This article argues that educators should be aware of the way that Christian beliefs interact with the structure and practices of secular education policies and that established secular social theory can help them to do this. Drawing on an example from empirical research, the author models how concepts associated with Bourdieu's social theory can…

Stresses the need for churches to continue the long upheld American tradition of welcoming and aiding foreigners and immigrants. (YKH)

The guidebook, designed for professionals and paraprofessionals working with disabled persons in parishes, schools, and institutions, examines issues in religious education with disabled persons. Papers focus on integration of disabled persons into the religious educational community and into the Christian community. S. Hall makes a plea for full…

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…

Reviews attitudes toward art in the early Catholic Church, considering the ability of art to influence those who experience it. Highlights the spiritualism of the Russian painter, Wassily Kandinsky. Suggests ways in which today's religious institutions can use art as a form of outreach to bring greater meaning to members of their congregations.…

Describes the methods and tools used by the Office of Religious Education of the Diocese of Worcester to help parishes improve the quality of their programs through long-term planning. Explains the parish visitation process. (DMM)

Highlights 1989 findings from an ongoing national study of the characteristics, functions, responsibilities, attitudes, and educational needs of parish directors of religious education. (DMM)

Describes the Archdiocese of Chicago's Sharing program, in which affluent parishes link up with their poorer counterparts to form friendships, solve problems, and overcome the anonymity of charitable work. Reveals outcomes including the annual sharing of $2 million among parishes. Offers examples of parish-to-parish support and suggestions for…

Looks at the respective roles of the diocese, parish, and school in creating good fund-raising and development programs. Considers what each has to offer, what each has to gain, and how their efforts can be coordinated. (DMM)

Describes a seminar in adult education held by Dr. Alan Knox, Professor of Adult Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, Long Island. The objective was to increase the participants' competence in the development of informal educational programs for adults. (Author/DR)

A survey of Roman Catholic bishops (N=276; total population) and priests (N=655; random sample) on the purpose, effectiveness, and administration of parish religious education programs revealed a broad range of opinion. The respondents were almost unanimous in stating that such programs help people grow in faith into mature adult Christians; that…

Part of a larger study entitled "The Church's Expanding Role in Adult Education," this paper is concerned with the Roman Catholic Church's efforts in the adult education movement. Divided into 3 parts, this background study begins with an historical review of the church's and church-related institutions' contributions to the adult…

Analyzes and contrasts a number of Roman Catholic documents, published in the United States and foreign countries, emphasizing theological themes which are presented as central to adult religious education. Focuses on the tension between church authority and adult education principles. Concludes that the optimism of the documents is diminished by…

Examines the religious educator's role as catalyst in transforming local church culture. Proposes model of congregational education aiming to change the corporate life of a religious community through members' work to reshape concrete behaviors, structures, and roles in carrying out the church's mission. Notes the range of skills required of…

The Catholic Church has a responsibility to create an environment in which the practice of the faith makes sense to Hispanics, and enables their religious vitality to express itself within the Church of the United States. Over the next one hundred years the Catholic population of the United States will be predominantly Hispanic. The Church and its…