Welcome to the forum! Woof!
My wife is also catholic, cafeteria style (similar to your wife if I read that correctly), she picks and chooses which parts she wants to live with.
Never had any direct connection with catholic schools so I have no clue about their religious curriculum or their requirements from students/parents and church involvement. Kids protesting abortion clinics sounds a little radical, even for catholic's. Personally that would put up a big red flag for me. I sure as hell would want to know exactly what they are being told in class/school. Care to expand on the "heated discussion" comment?
I am very involved with the boys school work. The religion classes go into depth on the aspects of the Catholic Faith so the student has a good idea of why these beliefs are held. They also touch on other religions, giving the high points. We use lots of local resources to overcome the dyslexia problem and these teachers tell me that our school is on par with other private schools in the area, and marginally better than public schools in the area when it comes to math, science and english/literature. Evolution is taught as the vehicle god used to create man, so basically intelligent design. As religious creation stories go that is probably the closest to the actual theory.
As for the abortion protest thing. Here is the short version:
I confronted the religion teacher, and told her that i have a real problem with her promoting activism and that it would be very easy for the students to incorporate activism as part of the catholic faith (it is not). I then requested a meeting with the principle, she said she did not know the "protest" was even happening (threw the teacher under the bus so to speak.) I accused the principle of incompetence, which lead to another meeting with the school president. who is the parish priest. At the end of the day they assured me that parents would be notified before anything like the protest is arranged with students. I was not the only parent unhappy about this, but probably one of the more vocal.
13 is when I started asking, not my parents, but the pastors at our lutheran (watered down catholic) church. I distinctly remember a frustrated youth pastor response of "stop asking me, there is no good answer, just do and believe as I tell you". Guess who left the church at 13.
If you're tied into the c. school as the only acceptable source of education you might be stuck. Like I said, I have no experience with c. schools. If you have honest open religious discussions with your son and he takes your part of the discussion back to school will that cause problems? You may have to temper your discussions with the kids and keep your responses generic. (i.e., I believe something different..., not flat out there is no god)
I try to have the boys look at both sides of any argument and to understand motivations. Not just religion but anything.
Are there other non catholic parents with kids at this school? Could be a resource.
What is your wife's position on this? Does you son understand that there are different religions with different "beliefs and traditions" that are acceptable in our society?
My wife is very cut and dry, black and white. If you ask her a question she gives an answer. If asked why she will give the official catholic reason or something very close. Where i will often take things into the outfield. The 13 year old does understand that other beliefs and traditions are acceptable in our society. He has friends who are not catholic, sailing is one of the sports he enjoys. One of his race partners is a Muslim kid, (it is a weird family situation) they spend lots of time practicing together and hang out frequently.
If you don't let him come to his own conclusion are you any better than the school/church?
That is a great point.
I know, I know, not much help.
Best of luck.
I am inclined to let things play out for now.
thanks for your imput.
My wife is also catholic, cafeteria style (similar to your wife if I read that correctly), she picks and chooses which parts she wants to live with.
Never had any direct connection with catholic schools so I have no clue about their religious curriculum or their requirements from students/parents and church involvement. Kids protesting abortion clinics sounds a little radical, even for catholic's. Personally that would put up a big red flag for me. I sure as hell would want to know exactly what they are being told in class/school. Care to expand on the "heated discussion" comment?
I am very involved with the boys school work. The religion classes go into depth on the aspects of the Catholic Faith so the student has a good idea of why these beliefs are held. They also touch on other religions, giving the high points. We use lots of local resources to overcome the dyslexia problem and these teachers tell me that our school is on par with other private schools in the area, and marginally better than public schools in the area when it comes to math, science and english/literature. Evolution is taught as the vehicle god used to create man, so basically intelligent design. As religious creation stories go that is probably the closest to the actual theory.
As for the abortion protest thing. Here is the short version:
I confronted the religion teacher, and told her that i have a real problem with her promoting activism and that it would be very easy for the students to incorporate activism as part of the catholic faith (it is not). I then requested a meeting with the principle, she said she did not know the "protest" was even happening (threw the teacher under the bus so to speak.) I accused the principle of incompetence, which lead to another meeting with the school president. who is the parish priest. At the end of the day they assured me that parents would be notified before anything like the protest is arranged with students. I was not the only parent unhappy about this, but probably one of the more vocal.
13 is when I started asking, not my parents, but the pastors at our lutheran (watered down catholic) church. I distinctly remember a frustrated youth pastor response of "stop asking me, there is no good answer, just do and believe as I tell you". Guess who left the church at 13.
If you're tied into the c. school as the only acceptable source of education you might be stuck. Like I said, I have no experience with c. schools. If you have honest open religious discussions with your son and he takes your part of the discussion back to school will that cause problems? You may have to temper your discussions with the kids and keep your responses generic. (i.e., I believe something different..., not flat out there is no god)
I try to have the boys look at both sides of any argument and to understand motivations. Not just religion but anything.
Are there other non catholic parents with kids at this school? Could be a resource.
What is your wife's position on this? Does you son understand that there are different religions with different "beliefs and traditions" that are acceptable in our society?
My wife is very cut and dry, black and white. If you ask her a question she gives an answer. If asked why she will give the official catholic reason or something very close. Where i will often take things into the outfield. The 13 year old does understand that other beliefs and traditions are acceptable in our society. He has friends who are not catholic, sailing is one of the sports he enjoys. One of his race partners is a Muslim kid, (it is a weird family situation) they spend lots of time practicing together and hang out frequently.
If you don't let him come to his own conclusion are you any better than the school/church?
That is a great point.
I know, I know, not much help.
Best of luck.
I am inclined to let things play out for now.
thanks for your imput.
