I would disagree with your definition of belief in the risen Lord as limited to Protestant Fundamentalism.
Church attendance is likely low in other European nations that allow religious instruction in public schools.
What is interesting in Poland is that these religion classes are often taught by priests or nuns who are required to spend a certain number of years teaching catechism by the Polish bishops, or at least are taught by lay people with at least a master's degree in theology, so these are not amateur volunteer catechists like in the U.S. teaching CCD.
But Poland is slowly going the way of Ireland. Though the southeast and the most northeastern part of Poland have typically above 50% Mass attendance rate, most other areas have a much lower attendance rate, around 20%. What I have found most disturbing though is that disrespect for the Church is growing. For example, there is a Polish tradition of priests going from door to door in their territorial parish during the traditional Christmas season, from December 25 to February 2, to bless homes and have some conversations with householders. In the past, even atheists would not typically turn away priests who knocked on their door and treated them with courtesy, but these days more and more people turn away the priest or are even rude to them.