Assesses the current status of catechesis and religious education in Australian Catholic schools and parishes. Notes recent efforts and offers suggestions for improving religious education in those settings. (DMM)

Traces changes in the content and instructional methods of catechesis from the early centuries of Christianity, when the focus was on evangelization, to the twentieth century. Reviews the influences of developmental psychology and social consciousness on modern catechetical renewal. Considers the educational needs of the twenty-first century. (DMM)

Uses the Archdiocese of New York to illustrate the Catholic Church's successes and failures in religious education. Discusses the archdiocese's efforts to reduce widespread ignorance of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, including a community needs assessment and a weekend Synod. Highlights religious education needs. (DMM)

Discusses an approach to the study of the Bible through psychodrama. Argues that such an approach makes biblical stories and their characters real by investing them fully with humanity. Concludes that a psychodramatic approach to the Bible is a strenuous exigesis through which it is possible to look past surfaces into an inner world. (SG)

Explores changes that have taken place in the Catholic Church's understanding of the concepts of "religion" and "faith." Discusses the effects of these changes on the ministry of religious education. Makes suggestions concerning the development of a suitable environment and atmosphere for approaching religious education within…

Describes the foundation, growth and philosophy of Teachers' Teams, an international movement of Catholic educators who view teaching in public schools as a vocation, mission and ministry. Discusses activities such as monthly meetings and conferences and defines the three steps in their approach: seeing, judging, and acting. (BCY)

Examines the implications of the bishops' pastoral, "The Challenge of Peace," for Catholic schools and analyzes issues and problems in responding to the pastoral. Recommends clarification of philosophical positions, development of archdiocesan guidelines, varied teacher in-service opportunities, and global concept development. (DMM)

Suggests that religion teachers develop mentor-friend relationships with their students, as characterized by being available to students outside of class, sharing oneself in a personal way, expressing interest in the student's life, and sharing faith. Discusses acceptable and unacceptable types of relationships. (DMM)

Examines the role of the Catholic school ministery team in proclaiming the Gospel throughout the school and its community. (SJL)

The effects of pluralism on today's college campuses are intense. The place held by religion in this context is often awkward, but as a dimension of diversity and a potent force in human interaction, it deserves the same tolerance as any other aspect of pluralism and should not be trivialized. (MSE)

Reviews guidelines and objectives established by the United States Catholic bishops report on teaching human sexuality, identifying the goal of such education as the "realization of total sexual identity" and affective maturation. Describes workshops designed by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to train sexuality educators in accordance with the…

This publication completes the series that focuses on the five groups of persons involved in the educational "ministry" of the Catholic school. Based on a survey of pastors and diocesan and archdiocesan superintendents of concerns related to the pastor and his role within the school community, this essay discusses seven areas of pastoral concern…

Discusses the need for specialized reference works in a Catholic high school library and suggests materials in the following categories: (1) general reference sources; (2) Bibles and other scriptural tools; (3) world religious resources; (4) reference works on religion in American; and (5) morality references. Five references are listed. (MES)

Describes a Catholic high school science unit on the origins of energy, matter, stars, planets, and life. Explains how the three- to four-week unit seeks to promote a unifying vision of science and religion, physics and biology, art and chemistry, education and living. (DMM)

Addresses how the Catholic school environment and instructional program help students internalize values by fostering values growth, values formation, critical thinking skills, and skills application. Stresses the importance of faculty incorporating thinking skills and Christian values into teaching objectives and taking responsibility for…